The Army Reserve guards' belief that the Abu Ghraib detainees were dangerous Islamic terrorists may have contributed to their mistreatment of the detainees, because it allowed them to dehumanize the prisoners and categorize them as out-group members.

Question

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Studies in social psychology have shown that categorizing individuals as "us" versus "them" can lead to the dehumanization of the out-group and make it easier to justify mistreatment. In the case of Abu Ghraib, the guards' belief that the detainees were terrorists may have caused them to view the prisoners as less than human and therefore treat them in inhumane ways.

The Army Reserve Guards' Belief That the Abu Ghraib Detainees