197 | I Was Just Following Orders

Why We Do What We Do · Feb 17, 2021 · 1h 3m

Within certain communities that contain a hierarchal structure, most notably the military, the existence of an authoritative figure has a unique effect on behavior. Some scientists suggest that the coercive effects of following orders shifts the agency of responsibility onto a superior, allowing for a slippery slope of questionable behavior to take place. Many individuals throughout history have pointed to obeying orders as a means for exonerating them of responsibility for anything from robbery to war crimes. The question of where to place blame is an ongoing debate: if one was to…