Why We do Dumb or Irrational Things: 10 Brilliant Social Psychology Studies

"I have been primarily interested in how and why ordinary people do unusual things, things that seem alien to their natures. Why do good people sometimes act evil? Why do smart people sometimes do dumb or irrational things?" --Philip Zimbardo

1. The Halo Effect: When Your Own Mind is a Mystery

2. How and Why We Lie to Ourselves: Cognitive Dissonance

3. War, Peace and the Role of Power in Sherif's Robbers Cave Experiment

4. Our Dark Hearts: The Stanford Prison Experiment

5. Just Following Orders? Stanley Milgram's Obedience Experiment

6. Why We All Stink as Intuitive Psychologists: The False Consensus Bias

7. Why Groups and Prejudices Form So Easily: Social Identity Theory

8. How to Avoid a Bad Bargain: Don't Threaten

9. Why We Don't Help Others: Bystander Apathy

10. I Can't Believe My Eyes: Conforming to the Norm

Via PsyBlog