Responsibility for a Transmitted Command: A Juror Simulation

Abstract

A mock juror simulation was employed to analyze observers' attributions of responsibility for the transmittal of an illegal act. Student subjects (N = 261) were presented a newspaper article depicting a court case in which a subordinate personnel interviewer was being sued for sex discrimination which was (1) admitted and (2) under orders from a superior. As predicted the higher the status of the interviewer—the more attributed responsibility. However, the superior was attributed more responsibility than the subordinate regardless of the latter's status in the organization.