Problem
When atrocities happen, we are often tempted to label the perpetrators as "bad people" or even "monsters". For instance, when we learned that American troops were degrading soldiers in Abu Ghraib prison, the public was quick to point to the perpetrators as bad people. But some social psychologists follow a situationist approach, arguing that it is more important to consider the situational variables that drive such behaviour (and focus less on specific perpetrators) a) Which concept from the course best explains the public's tendency here? What is it called, how does it operate or function? b) Why does it matter whether we focus on personal or situational factors?