Lucifer Effect: Fallen From Grace

We sometimes see colleagues who were promoted suddenly becomes bossy and mean and a righteous law student becomes a greedy lawyer. Why do Angels fall from grace?

In 1971, American psychologist Philip Zimbardo conducted a Standford prison experiment with the help of 24 volunteering undergraduates. They played the role of prisoners and guards in a simulated prison.

The volunteers adapted to their roles a little bit “too well.” Some of those who played guards became sadistic and violent towards the prisoners. The “prisoners” were emotional traumatized and some even had a nervous breakdown. This lead to the two week experiment to end on its sixth day.

30 years later, Zimbardo describes the experiment as “Lucifer Effect” to explain how good people turn evil. Different situations — such as different status, different uniforms and peer pressure affect human behaviours.

Zimbardo emphasizes on external factors and systems, including personal interpretation and imitation also have an effect on how a person behave as supposed to internal factors such as genes and personalities.

Thus the soldiers who commit rape and the guards who abuse prisoner all turned in to God’s once beloved Lucifer from the bible. He who became arrogant and hoped to challenge God has fallen from grace— turning into Satan.