Psychology of Evil notes

What is the primary assertion of the course regarding evil?

Evil is often systemic rather than individual.

What role does education play in addressing evil actions?

Education, moral responsibility, and questioning authority are essential in mitigating evil.

Which book discusses how situational influences can lead good people to engage in evil behaviors?

The Lucifer Effect by Philip Zimbardo.

What is moral disengagement?

It occurs when individuals justify harmful actions.

What significant event proves that ordinary people can commit atrocities?

The Rwandan Genocide.

What psychological mechanism often leads to the bystander effect?

Fear and diffusion of responsibility.

What tactics did perpetrators use in the Rwandan Genocide?

Dehumanization justified the massacre of the Tutsi people.

What did the Stanford Prison Experiment reveal about ordinary individuals?

They can commit cruel acts when placed in certain situational roles.

How did Japanese soldiers demean their victims during the Rape of Nanking?

They committed mass killings and sexual violence against Chinese civilians.

What are the three levels of evil according to Philip Zimbardo?

Dispositional, situational, and systemic.

What does the term 'dehumanization' refer to in the context of evil?

Stripping individuals of their humanity, making abuse easier.

What was the Milgram Obedience Study about?

It explored how ordinary people obey authority figures even to the point of harming others.

How does the presence of an authority figure influence obedience?

Closer authority figures increase compliance.

What phrase summarizes the impact of good people's inaction?

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.

What do incremental steps imply regarding evil actions?

Evil happens gradually through small, justifiable steps.

What did participants in the Milgram Study believe they were doing?

Delivering electric shocks to a learner for incorrect answers.

What is the mnemonic used for the factors that led to behavior in the Stanford Prison Experiment?

D.R.I.P. - Deindividuation, Role conformity, In-group vs. out-group thinking, Power imbalance.

What does the term 'diffusion of responsibility' mean?

When individuals feel less responsible for actions in a group setting.

In the context of the Abu Ghraib scandal, what justified the abuse of prisoners?

Psychological justifications under the guise of national security.

What is the result of deindividuation among guards in the Stanford Prison Experiment?

Increased aggression and sadistic behavior.

How did soldiers rationalize their actions during the Abu Ghraib scandal?

They believed they were necessary for national security.

What causes ordinary people to become perpetrators during events like the Rwandan Genocide?

Hierarchy of power, Authoritarian leadership, Terror & propaganda.

What can we learn from the psychological mechanisms enabling evil?

Dehumanization, erosion of empathy, authority obedience, and diffusion of responsibility.

What does the mnemonic H.E.R.O. stand for in resisting evil?

Humanize others, Examine authority, Resist peer pressure, Own responsibility.

What phenomenon occurs when good individuals fail to act during a crisis?

The Bystander Effect.

What is a key factor that allows dehumanization to occur during conflicts?

Propaganda that strips humanity from opponents.

In what way do authority figures contribute to the success of evil actions?

They normalize inaction and reduce accountability.

What critical event highlighted the systemic issues of evil in the military?

The Abu Ghraib Prison Scandal.

What was one outcome of the psychological processes during the Stanford Prison Experiment?

Rapid moral disengagement among participants.

What role does inaction play in the presence of moral dilemmas?

Inaction from good individuals contributes to the success of evil.

What is the “A.C.I.D.” mnemonic used to describe in Milgram’s study?

Authority figure presence, Cognitive dissonance, Incremental escalation, Diffusion of responsibility.

Why is the concept of moral disengagement important in understanding evil?

It explains how people justify their harmful actions.

What does the term 'incremental steps' refer to in the context of moral behavior?

Evil often occurs gradually through small, seemingly benign actions.

How does systemic failure contribute to torture and abuse?

It enables and justifies cruel actions within societal structures.

What was the experiment halted after just six days due to extreme abuse?

The Stanford Prison Experiment.

What is the primary claim regarding the nature of evil as discussed in the course?

Everyone has the capacity to be evil under the right circumstances.

How did societal structures enable atrocities like those seen in Nazi Germany?

They facilitated following orders that led to genocide.

Describe the psychological impact of role conformity as observed in experiments.

People adapt to their roles, leading to cruel behavior in positions of power.

What does 'normalization of evil' mean in a societal context?

When cruel behaviors become routine and accepted within a group.

What were some of the techniques used to dehumanize prisoners at Abu Ghraib?

Physical torture, sexual humiliation, and psychological abuse.

In what major event did fear, propaganda, and ethnic division play a role in mass violence?

The Rwandan Genocide.

How does psychological justification work in the context of genocidal acts?

Individuals convince themselves their actions are necessary or justified.

What was the essential finding of the Rape of Nanking?

Mass sexual violence and atrocities were committed against Chinese civilians.

How can education and moral responsibility prevent evil actions?

By encouraging individuals to question authority and take action against wrongdoing.

What is the relationship between situation and individual responsibility in understanding evil?

Evil is often systemic, implying that individuals can act harmfully due to situational pressures and societal structures.

How does moral disengagement relate to the perpetration of evil actions?

Moral disengagement allows individuals to justify harmful actions, thereby enabling them to commit acts of evil without feeling personal guilt.

What did the Stanford Prison Experiment demonstrate about ordinary individuals and authority?

It showed that ordinary people can exhibit cruel behaviors when placed in hierarchical roles that empower them.

What role does dehumanization play in genocidal acts like the Rwandan Genocide?

Dehumanization strips individuals of their humanity, making it easier for perpetrators to justify mass violence and atrocities.

How does the concept of incremental steps connect to the escalation of evil?

Evil often occurs through a series of small, seemingly justifiable actions that gradually lead to greater harms.

What is the bystander effect and how does it relate to moral responsibility?

The bystander effect describes a phenomenon where individuals in a group feel less personal responsibility to act, contributing to the success of evil.

What can education and questioning authority do to combat evil behaviors?

Education fosters critical thinking and moral responsibility, empowering individuals to resist obedience to unjust authority and take action against wrongdoings.

In what ways can propaganda contribute to the normalization of evil?

Propaganda can manipulate perceptions, enabling groups to justify cruelty and violence as acceptable behavior.

What psychological mechanisms enable individuals to participate in systemic evil?

Mechanisms such as authority obedience, diffusion of responsibility, and erosion of empathy contribute to the capacity for ordinary people to engage in harmful actions.

What does the mnemonic 'H.E.R.O.' represent in the context of resisting evil?

It stands for Humanize others, Examine authority, Resist peer pressure, Own responsibility, which are key actions to prevent succumbing to evil.

What is the role of situational factors in moral disengagement during acts of systemic evil?

Situational factors often lower individual accountability, leading to a psychological detachment from the consequences of harmful actions.

In what ways does authority obedience manifest differently across cultures regarding the perpetration of evil?

Cultural variances can affect how authority is perceived, leading to differences in compliance and moral reasoning in the context of harmful acts.

How does the systemic nature of evil challenge traditional concepts of individual culpability in moral philosophy?

The systemic nature of evil suggests that individuals may not be solely responsible for their actions, as situational and societal factors can heavily influence behavior, complicating traditional notions of moral culpability.

Analyze the psychological effects of fear and propaganda on collective behavior in the context of genocide.

Fear and propaganda can manipulate group dynamics by creating an us-versus-them mentality, eroding empathy and fostering dehumanization, which contributes to the acceptance of mass violence.

What are the implications of the normalization of evil in the context of post-conflict reconciliation efforts?

The normalization of evil complicates reconciliation by embedding justifications for violence in societal narratives, making it challenging to address grievances and foster healing.

How do incremental steps correlate with the theory of moral disengagement concerning long-term ethical decline?

Incremental steps create a slippery slope effect, allowing individuals to gradually justify increasingly harmful actions without confronting their moral implications, leading to long-term ethical decline.

Evaluate the impact of social identity theory on group behavior during genocidal events such as the Rwandan Genocide.

Social identity theory suggests that group membership can intensify in-group favoritism and out-group hostility, which fosters collective violence against perceived threats from opposing groups.

Discuss how the concept of deindividuation can lead to a disintegration of personal morals in oppressive regimes.

Deindividuation diminishes self-awareness and personal responsibility, making individuals more susceptible to embracing the moral code of the group or authority, often leading to participation in oppressive actions.

What ethical challenges arise from the interplay of obedience to authority and moral responsibility in a corporate context?

When employees prioritize obedience over moral responsibility, ethical breaches can occur, raising questions about accountability and the role of corporate culture in fostering ethical behavior.

Examine the psychological processes that enable the bystander effect in emergency situations involving moral dilemmas.

The bystander effect results from diffusion of responsibility, social comparison, and pluralistic ignorance, where individuals collectively fail to intervene, compounding the moral implications of inaction.