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We inherit more than eye color and last names.
We inherit definitions.

Definitions of success.
Of morality.
Of masculinity and femininity.
Of obedience.
Of what is “normal.”
Of what is “right.”

But what if many of these definitions were never truly ours?

In this episode of Beyond The Surface, we go beyond the inherited definitions that quietly shape our identities and decisions. Through some of the most famous psychological experiments in history, we explore how easily human perception, morality, and behavior can be influenced by group pressure, authority, and assigned roles.

We’ll reflect on:

• Conformity and the power of the group — inspired by the experiments of Solomon Asch
• Obedience to authority — through the controversial work of Stanley Milgram
• The psychology of roles and power — examined in the Stanford Prison Experiment led by Philip Zimbardo

If ordinary people can conform, obey, and transform under pressure…
How much of what we call “our personality” is truly chosen?

There's insightful breakdowns by Vsauce (Michael Stevens), whose videos beautifully unpack these psychological experiments and their implications.

Recommended videos:

• Conformity (Asch Experiment) – https://youtu.be/fbyIYXEu-nQ?si=wnH9XrfMrbvIIwzQ

• Obedience to Authority (Milgram Experiment) – https://youtu.be/vuMt8b4UrcI?si=NCJvUtfhUtnIeOgl

• Stanford Prison Experiment – https://youtu.be/KND_bBDE8RQ?si=sAOWf9j9j-RyR2M_

This episode is not about judging the past.
It’s about questioning what we’ve quietly accepted...

Because sometimes growth begins when we ask:
Who defined this for me?

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