Philip Zimbardo

Date of Birth: March 23, 1933

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Biography

Philip George Zimbardo is an American psychologist and a professor emeritus at Stanford University. Born on March 23, 1933, in New York City, Zimbardo is best known for his 1971 Stanford prison experiment, a landmark study in social psychology that explored the psychological effects of perceived power, focusing on the struggle between prisoners and prison officers. The study was set to run for two weeks but was terminated after only six days due to the extreme and unexpected results. Zimbardo completed his BA in psychology, sociology, and anthropology at Brooklyn College in 1954 and earned his PhD in psychology from Yale University in 1959. His illustrious career spans teaching positions at Yale, NYU, Columbia University, and Stanford, where he became a prominent figure in the study of social psychology. In addition to the Stanford prison experiment, Zimbardo has authored numerous books and research articles, including “The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil” and “The Time Paradox: The New Psychology of Time That Will Change Your Life.” His work extends beyond academia into public education through television programs, such as the PBS series “Discovering Psychology,” which he hosted.

5 Interesting Facts about Philip Zimbardo

1. Philip Zimbardo is a past president of the American Psychological Association (APA).

2. He founded the Heroic Imagination Project, a nonprofit organization aimed at promoting everyday heroism.

3. Zimbardo has appeared in several films and TV shows, including an episode of “Penn & Teller: Bullshit!” where he discussed the Stanford prison experiment.

4. He was awarded the Dag Hammarskjöld Inspiration Award for his work in promoting peace and understanding.

5. Zimbardo’s interest in psychology was sparked by his own experiences with social identity and conformity as a child growing up in a poor neighborhood in the Bronx.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Philip Zimbardo

1. “The line between good and evil is permeable and almost anyone can be induced to cross it when pressured by situational forces.”

2. “Time perspective is one of the most powerful influences on all of human behavior. We are trying to show people how to transcend the limitations of their own time perspective.”

3. “Evil is knowing better but willingly doing worse.”

4. “When you put good people in an evil place, do the people triumph or does the place corrupt them?”

5. “I’m saying to be a hero it means you step across the line and are willing to make a sacrifice, so heroes always are making a sacrifice. Heroes always take a risk. Heroes are deviant. Heroes always go against the conformity of the group.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Philip Zimbardo’s highest net worth is estimated to be around $5 million, primarily accrued from his academic positions, book sales, and public speaking engagements.