Date of Award

2016-01-01

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Psychology

Advisor(s)

Christian A. Meissner

Abstract

The purpose of these three experiments was to determine what factors affect Americans' attitudes toward torture and the interrogators who engage in torture. Using theories of intergroup bias, fundamental attribution error, and cognitive dissonance, the three experiments investigated how people make behavioral attributions for an interrogator, as well as how people perceive the acceptability, ethicalness, effectiveness, and procedural justice of the technique used. Four variables were manipulated: group membership of the interrogator and detainee, outcome of the interrogation, and type of interrogation tactic used. It was expected that people would make attributional and attitudinal judgments in a manner that preserved the integrity of their in-group. Specific hypotheses are discussed prior to each experiment.

Language

en

Provenance

Received from ProQuest

File Size

138 pages

File Format

application/pdf

Rights Holder

Julia LaBianca

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