Question

During the Vietnam war era, Lt. William Calley was convicted of ordering his men to shoot women and children during the My Lai massacre. This incident most resembles the work of which of the following researchers?

Solomon Asch's line matching studies
Stanley Milgram's obedience studies
Albert Bandura's observational learning studies
Zimbardo's Stanford prison experiment

Answer 1

The My Lai massacre, during which Lt. William Calley ordered the killing of unarmed civilians, most closely resembles the work of **Stanley Milgram's obedience studies**. Milgram's research demonstrated how ordinary people could commit acts of cruelty when instructed to do so by an authority figure, highlighting the power of obedience in ethical decision-making. Therefore, the situation in My Lai reflects issues of authority and obedience similar to those explored in Milgram's experiments.