Milgram’s agency theory

• What type of factor is this theory? 


  Social factor.
• What is an agentic state?

  Following orders with no responsibility.
• What is an autonomous state?

  Own free choice.
• What is an agentic shift?

  Moving from making own free choices to following orders, occurs when someone is in authority.
• What does hierarchy depend on?

  On society and socialisation.
• How does culture affect the social hierarchy?

  Some people in certain parts of the world are brought up to believe some people have more authority than others.
• How does proximity affect this theory?

  Participants were less obedient in Milgram’s study when in same room as learner, increasing ‘moral strain’
• What is a negative evaluation of this theory?

  Obedience alibi, agency theory offers an excuse for destructive behaviour, potentially dangerous.
• What is a positive evaluation of this theory?

  Research support — Blass and Schmidt showed students a film of milgram’s study, they blamed the experimenter rather than participants.