Which statement accurately reflects Zimbardo's view regarding the typical person's capacity for evil?
A. People are likely to refrain from wrongdoing if they attribute it to their societal context.
B. A person's potential for good or evil can be influenced by their social surroundings.
C. Conducting social experiments is essential to understand humanity's ability to commit evil.
D. Unethical actions can be legitimized if one is in a difficult social context.
Answer:
B. A person's potential for good or evil can be influenced by their social surroundings.
Explanation:
Through the Stanford prison experiment led by Philip Zimbardo, participants were placed in a setting where some had to perform as guards while others were prisoners.
The "prisoners" experienced humiliation and dehumanization from the "guards", who initially hesitated but gradually grew more comfortable with their maltreatment as time went on.
This experiment demonstrates that one's propensity for evil is heavily contingent on their social context.
