Agentic & Autonomous state & Legitimacy of Authority

• What is the definition of the Agentic State?

  Acting on authority's behalf with shifted responsibility
• How does the Agentic State relate to Milgram's Study?

  Obedience is due to the authority figure's influence
• What is the Agentic Shift?

  A change from an Autonomous to an Agentic state
• What triggers the Agentic Shift?

  It is triggered by the presence of authority
• What characterizes the Autonomous State?

  Acting independently with personal responsibility
• What does the Autonomous State involve in terms of decision-making?

  It involves making moral decisions with free will and accountability
• What is meant by Legitimacy of Authority?

  Recognition of authority based on cultural learning
• How does Milgram's Study relate to the Legitimacy of Authority?

  Obedience is linked to symbols like uniforms
• What are the key findings from Milgram's Study regarding obedience?

  • Obedience increases in an agentic state
  • 65% obedience when face-to-face with authority
  • 20.5% obedience when authority is via telephone
  • No authority leads to an Autonomous state
• What criticism is associated with the Agentic State theory?

  It ignores individual differences in obedience
• What incident did Mandel (1998) describe to critique the Agentic State theory?

  Nazi soldiers shot civilians despite having other duties
• What does the Agentic State theory fail to explain?

  It does not explain resistance to authority
• How does the Agentic State theory apply to historical atrocities?

  • Explains blind obedience in extreme situations
  • Relevant to events like WWII and Nazi actions
• What is a strength of the Legitimacy of Authority concept?

  It has supporting evidence from Milgram's variations
• How does the setting affect obedience according to Milgram's variations?

  Obedience is higher in prestigious settings like Yale (65%)
• Why do people obey authority figures according to the Legitimacy of Authority?

  Because authority has greater legitimate authority and social power