Award Abstract # 1230062
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors in Rescuer Behavior

NSF Org: BCS
Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences
Recipient: UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE
Initial Amendment Date: September 11, 2012
Latest Amendment Date: April 21, 2015
Award Number: 1230062
Award Instrument: Standard Grant
Program Manager: Jeffrey Mantz
jmantz@nsf.gov
 (703)292-7783
BCS
 Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences
SBE
 Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences
Start Date: September 1, 2012
End Date: August 31, 2015 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $195,341.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $203,341.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2012 = $165,593.00
FY 2013 = $0.00

FY 2015 = $0.00
History of Investigator:
  • Jennie Burnet (Principal Investigator)
    jburnet@gsu.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: University of Louisville Research Foundation Inc
2301 S 3RD ST
LOUISVILLE
KY  US  40208-1838
(502)852-3788
Sponsor Congressional District: 03
Primary Place of Performance: Various Locations in Rwanda
 RW
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): E1KJM4T54MK6
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): Cultural Anthropology,
EPSCoR Co-Funding
Primary Program Source: 01001213DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
01001314DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT

01001516DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s): 1390, 9150, 9178, 9251, SMET
Program Element Code(s): 139000, 915000
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.075

ABSTRACT

Dr. Jennie E. Burnet of the University of Louisville will undertake research on rescuer behavior, community-level resistance to violence, and rescuer motivation during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. The study's central question is: how and why do some people put themselves at great risk of harm in order to rescue others during communal violence? The study will compare rescuer behavior among different ethnic and religious groups in that country to identify the intrinsic factors (such as character, identity, religious belief, and religious practice) and extrinsic factors (such as geography, proximity to victims, opportunity, and community structure) that make rescuer behavior possible. The researchers will investigate the potential impact of social network characteristics on resistance to genocide and will attempt to identify aspects of faith, practice, leadership, or community structure that led to community-level resistance to genocide in certain locales.

Using social science research methods, the project will gather life history narratives, key informant interviews, testimony about the genocide, and social network data from more than 250 Rwandans in eight communities in Rwanda. A range of actors, including publicly recognized rescuers, bystanders, perpetrators, and victims will be interviewed.

This research will contribute to the scientific understanding of rescuer behavior, resistance to communal violence, and the impact of religion on these behaviors. It will also assist policymakers in developing interventions to improve resistance to communal violence. The project will contribute to basic understanding of the Rwandan religious communities and the connections between Rwandan local social movements and global religious communities. Finally, this study can offer a timely contribution to national and international policy debates about religion and violence.

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