Shock culture

stunning

extremely impressive or beautiful; causing a feeling of awe or admiration

to revisit one’s findings

to review or reconsider the results or conclusions of one's research or investigation

obedience

compliance with orders, requests, or instructions from authority figures or rules

to embark on

to begin or start a journey, project, or new endeavor

ingenious

clever, original, and inventive, often in solving problems or creating new things

experimental paradigm

a model or framework used in scientific research to conduct experiments and analyze data

to inflict pain on

to cause physical or emotional suffering or harm to someone

to resonate

to have a deep or lasting impact

a disturbed personality

a psychological condition characterized by abnormalities in behavior, emotions, or thought patterns

a well-adjusted person

someone who is mentally and emotionally stable, capable of coping with life's challenges and maintaining healthy relationships

conformity

compliance with societal norms, standards, or expectations, often involving the adoption of similar behaviors, attitudes, or beliefs as others

to prompt someone to do something

to encourage or stimulate someone to take a particular action or make a decision

to probe deeper into something

to investigate or examine something more thoroughly in order to gain a better understanding or insight

to bend to something

to yield or submit to a particular force, pressure, or influence

to defy

to openly resist or refuse to obey a rule, law, or authority; to challenge or disregard

compliance to

adherence or conformity to a rule, standard, or requirement

to hold hidden potential

to possess capabilities or qualities that are not immediately apparent but have the possibility of being developed or realized

the ostensible goal

the apparent or outwardly stated objective or purpose of something

ominously

in a threatening or menacing manner; indicating something unpleasant or foreboding

to posit

to suggest something as a fact, theory, or argument

to cast doubt on

to raise uncertainty or skepticism about something; to question or challenge its validity or truthfulness

defiance

open resistance or disobedience to an authority, rule, or convention; the act of challenging or refusing to yield

bureaucrat

an official or employee of a government or organization, typically one perceived as overly concerned with procedural correctness

hunched

bent over or rounded in posture, typically due to discomfort, age, or fatigue

the banality of evil

the concept that acts of great harm or injustice can be committed by ordinary people, often in the course of mundane or routine activities

the agentic state

a psychological state in which individuals feel a diminished sense of personal responsibility for their actions, often due to following orders or instructions from an authority figure

to cede

to surrender or relinquish control, authority, or territory to another party, often through formal agreement or treaty

to be attuned to

to be aware of or responsive to something; to be sensitive or receptive to its nuances or subtleties

moral compass

an internalized set of principles or values that guides an individual's decisions and actions, often involving a sense of right and wrong

stalemate

a situation in which no progress can be made or no advancement achieved, typically because of a deadlock or impasse

to enact something

to make a law, rule, or policy officially valid or effective by implementing or establishing it

robustly

in a strong, vigorous, or resilient manner; with strength and effectiveness

enriching

providing increased knowledge, insight, or understanding; making something more valuable or meaningful

nuanced

characterized by subtle distinctions, variations, or complexities; exhibiting a high level of detail or sophistication