Peoples tendency to obey people has a useful function it helps to keep society running smoothly because people abide by rules instead of acting independently
The first state is autonomous where the person believes they have the power - freely choose their behaviour and take control of their own actions (own moral code)
The second state is agentic where the person allows someone else to direct their behaviour (that they aren't responsible for the consequences of their behaviour)
The agent state can be explained through evolution due to it being used as a survival strategy where following leaders in a threatening situation
Acting agentically is learned in childhood like in schools where kids are taught to put aside their own wishes for order maintenance
It also suggests people experience moral strain when they feel that their obedient behaviour is wrong
Displacing responsibility onto authority figures reduces moral strain or through dissenting
Evidence for (milligrams study provides evidence for..)
+ It supports moral strain
+ It supports evidence for The concept of displacement
+ Supported by other research like in hofling et al 1966
Evidence for
= Lacks direct evidence as agency is an internal mental process and cannot be directly observed (low in validity)
= The theory is more a description rather than an explanation
Methodology
+ Used standardised procedures for good replication with a different variable to see what has the main impacts
+ Increases scientific credibility
Methodology
= Lacked mundane realism
= low in generalisability and ecological validity
Applications
+ Agency theory Explains real life events
+ Studies from different cultures also support agency theory
+ Hofling et al 1966 (how nurses obeyed orders)
= Does not explain individual differences (why some people obey and don't and do)