Abstract
The study of genocide and mass violence is important in understanding crime and intervention and has global implications for criminal justice. Analyzing both perpetrators and rescuers during periods of genocide is crucial to evaluate the full dynamics of atrocity crimes. Based on 176 in-depth interviews with Rwandan Hutus who engaged in rescue efforts during the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda, this study explores the ways in which individuals rescued during the genocide and what factors contributed to their rescue efforts. This research provides insight into the external factors that shape rescue efforts and how rescuers engage in prosocial behavior. This study challenges the theory that people who engage in rescue efforts have altruistic personality traits by assessing external factors that also played a role, such as social status, social networks, and economic factors.