HW assignment due – Thurs 23rd January

YOUR task is to prepare a pp presentation on a key issue of

your choice. It must be relevant to today’s society.

You need to apply concepts, theories and/or research (as appropriate) drawn from the

Social Approach to explain the issue.

Here is an exampleHere is an example

Suitable examples:blind obedience to authority in a prison setting (for example the Abu Ghraib situation)obedience during conflict resulting in harm to others (for example My Lai Massacre, Vietnam 1968)

football violencerace riots (for example St Paul’s, Bristol 1980)cult behaviour. The Holocaust

Massacre at My LaiMassacre at My LaiMarch 16, 1968March 16, 1968

Where is My Lai?Where is My Lai?

My Lai is in the South My Lai is in the South Vietnamese district Vietnamese district of Son My. During of Son My. During the Vietnam war it the Vietnam war it was a heavily mined was a heavily mined area of Vietcong area of Vietcong entrenchment.entrenchment.

On March 16, 1968, On March 16, 1968, the men of Charlie the men of Charlie Company; 23Company; 23rdrd infantry infantry division,entered the division,entered the village of My Lai. They village of My Lai. They were under the were under the command of command of

Captain Ernest Medina.Captain Ernest Medina.

11stst Platoon was led by Platoon was led by 22ndnd Lt. William Calley Lt. William Calley

There then ensued the There then ensued the

Mass Murder of Mass Murder of between 307-504 between 307-504 unarmed citizens.unarmed citizens.

Some of whom were Some of whom were sexually abused.sexually abused.

Timeline of eventsTimeline of events First arrivals were Lieutenant Calley and the First First arrivals were Lieutenant Calley and the First

Platoon.Platoon. The mission of the First Platoon was to secure the The mission of the First Platoon was to secure the

landing area for the helicopters.landing area for the helicopters. This was shortly after eight in the morning.This was shortly after eight in the morning. After securing the landing area, the First Platoon After securing the landing area, the First Platoon

entered the village of My Lai. entered the village of My Lai. Calley ordered his men to enter the village firing, Calley ordered his men to enter the village firing,

though there had been no report of opposition fire. though there had been no report of opposition fire. Soon, the “search and destroy” mission had Soon, the “search and destroy” mission had degenerated into the massacre of over 300 degenerated into the massacre of over 300 apparently unarmed civilians, which included women, apparently unarmed civilians, which included women, children, and the elderly- all in the course of three children, and the elderly- all in the course of three hours.hours.

Victims of My Victims of My LaiLai Families who had huddled Families who had huddled

together for safety in huts together for safety in huts or bunkers were shown no or bunkers were shown no mercy.mercy.

Those who surrendered Those who surrendered with their hands held high with their hands held high were murdered.were murdered.

Women were gang raped.Women were gang raped. Vietnamese who had Vietnamese who had

bowed to greet the bowed to greet the Americans were beaten Americans were beaten with fists and tortured.with fists and tortured.

Some victims were Some victims were mutilated with the mutilated with the signature “C Company” signature “C Company” carved into the chest.carved into the chest.

Lt. Calley was said Lt. Calley was said to have rounded up to have rounded up a group of the a group of the villagers, ordered villagers, ordered them into a ditch, them into a ditch, and mowed them and mowed them down in a blast of down in a blast of machine gun fire.machine gun fire.

Cover-upCover-up It took more than a It took more than a

year for the shocking year for the shocking story of the My Lai story of the My Lai massacre to reach the massacre to reach the news stands.news stands.

Medina realized that Medina realized that the news of the event the news of the event could cause trouble. could cause trouble. For instance, “when he For instance, “when he was questioned by a was questioned by a superior, he maintained superior, he maintained that between 20 and that between 20 and 28 civilians had been 28 civilians had been killed by gun-ship and killed by gun-ship and artillery fire.” artillery fire.”

Medina’s account of Medina’s account of “the events was “the events was echoed in a report echoed in a report submitted in a month submitted in a month later by the later by the commander of the 11th commander of the 11th Infantry Brigade, Infantry Brigade, Colonel Oran K Colonel Oran K Henderson. 20 civilians Henderson. 20 civilians had been killed had been killed inadvertently, he inadvertently, he claimed.”claimed.”

However, rumors However, rumors began to be spread of began to be spread of the true events that the true events that had occurred at My Lai.had occurred at My Lai.

Charges and PardonsCharges and Pardons On March 29, 1970, Lieutenant On March 29, 1970, Lieutenant

Calley was found guilty of the Calley was found guilty of the murder of at least 33 “oriental murder of at least 33 “oriental human beings, occupants of the human beings, occupants of the village of My Lai, whose names village of My Lai, whose names and sexes are unknown, by means and sexes are unknown, by means of shooting them with a rifle.”of shooting them with a rifle.”

Calley was dishonorably Calley was dishonorably discharged and sentenced to life discharged and sentenced to life in Leavenworth Prison.in Leavenworth Prison.

The sentence was reduced to 20 The sentence was reduced to 20 years by President Nixon.years by President Nixon.

In 1974, after serving just three In 1974, after serving just three years, Calley was pardoned by years, Calley was pardoned by Nixon.Nixon.

Links with Agency Theory.Links with Agency Theory.Milgram’s agency theory can help toMilgram’s agency theory can help to

explain the events of the My Laiexplain the events of the My Lai

Massacre. Massacre.

It could be argued that CalleyIt could be argued that Calley

and his officers were in an ‘agentic and his officers were in an ‘agentic state’state’

during the massacre. They did not during the massacre. They did not take personal responsibility for the take personal responsibility for the massacre.massacre.

They believed they were ‘simply They believed they were ‘simply following orders’. following orders’.

Stanley Milgram.

Link to SITLink to SIT

According to Tajfel people naturally According to Tajfel people naturally CategoriseCategorise others into people who others into people who are like them and those who are not.are like them and those who are not.

People People IdentifyIdentify with those they with those they perceived as similar.perceived as similar.

ComparisonsComparisons are then made with are then made with people in the ‘out group’. people in the ‘out group’.

Inter-group Discrimination Inter-group Discrimination

Tajfel’s research demonstrated that Tajfel’s research demonstrated that ‘in group bias’, and discrimination ‘in group bias’, and discrimination against the out group could be against the out group could be created easily; even when the created easily; even when the criteria for group identity was criteria for group identity was flimsy/minimalflimsy/minimal

TaskTask Choose a key Issue that interests you.Choose a key Issue that interests you.

Create a power point presentation Create a power point presentation including images.including images.

Describe your Key IssueDescribe your Key Issue Explain Explain WHYWHY it is an issue it is an issue Explain the key issue in terms of Explain the key issue in terms of

Agency theory and or and or Social Identity Social Identity TheoryTheory