As clinicians, we seek to support individual change—but to what extent are we influenced by the institutions that surround us? Can we ignore the role of systems in our work with clients, or does treatment involve addressing one’s environment as well? In this video, Dr. Philip Zimbardo illuminates the longstanding nature vs. nurture debate in a deep discussion about evil, heroism, and the psychological conditions that impact which way we turn. Here, the former APA president and leader of the infamous Stanford Prison Experiment goes back decades to tell us the story of its participants, the ways in which we internalize the roles given to us, and the compelling ways these factors are still playing out today.
Over the course of his long career, Zimbardo has tackled the question of morality, seeking to understand the power of situations over individuals that lead to corruption and compliance. The 1971 Stanford Prison Experiment was the most notorious of his studies, and here Zimbardo describes its methodology, goals, unraveling, and abrupt cancellation after only six days of its planned two-week run. You’ll watch him reflect on the harsh conditions leading a college-aged group of “otherwise good people” to turn against each other, and hear about his ongoing regrets comingled with important lessons about human nature.
Zimbardo discusses issues such as compliance (what causes us to look the other way), learned helplessness (through the gradual acclimation to fearful situations), and “the illusion of personal invulnerability”—the idea that we would make better choices in similar situations. He goes on to discuss his work as an analyst during the Abu Ghraib trials, bringing his expertise to bear on the psychological processes at work among the guards.
Ultimately, though, Zimbardo’s objective is hopeful: to uncover what inspires heroic acts and promote the development of our collective moral compass. If you’re interested in understanding how psychological and systemic forces create good or evil, you won’t want to miss this compelling interview.
