When American soldiers tortured and humiliated Iraqis in Abu Ghraib in 2004 the soldiers claimed they did so because of social roles and the demands for obedience.Such explanations for the U.S.soldiers' behavior reflect _____ attributions.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Situational attributions refer to factors external to the person, such as social norms, that influence behavior. In this case, the soldiers' behavior was influenced by the social norms and demands within their military roles, rather than their personal dispositions or traits (dispositional attributions). The behavior also appears to have been influenced by situational factors, such as the perceived need to instill fear and control over the prisoners. Therefore, situational attributions best explain the soldiers' behavior.

When American Soldiers Tortured and Humiliated Iraqis in Abu Ghraib