The Mind Lens

On April 11, 1961, the famous "Eichmann trial" began — one of the first court cases to be widely broadcast on international television. Adolf Eichmann was accused of being a key figure in the extermination of millions of Jews during World War II. During the trial, he portrayed himself as a mere bureaucrat following orders, a cog in the machine, not someone who made decisions. The trial had an enormous global impact and sparked much reflection, including from philosopher Hannah Arendt, who in 1963 published Eichmann in Jerusalem, where she introduced the famous phrase "the banality of evil." Adolf Eichmann, convicted of crimes against humanity, Jewish people and war crimes Stanley Milgram research Just three months after the trial began, American psychologist Stanley Milgram — the son of European Jewish parents — launched what would become the most famous experiment on obedience, inspired by the question: “Were Eichmann and his accomplices simply obedient individuals...

You’ve probably experienced a difficult decision where both options seemed equally appealing. For example: where should I take my partner for our anniversary? Should I choose the Japanese restaurant (which they love) or plan a romantic walk by the sea (since they’ve been saying for weeks they need a vacation)? You know your partner would likely enjoy both, but your budget only allows for one. At the same time, doubts creep in: “If I take them to the restaurant, will they find it boring? Will they be disappointed by the lack of originality? But if I take them to the beach, will they expect more than just a walk?…” Cognitive dissonance This is a classic scenario that social psychologist Leon Festinger would describe as a case of cognitive dissonance. Cognitive dissonance is an emotional discomfort that arises when two thoughts, actions, or beliefs are in conflict. In this case, the dissonance comes from choosing the restaurant and giving up the beach, even though both options felt equall...