Search
TED Talks: The Psychology of Evil
Details
Activity Description
Source: https://www.ted.com/talks/philip_zimbardo_the_psychology_of_evil#t-52581 (License: Protected by Copyright (c) [i.e. screenshot])
In this activity, students watch a Ted Talks video of Philip Zimbardo followed by a discussion and student essay. His premise is that heroes are ordinary people whose social action is extraordinary, who act when others are passive. The video does have some graphic photos of abuse; however, TED Talks has removed the most graphic images. The video is 23 minutes long. Be sure to preview the video to be sure it is appropriate for your students.
Philip Zimbardo is a well-known professor of psychology at Stanford University and has created a series of videos , on different psychological topics. Be sure to check out other videos found on his YouTube channel.
Preparation
- Check to be sure the site is not blocked at your school and that your speakers are loud enough to be heard by all students.
- Preview the video.
- Jot down a few questions to help start the discussion.
How-To
- Start with a discussion of some of the events in the news. Pick one horrific event and ask why, and how could a person do those things.
- Introduce the video and warn students of the graphic nature of the photos.
- Play the video and fast forward through the photos if needed.
- Ask students for their response to the video. Is it true? Do they agree? Use your discussion questions to expand the discussion.
- Ask students to share their thoughts about the video in an essay. Do they agree with Dr. Zimbardo’s premise that heroes are ordinary people whose social action is extra-ordinary, who act when others are passive? Students need to include details from the video or life to defend their position. Are they a hero in waiting?
- Be sure to give students time to brainstorm and develop their essays.
- Share some of the ideas from the essays in a concluding discussion.
More Ways
More psychology resources can be found on Mourer's AP Psych Web site . , which includes videos, and vocabulary flashcards and quizzes. The site is designed for students studying for the AP Psychology exam.
Program Areas
- ASE: High School Diploma
- ABE: Adult Basic Education
Levels
- All Levels
Lesson Plan
Warm-up
Engagement
Activity: Current Events Discussion
- Begin with a discussion of recent news events.
- Select a recent horrific event and ask students to reflect with their partner on why such things happen and how individuals could commit such acts.
- Encourage students to think about the role of bystanders and heroes in these situations.
Introduction
Introduce Philip Zimbardo and the TED Talk:
- Provide a brief background on Philip Zimbardo, mentioning his role as a professor of psychology at Stanford University and his work on psychological topics.
- Explain the premise of the video: "Heroes are ordinary people whose social action is extraordinary, who act when others are passive."
- Warn students about the graphic nature of some photos in the video, ensuring them that the most graphic images have been removed and you will fast forward through any potentially disturbing parts.
Presentation
Enhancement
Watch the TED Talk:
- Play the 23-minute video of Philip Zimbardo’s TED Talk, fast-forwarding through graphic photos if necessary.
- Encourage students to take notes on key points, quotes, and their reactions during the video.
Practice
Engagement
Group Discussion:
- Divide the class into small groups and provide them with pre-written discussion questions.
- Questions could include:
- What is your initial reaction to Zimbardo’s premise?
- Do you agree that heroes are ordinary people? Why or why not?
- Can you think of any examples from your life or history where ordinary people acted heroically?
- Have each group appoint a spokesperson to share their group’s thoughts with the class.
Evaluation
Engagement
Enhancement
Essay Writing:
- Ask students to write an essay on whether they agree with Dr. Zimbardo’s premise that heroes are ordinary people whose social action is extraordinary.
- Students should use details from the video and real-life examples to support their position.
- Provide time for brainstorming and outlining with a partner before they start writing individually.
Application
Enhancement
Extension
Sharing and Reflection:
- Have students share excerpts from their essays in a concluding class discussion.
- Discuss the idea of being a "hero in waiting" and how students can apply this concept in their own lives.
- Encourage students to think about actions they can take to be proactive and heroic in their communities.
Encourage students to explore other videos on Philip Zimbardo’s YouTube channel to broaden their understanding of psychological concepts.
Documents
- TED Talks The Psychology of Evil.png - Screenshot of Ed Talks The Psychology of Evil page
Subjects
- English Language Arts
- Literature
- Language Arts - Reading
- Analysis
- Reading
- Critical Thinking/Decision Making
- Social Studies
- Psychology
Standards
- Reading
- CCR Anchor 10 - Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.
- Writing
- CCR Anchor 1 - Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
- CCR Anchor 2 - Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
- Speaking and Listening
- CCR Anchor 4 - Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
- Language
- CCR Anchor 1 - Demonstrate command of the conventions of English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
- CCR Anchor 2 - Demonstrate command of the conventions of English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
Tags
lucifer effect, psychology, TED, TED talks, evil, hero
Creative Commons License
CC BY-NC-ND:This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.