Why is it that anecdotes such as that of the Vietnam War veteran who dehumanized the Vietnamese are not sufficient evidence to support the idea that soldiers will dehumanize the enemy?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Anecdotes lack a controlled setting and test of causal variables. Social psychology requires empirical evidence from scientific studies that establish cause-and-effect relationships between variables. Anecdotes can provide useful examples of real-world events, but they lack the rigor and validity necessary to support general conclusions.

Why Is It That Anecdotes Such as That of the Vietnam