According to Zimbardo, the abuse at Abu Ghraib occurred because:

• A. Situational factors and the power of the environment led ordinary people to commit abusive acts.
• B. The prisoners provoked the guards into abusing them.
• C. The guards were inherently evil and predisposed to violence.
• D. There was a lack of proper military training among the guards.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the context of Zimbardo's research, particularly the Stanford Prison Experiment, which demonstrated how situational factors and the environment can influence individuals' behavior.
2. Recognize that Zimbardo argued abusive behavior in situations like Abu Ghraib is not necessarily due to inherent personality traits but rather the power of the situation and environment.
3. Analyze the options given: the correct explanation aligns with the idea that ordinary people can commit abusive acts when placed in a powerful, oppressive environment.
4. Eliminate options that attribute abuse to inherent evil or provocation by prisoners, as these contradict Zimbardo's emphasis on situational influence.
5. Conclude that the best answer reflects the role of situational factors and environmental power in leading to abusive behavior, consistent with Zimbardo's findings.