The My Lai Massacre: A Crime of Obedience? (from Crimes of Obedience: Toward a Social Psychology of Authority and Responsibility) HERBERT
-Kelman and Hamilton call the killings at My Lai:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The term "a sanctioned massacre" suggests that the killings at My Lai were approved or authorized by those in authority, making it a crime of obedience. The other options do not accurately capture the nature of the massacre. State terrorism typically involves the use of violence or the threat of violence by a government to intimidate or coerce a population, which does not fit the context of My Lai. A protective reaction strike and collateral damage imply unintended consequences of a military operation, whereas at My Lai, the targeted killing of unarmed civilians was intentional. A soft target refers to a person or place that is vulnerable to attack, which does not accurately capture the situation at My Lai.

The My Lai Massacre: a Crime of Obedience? (From Crimes