The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil
by Philip G. Zimbardo
The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil by Philip G. Zimbardo holds a well received rating of 3.94 out of 5, based on 11.9K reader ratings. First published in 2007. The book spans 551 pages.
About The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil
Renowned social psychologist and creator of the "Stanford Prison Experiment," Philip Zimbardo explores the mechanisms that make good people do bad things, how moral people can be seduced into acting immorally, and what this says about the line separating good from evil.The Lucifer Effect explains how—and the myriad reasons why—we are all susceptible to the lure of “the dark side.” Drawing on examples from history as well as his own trailblazing research, Zimbardo details how situational forces and group dynamics can work in concert to make monsters out of decent men and women. Here, for the first time and in detail, Zimbardo tells the full story of the Stanford Prison Experiment, the landmark study in which a group of college-student volunteers was randomly divided into “guards” and “inmates” and then placed in a mock prison environment. Within a week, the study was abandoned, as ordinary college students were transformed into either brutal, sadistic guards or emotionally broken prisoners. By illuminating the psychological causes behind such disturbing metamorphoses, Zimbardo enables us to better understand a variety of harrowing phenomena, from corporate malfeasance to organized genocide to how once upstanding American soldiers came to abuse and torture Iraqi detainees in Abu Ghraib. He replaces the long-held notion of the “bad apple” with that of the “bad barrel”—the idea that the social setting and the system contaminate the individual, rather than the other way around.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | Philip G. Zimbardo |
| Published | 2007 |
| Pages | 551 |
| Kindle Price | $14.99 |
| Genres | Psychology, Non-Fiction, Science, Philosophy, History |
| Average Rating | 3.94 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 11,860 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil?
The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil is categorized as Psychology, Non-Fiction, Science, Philosophy. Its primary genre classification is Philosophy.
Is The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil worth reading?
Based on 11.9K reader ratings, The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil has an average score of 3.94 out of 5.00, which is considered "Well Received."
How many pages is The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil?
The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil has 551 pages. It is a longer read suited for dedicated readers.
Who wrote The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil?
The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil was written by Philip G. Zimbardo. It was first published in 2007.
What is the ISBN for The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil?
The ISBN-13 for The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil is 9781400064110.0.
How much does The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil cost on Kindle?
The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil is available on Kindle for $14.99. Pricing may vary by region and promotional offers.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
