Accountability for Atrocities Flashcards
Describe the issue
US army invaded IranAmerica resever worked 10hrs a day in Iran prisonIn 2004, inmates psychological, sexual and physical abuse
American solders were NOT to blame for actions - Zimbardo
Good ppl put in bad place -> guards and prisoners physically and emotionally stable people, normal least involved in antisocial behaviourDemand characteristics = behaved how they thought they were supposed toGuards only told to not physically hurt them, but psychologicallly warned them like in Abu Ghrab, conformed to the roleShows dependency on environment normal people can changehide behind authorities to commit devious acts
Americans WERE to blame - authoritarian personality
caused by harsh parenting, parents only love you if you do what you’re supposed to do and abusive if you do something wrongAs an adult you turn into someone who respects authority, filled with hostility and have willingness to take out frustration on those weaker than youSeek jobs with hierarchy that control over others - people take guard job tend to have this personality. These guards took it out on people below them (abused them)
America were NOT to blame - agency theory
believe they are agent of authority figure, acting on someone above them on hierarchy scaledon’t have ultimate authority so they shouldn’t be blamed for what they do creates more strain on soldier, resulting in harm to othersleads to cognitive dissonance, behavioural problem -> moral strain 100% participant went to 300V, participants in study perceived society, Milgram 1974 born with obedience, society creates obedient man
Americans WERE to blame - agentic state
Obey authority figure because there is no other choice -> so abuse themUsually when in agentic state -> shows anxiety, Milgram (bit lips, seizures, sweating) but soldiers showed no moral strain (grinning in photos)No evidence there were orders to abuse prisoners from US army. Abused due to situation , shpwed they are in autonomy state
American were NOT to blame - realistic conflict theory
America vs iraqTortures because it was a life or death situation limited resource is living
American WERE to blame - realistic conflict theory
Sherif , stage 2 of study intergroup competition created with negative interdependenceViolence and prejudice increased between groups this way shows as few outgroup boys were friends with ingroup as the 10/11 year olds in study boys needed provocation to start hostilityThis was done by experimenting trashing other groups cabinLow ecological vaidity (10-11 yr olds) from americaDoes not generalise well to prisoners in Aby Ghrab
Conclusion bonus point
Fisk et al (2004)Once they established abuse as a group norm it was very hard to not confirm”In combat, conformity to one’s unit means survival and ustracism means death”
Conclusions
Were to blame - werent in autonomous state
