Crimes of Obedience

Crimes of Obedience examines how ordinary people can participate in atrocities when operating within authoritative systems and hierarchical structures. The book uses the My Lai massacre during the Vietnam War as a central case study to explore the psychology of military personnel who commit acts of violence under orders. The authors analyze the legal, social, and psychological factors that enable crimes of obedience to occur. Through interviews with veterans and examination of military records, they investigate how authority, duty, and organizational pressures can override individual moral judgment. Kelman and Hamilton present theories about the conditions and mechanisms that transform normal citizens into perpetrators of state-sanctioned violence. Their research extends beyond military contexts to examine how similar dynamics operate in civilian bureaucracies and institutions. The work raises fundamental questions about human nature, moral responsibility, and the relationship between individuals and authority structures. Its insights remain relevant for understanding organizational behavior and preventing institutional violence.

Readers found this book offers an academic examination of how normal people commit atrocities when following orders. Many emphasized its relevance for understanding events like the My Lai massacre and Holocaust. Liked: - Clear framework for analyzing institutional factors that enable crimes of obedience - Strong research and case studies - Valuable insights for military personnel and public servants - Balanced treatment of complex moral issues Disliked: - Dense academic writing style - Repetitive sections - Limited practical solutions - Focus on theory over personal accounts One reader noted it "helps explain why good people can do terrible things without being inherently evil." Another criticized the "overly academic tone that makes important insights less accessible." Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (89 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (12 ratings) Google Books: 4/5 (6 ratings) Most reviews recommend it for academic research but suggest general readers may struggle with the scholarly approach.

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The Lucifer Effect by Philip Zimbardo The book examines how social situations and systemic forces transform ordinary people into perpetrators of evil through analysis of the Stanford Prison Experiment and military abuses.

Ordinary Men by Christopher Browning The study follows German police officers who became mass murderers during World War II, revealing how regular citizens transform into killers through organizational pressure and group dynamics.

States of Denial by Stanley Cohen The text investigates how individuals and societies ignore, deny, or justify atrocities and human rights violations through psychological and sociological mechanisms.

The Psychology of Good and Evil by Ervin Staub The work examines how social conditions and psychological processes lead ordinary people to commit acts of harm or heroism through historical examples and psychological research.

🔍 The authors introduced the concept of "crimes of obedience" to describe atrocities committed by people following orders, contrasting them with crimes of rebellion. 📚 The book draws heavily from interviews with defendants from the My Lai massacre trial, offering rare insights into the mindset of soldiers who followed illegal orders. ⚖️ Kelman and Hamilton's work influenced how courts and military organizations worldwide approach the "following orders" defense in war crimes trials. 🧠 The research revealed that people who commit crimes of obedience often don't view their actions as criminal, instead seeing them as necessary duties within their professional roles. 🏛️ Herbert Kelman's framework from this book is still used in modern military training programs to help soldiers recognize and resist unlawful orders.