Neural processing of obedience and resistance among former genocide perpetrators and rescuers.

Abstract

While influential studies, notably those of Milgram, have been used to explain participation in genocide, none have directly involved individuals who either participated in or resisted genocidal violence. To better understand what drives participation or resistance, this study examines decision-making processes among former genocide perpetrators, rescuers, and bystanders in a controlled task assessing (dis)obedience to harmful orders to take money from a victim. Although former perpetrators were more likely to obey antisocial commands and take money, all groups demonstrated high rates of prosocial disobedience by choosing not to take the money. Electroencephalogram data revealed that rescuers exhibited heightened emotional processing of victims' distress compared to other groups, which was associated with greater prosocial disobedience. The study also challenges the idea that inherent traits drive genocidal violence, as former perpetrators and bystanders showed no differences across various neural processes. Our study provides the first empirical evidence of the specificities of rescuers and offers insights into fostering resistance to harmful social influence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).