Citation

Mandel DR, Vartanian O, Adams BD, Thomson MH. Hum. Perform. 2010; 23(3): 229.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/08959285.2010.488258

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A field experiment examined the tactical peacekeeping behaviors of military-officer teams undergoing training as United Nations military observers. Teams encountered a simulated human-rights violation where two civilians were being abused. Proximity of the female civilian to the team leader was manipulated and significantly influenced teams' commitment to saving the civilians' lives. Proximity increased the frequency of behaviors that were specifically oriented toward saving the civilians' lives and did not increase confrontational behavior. Finally, trainees' performance assessments were lower if they intervened but failed to save lives than if they did little to intervene and also failed to save lives.