(In)Humane

A woman who is at the beach decides to go for a swim, but while she is away, her smartphone gets stolen. Despite bystanders witnessing the theft, none of them intervene. A man falls into a canal and loudly calls for help, yet people pass by without taking any action. This type of human behavior starkly contrasts with the ideal image of people doing good when the situation requires it. People standing up for one another in times of need.

Over the past 60 years, sociological and psychological research has revealed a very different narrative. Two notable studies have emerged as significant milestones: Stanley Milgram's renowned Obedience Experiment, commonly known as the electric shock experiment, and the equally infamous Stanford Prison Experiment. Both studies are extensively examined in this book, aiming to address the question of whether any conclusions can be drawn from them.
 

What becomes evident is that people are highly susceptible to influence. Normal social processes exert a significant impact on our behavior, and often we find ourselves unable to counteract it. The environment also plays a crucial role, as the right - or rather, the wrong - circumstances can potentially turn any human being into a monster...