Causal attribution requires perceiving both power and intent in the blamed agent

Evidence

Calley, the only individual who had both role and direct causal responsibility, was the only individual tried and convicted for his actions. This makes intuitive sense. The enlisted men were seen as the physical cause of the killings, but it was recognized that they had a role responsibility to obey orders in general, which made them unattractive candidates for punishment. But looking at higher authorities, many felt that they had a plausible claim to deny that murder of innocents was what they meant. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 4003 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Instant post-9-11 blame explanations bypassed perpetrator psychology — Leonard S. Newman and Ralph Erber (eds.), Understanding Genocide: The Social…, 10; Attributed causal power, not mere difference, produced the most lethal targeting — Leonard S. Newman and Ralph Erber (eds.), Understanding Genocide: The Social…, 799; Covering up past harms changes accidental harm into knowing intent (+6 more)

Broader Connections

• Holding one kind of responsibility can shield actors from attribution of the other #complicates (0.74) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 4003