Diffuse authority legitimized abuse while incriminating no one.

Evidence

The abuses occurred in a prison with all types of authorizers but no clear line of authority. These conditions created a climate of legitimization of torturous practices that incriminated no one. The graphic photos of abuse and humiliation at Abu Ghraib commanded worldwide attention, but the singular focus on Abu Ghraib made it easy to dismiss the abusive practices as isolated aberrations perpetrated by a few rogue guards who violated military rules. As the investigative report by the army’s inspector general succinctly put it, “these abuses should be viewed as what they are—unauthorized actions taken by a few individuals” (White & Higham, 2004). — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement, 2407 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

When questioned about why a priest who forced an altar boy to have oral and anal sex was not removed from the parish ministry, Lynn displayed striking indifference to the abused child (Warner, 2012a). He provided the odd justification that the abusing priest was also having sex with a woman, so he was “not a pure pedophile” (Warner, 2012b). The willful disregard for victimized minors in this tragedy is further shown in priests’ justifications for not reporting the sexual crimes to law-enforcement officials. Church lawyers told them they did not have to because they were not legally obligated to do so or because the statute of limitations had expired (Rogers, 2012). — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement, 498 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Diffuse chains of command legitimize abuses while incriminating no one — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement: How People Do Harm…, 2407; Anonymity from superiors’ approval converts abuse into sanctioned duty — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement: How People Do Harm…, 2406; Silent presence of sanctioned authorities legitimizes abuse in the minds of executors (+4 more)

Broader Connections

• Diffuse chains of command legitimize abuses while incriminating no one #corroborates (1.00) — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement, 2407
• Euphemistic reframing of abuse as atypical can enable institutional inaction. #complicates (0.72) — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement, 498