Explanations of Obedience

• What is the agentic state as an explanation for obedience

  individuals see themselves as not responsible for actions they put responsibility onto authority figure (agentic shift). Because this maintains persons positive self image > what they do isnt their fault and cant be blamed.
• Why is the agentic state as an explanation for obedience problematic

  It is not the only reason as fear and peer pressure are involved. Also it excuses people doing bad things as just following orders
• What is the legitimacy of authority as an explanation of obedience

  People need to have person in power to put responsibility on to move into agentic state. Power comes from position in social setting and helps if it is a very institutionalised structure like headteacher in school
• Strength of the agentic state as an explanation of obedience

  Milgrams shock test > 65% gave full shock > high obedience as they entered agentic state following the experimenter.

  However this was a lab study so low validity and demand characteristics
• Strength of the agentic state as an explanation of obedience

  Hofling nurse study > 21/22 nurses broke rules obeying doctor > high obedience as entered agentic state following doctor > real life setting so high validity
• evaluation of the legitimacy of authority as an explanation of obedience

  Cultural differences > 16% Australians gave full shock, 85% germans gave full shock > reflects how authority is different in different cultures
• weakness of legitimacy of authority as an explanation of obedience

  Dispositional factors, some people more obedient than others > 35% disobeyed in milgrams test despite an authority figure present > innate personal tendencies should be considered