When visiting the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp shortly after World War II, one German civilian was said to have remarked, "What terrible criminals these prisoners must have been to receive such treatment." This reaction is best explained in terms of

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The German civilian's reaction is an example of the just-world phenomenon, which is the belief that people get what they deserve and that the world is a fair and just place. This belief can lead individuals to blame victims for their own misfortunes and attribute their suffering to personal failings or flaws. In this case, the German civilian's comment suggests that they may believe the prisoners were punished for their supposed criminality, rather than recognizing the injustice and atrocities committed by the Nazi regime.

When Visiting the Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp Shortly After World War