Abstract
The influence of the context on behavioral and emotional reactions to a war crime situation military cadets (N = 315) is analyzed. The study is based on Milgram’s experience and the tragedy of My Lai.It examines personal and peer obedience to an anti-normative order (asking participants whether they would obey an order to shoot unarmed civilians) in five vignettes or scenarios that reproduce Milgram’s conditions and MyLai scenario. This is an experimental between-within study of five scenarios by two conditions (Milgram, 1974). Personal and collective obedience of other military, emotional reactions and values of Schwartz (2012) were measured. Showing enhancement of self-bias it is reported that the pairs would be more likely to shoot than one would. Replicating Milgrams’s results, obedience is greater when the order is given directly by an authority, and lower when there is conflict between authorities and peers rebel. Confirming that identification with humanity and not just with the in-group may prompt respondents to reject an anti-normative order, values of transcendence of the self are associated with less obedience and congruent emotional reactions. Self-perceived transformational leadership was associated with positive emotions towards peer that disobey to fire. However a transformational style perceived in the superior was associated to positive emotions by respect to soldier who open fire, adding information on the potential dark side of this leadership style. The relevance of personal values, leadership style and affectivity in military context is discussed.
Highlights
The study shows that the vast majority of participants report that they would disobey the order to open fire on unarmed civilians
The reported likelihood of shooting is low. These military cadets believe, more intensely than a sample of Spanish civilians (Páez & Campos, 2004), that they would not open fire under these circumstances. They believe that a percentage of their comrades would obey an order that involved committing a war crime
Respondents felt more negative and less positive emotions in relation to soldiers who would shoot than about those who would not. These results suggest that people share a means of socialization and a set of rules regarding respect for human rights in armed conflicts. They suggest that a minority would prioritize obedience to authority, if it is legitimate and proximal
Summary
The sample consists of 315 cadets from an institute of military superior training in Latin America. At the time of the survey, they reported being in their 3rd and 4th year and belonging to different divisions (31% infantry, 13% artillery, 12% communications and engineering in equal percentage and 11% to cavalry) and specialties (13% to arsenals and 7 % to Intendance). All the participants exercise leadership over other military cadets. 88% of the sample reported being male and 12% female, between 20 and 29 years old (M = 23.52, SD = 2.39). Informed consent and principle of confidentiality were requested
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