Who is more likely to dehumanize the enemy in order to deal with cognitive dissonance they are experiencing?
A) Erin, who had to fire warning shots during a training exercise
B) Brady, who killed an enemy soldier in self-defense
C) Victor, who threw a grenade into a market
D) Hector, who is a sniper assigned to "eliminate" enemy soldiers

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Victor's action of throwing a grenade into a market may cause him to experience cognitive dissonance as he may feel guilty for causing harm to innocent civilians. In order to deal with this dissonance, he may dehumanize the enemy and view them as less human. However, it is important to note that dehumanizing the enemy is a common psychological defense mechanism in warfare and not necessarily an indicator of personal ethics or morality.

Who Is More Likely to Dehumanize the Enemy in Order