Understanding Abu Ghraib through Social Psychology Concepts Summary

Understanding Abu Ghraib through Social Psychology Concepts
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The inhumanities at Abu Graib prison was considered legal by the U.S. Government. Fair, one of the leaders of the horrors at Abu Graib was the one who perpetuated some of the most gruesome activities that involved prisoners. One of the methods used to extract information from the prisoners were sleep deprivation and extreme stress induction. The few of the arrested US forces admitted to how they have instilled physical, mental and emotional damage to the prisoners. They know that they have done terrible things, but not all who were responsible have been apprehended. Fair was one of the interrogators in the prison facilities of Abu graib and Fallujah. He works under a private company that has connections with US military.
The Abu Graib prison can be explained by different psychological theories and social researches. These experiments reveal certain tendencies and dark manifestations of the human psyche, and how humans are swayed in their decision making. One of the important researchers done that is related to this topic is Milgram’s research. The social scientist’s quote “
"The social psychology of this century reveals a major lesson: often it is not so much the kind of person a man is as the kind of situation in which he finds himself that determines how he will act." - Stanley Milgram, 1974
Milgram’s theory posits that people act according to societal pressures and expectations. He highlights the power of authority to pressure others into doing a cruel bidding. His example was Adolph Eichmann, who stated that he was merely following orders when he ordered the execution of many Jews. MIdred’s book, Obedience to Authority reveals certain tendencies of human to follow the powerful and charismatic leaders and other influential people.
Milgram’s experiment basically participants with different roles. Milgram sought to answer whether an individual can be swayed to do harsh decisions, such as initiating a strong electric shock to stranger participants within an experimental and formal setting. An accomplice acted to be shocked and in pain, while the unknowing participant is coaxed by the experimenter to go on and press the button that would deliver strong electric shock.
Most participants asked the experimenter whether they should continue. The experimenter issued a series of commands to prod the participant along:
"Please continue."
"The experiment requires that you continue."
"It is absolutely essential that you continue."
"You have no other choice; you must go on."
Milgram’s finding was that most were willing to press the button that would hurt another human being when they were encouraged and permitted by an authority figure. The Abu Ghraib prison could have this type of dynamics. Some of the soldiers were merely going along the orders of their higher command. Some few who are really cruel and sadistic and have a seat in power could have propagated the inhumane doings. The victims of Abu Ghraib prison have spoken up about a few leading men who are notorious for their torture process and sadistic intentions. Since the military had a legal permission fro...