Lucifer Effect Pt. 1

If you're like me, you think about all the different aspects of a given situation. Take an arguement, for example. I'd analyze each person's story and the evidence backing each story up before making a decision deciding for or against someone. Law is the same; there are so many different angles and aspects to view. In this post, I'm going to take a look at what is known as the Lucifer Effect.

The Lucifer Effect is a psychology concept stating that every ordinary person faces a point where they must make a choice that pushes the guidelines of normal and falls into good or evil. The choice they make turns them into either a hero or a villian. Each person is ordinary until this choice is made, however, there are influential factors that can cause a person to be more susceptible to choose either good or evil. Conformity is one of the biggest social influences. We can either conform to the good taking place or the evil. For example, Jim Jones convinced his followers to conform to one another when drinking the Kool-Aid that they knew would end their lives. Also, Charles Manson persuaded his Family to kill innocent victims by using conformity.

Phllip Zimbardo, the expert on the Lucifer Effect, has put together a ten-step program to make sure that you are not falling into the trap of choosing evil over good.

1. You have to be able to admit and accept the mistakes you make.
2. Be mindful. Do not let yourself proceed through life on autopilot. This is how smart people end up doing dumb things.
3. Be responsible.
4. Do not allow others to intimidate or deindividualize you. Be yourself - the best you can be!
5. "I respect Just Authority, but rebel against Unjust Authority."
6. Value your independance. Group acceptance is something all will yearn for, but remember how important independance is as well.
7. Do not let the way things are framed scare you into any situation.
8. Remember there is always a future. Think about consequences.
9. Don't sacrifice your personal freedoms for a false sense of security.
10. Be strong enough to oppose unjust systems.

Follow these ten steps and you'll be a hero in no time!

info courtesy of lucifereffect.com; picture courtesy of google images