Final answer:
The Abu Ghraib abuses can be related to anomie, which is a state of normlessness and lack of societal support for individuals, often experienced in times of social upheaval like war. This contributed to the environment where soldiers abused prisoners and felt unable to counteract the abusive behaviors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The abuses at Abu Ghraib prison during the Iraq War can be related to the concept of anomie, a term coined by sociologist Émile Durkheim. Anomie describes a state of normlessness, where societal norms are weakened, and collective consciousness no longer supports the individuals in a society. Anomie can occur during periods of social upheaval or uncertainty, such as war, which may lead to situations where individuals, including military personnel, act without the guidance of established norms or ethical standards.
In the context of Abu Ghraib, the American soldiers involved in the abuse may have experienced anomie due to the chaotic environment of war, lack of oversight, and the absence of a strong moral framework guiding their actions. This breakdown of norms could explain why some soldiers behaved sadistically and why others, despite not partaking in the abuse, felt powerless to intervene. This phenomenon has parallels to the behavior observed in the Stanford Prison Experiment, where individuals placed in positions of power, without clear rules or ethical guidelines, behaved in ways that were abusive to those in their control.