What is Categorized as a War Crime Depends on Who Commits It: An Asymmetry in Moral Judgments of Acts of War
Abstract
Should all acts of aggression carried out in war be categorized as War Crimes? The Geneva Conventions and the International Criminal Court set specific parameters as to what does and does not constitute a war crime. Research in the domain of moral psychology displays that individuals are guided by the justness of cause when making moral judgements about combatant behavior. However, minimal research has evaluated the differentiation of atrocities being categorized as a war crime or not. Across two studies, this research seeks to investigate the role aggressors play in lay people’s categorization of war crimes. Do pre-existing beliefs about aggressor versus victim in the context of war determine judgements of war crimes? We believe that in political conflicts, when there is stronger support for a nation, the less their acts will be categorized as war crimes. In a fictional scenario, the victim nation will be less blameworthy and hence, their acts will be categorized as war crimes less than the aggressor nation. The implications of this research will better guide our understanding of support for war, which in turn dictates policy makers’ choices in declaring war. This research will also help us better understand lay opinion of war crimes, contributing to the moral psychology domain of morality of war.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Justin Landy
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-3-2024 12:30 PM
End Date
4-4-2024 1:30 PM
What is Categorized as a War Crime Depends on Who Commits It: An Asymmetry in Moral Judgments of Acts of War
Alvin Sherman Library
Should all acts of aggression carried out in war be categorized as War Crimes? The Geneva Conventions and the International Criminal Court set specific parameters as to what does and does not constitute a war crime. Research in the domain of moral psychology displays that individuals are guided by the justness of cause when making moral judgements about combatant behavior. However, minimal research has evaluated the differentiation of atrocities being categorized as a war crime or not. Across two studies, this research seeks to investigate the role aggressors play in lay people’s categorization of war crimes. Do pre-existing beliefs about aggressor versus victim in the context of war determine judgements of war crimes? We believe that in political conflicts, when there is stronger support for a nation, the less their acts will be categorized as war crimes. In a fictional scenario, the victim nation will be less blameworthy and hence, their acts will be categorized as war crimes less than the aggressor nation. The implications of this research will better guide our understanding of support for war, which in turn dictates policy makers’ choices in declaring war. This research will also help us better understand lay opinion of war crimes, contributing to the moral psychology domain of morality of war.
