Agentic State

• The Agentic State- This theory suggests we are socialised from a very young age to follow the rules of society.
• For this to happen, a person must surrender their free will.
• When a person acts independently, we call this an autonomous state.
• When a person follows orders of someone in authority, they switch to an agentic state - this is called agentic shift.
• 'Acting as an agent' for the person in authority means they take little personal responsibility for their actions and reduced moral strain.
• In social groups where someone has power, an individual defers their behaviour to the person at the top of the hierarchy.
• They may know what they're doing is wrong, and experience high anxiety but feel powerless to disobey.
• They may use strategies to minimise their anxiety. E.g... "I was just following orders.