From daily conflict in Iraq to extreme incidents such as the torture of prisoners at Abu Ghraib, the dehumanization of the "enemy" and the influence of the environment in which they encounter it can explain how and why soldiers on both sides attack. Social learning theory underlies the process of dehumanization, since, as seen in "Faces of the Enemy", such behavior is constantly supported and rewarded by the media and the military (Jersey & Friedman, 1987). Equally important is the role of Berkowitz's cognitive neoassociation analysis, which recognizes the environment and situational influences that can lead to feelings of aggression. Through the intersections of these two theories, a more complete analysis emerges than would be possible from either alone. In this case, social learning theory often plays its role by teaching through observation. When individual Iraqi insurgents or al-Qaeda in Iraq see others dehumanizing American soldiers and earning praise for it, they become accustomed to such thoughts and, as stated, find it easier to attack. Such rebels learn from the example of others that dehumanization is acceptable. The less human the other person seems, the easier it is to harm him; often, soldiers' orders require them to do just that. In a sense this process mimics Bandura's (1977) BoBo doll experiment in which children performed similar aggressive acts after seeing adults perform them (Kassin, Fein & Markus, 2008 p. 403). In June of this year, fifteen American soldiers were killed, mostly due to attacks by Shiite militias (Associated Press [AP], 2011). Moktada al-Sadr, an influential Shia cleric known for his anti-Americanism, said that American troops should be treated as "tyrannical occupiers" (AP, ... half of document ... ar attacks, leading to further stress (2007 , p. 351). Pappas, apparently affected by the attacks, often made soldiers sleep inside the prison cells for protection (Zimbardo, 2007 p. 335), this stimulus probably contributed to the soldiers ready to attack detainees. In reality, it is a combination of competing theories rather than a single theory that explains such aggression in situations such as Iraq soldiers on both sides for aggression, cognitive neoassociation demonstrates how negative environmental factors contribute to the violence However, although such theories of aggression highlight the importance of the situation, social psychology does not justify or condone the extreme actions taken by both parties: it can only. explain.