**Lucifer Effect** *Pronunciation:* LOO-si-fer ih-fekt
*Part of Speech:* Noun
*Definition:* The Lucifer Effect describes the phenomenon in which ordinary individuals, when placed in certain situations or given specific power and authority, can engage in behaviors that are extraordinarily cruel or evil. This effect was coined by psychologist Philip Zimbardo, stemming from his famous Stanford prison experiment. It underscores how situational and systemic factors, rather than inherent personal traits, can lead good people to commit immoral acts.
*Origin:* Coined by psychologist Philip Zimbardo, introduced notably in his book “The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil” (2007), based on observations from the Stanford prison experiment.
*Example Sentence:* The Abu Ghraib prison scandal is often cited as a real-world instance of the Lucifer Effect, where situational pressures and systemic issues led to gross abuses by ordinary soldiers.