Zimbardo
Several years ago, Phil Zimbardo and I were both invited to give presentations at the Eastern Psychological Association’s annual convention. When I finished my presentation, I entered the hotel lobby and found a long line of students waiting to take selfies with Phil, and I said, “Phil, you’re just a showbiz psychologist.” A few years later, I was asked to contribute a birthday message to Phil, so I wrote the following post. After Phil’s passing, we revisited it for a tribute to Phillip Zimbardo I organized for the American Psychological Association in 2024, accompanied by photographs of Phil and covers of his books.
THE SHOW BIZ PSYCHOLOGIST
He was a showbiz psychologist, just a showbiz psychologist,
The students thought he was just fine.
A showbiz psychologist, just a showbiz psychologist,
To get selfies they stood in a line.
A showbiz psychologist, just a showbiz psychologist,
His jail study was quite a doozy,
And it was made into a movie!
A showbiz psychologist, just a showbiz psychologist,
And he worked with some students of mine
To concoct a therapy based on time.
A showbiz psychologist, just a showbiz psychologist,
With his own reputation iron clad.
Phil wrote about what makes people bad.
A showbiz psychologist, just a showbiz psychologist,
Among so many stories to tell,
Phil brought shy people out of their shell.
A showbiz psychologist, just a showbiz psychologist,
Don’t let your life count as a zero,
Phil taught how you can be a hero.
A showbiz psychologist, just a showbiz psychologist,
To make sure psychology was seen
He put it all on the TV screen.
A showbiz psychologist, just a showbiz psychologist,
Phil lived quite a passionate life,
He loved jazz, his kids, and his wife.
He was a showbiz psychologist,
Just a showbiz psychologist,
He liked everyone who he met.
He was a showbiz psychologist,
Just a showbiz psychologist,
And we are all in his debt.
CODA
Every Sunday, the CBS Show “Good Morning America” posts an “Almanac” of recent deaths, typically people from business, politics, and show business; When Phil passed, his name appeared, followed by the descriptor “Psychologist.” Indeed, he was the Showbiz Psychologist to the end!