Obedience - situational explanations

• Agentic state 


  Stanley Milgrams interest in obedience began with Adolf Eichmann’s 1961 war crimes trial - Eichmann (responsible for Nazi death camps) claimed he was just following orders.
• Agentic state (2)


  Milgram proposed that obedience to destructive authority happens because people dont take responsibility - they see themselves as agents acting for someone else - but they do feel high anxiety when they realise their actions are wrong but feel powerless do disobey.
• Autonomous state


  The opposite of being in an agentic state - means being independent or free - a person in an autonomous state acts according to their own principles and feels responsible for their actions.
• Autonomous state (2)


  The change from autonomy to agency is called the agentic shift - Milgram suggested this happens when someone sees another as an authority figure who has more power due to their high position is social hierarchy.
• Autonomous state (3)


  In social groups when one person is in charge others often defer to their authority and shift from autonomy to agency.
• Binding factors

  Milgram noticed that many participants wanted to stop but felt powerless to do so - he questioned why they stayed in an agentic state and found the answer in binding factors.
• Binding factors (2)


  Binding factors are aspects of the situation that help the person ignore or minimise the harmful effects of their actions which reduces their moral strain - Milgram suggested strategies the individuals use like shifting responsibility to the victim or denying the harm they were causing.
• Legitimacy of authority 


  Most societies are organised hierarchically - this authority is considered legitimate because society agrees on it - we accept that authority figures need to have social power for society to function well.
• Legitimacy of authority (2)


  One result of legitimacy is that some people can punish others like the police and courts - we willingly give up some independence and trust these figures to control our behaviour appropriately.
• Legitimacy of authority (3)


  We learn to accept legitimate authority from a young age starting with out parents then from our teachers and other adults.
• Destructive authority 


  Problems occur when legitimate authority is used destructively - History has shown that powerful leaders (Hitler) can misuse their authority to promote cruel and dangerous actions.
• Destructive authority 


  This destructive authority was evident in Milgram’s study where the experimenter pressured participants to act against their own morals.