Zimbardo's perspective on evil

Zimbardo views evil not solely as a matter of individual character but as a result of situational factors and environment. He argues that ordinary people can commit harmful acts when placed in certain contexts, such as groups or authority structures that promote obedience or dehumanization. His Stanford prison experiment demonstrated how ordinary individuals could adopt cruel roles under specific circumstances. Essentially, Zimbardo believes that evil actions arise from situational influences and social pressures, highlighting the importance of understanding how environments can shape behavior rather than labeling individuals as inherently evil.