Explanations for obedience

• The two states of behaviour in a social situation are the autonomous state and the agentic state
• The autonomous state is where people direct their own actions and take responsibility for their actions
• The agentic state is where people allow their actions to be directed by others and pass responsibility for their actions onto the person who told them to do it
• How does the agentic state explain obedience?

  • To enter the agentic state, authority must be seen as legitimate
  • People will obey when they believe that the authority will take responsibility for their actions
• Which of Milgram's shock study conditions support the agentic state?

  Supported by the two teacher condition:

  • When participants instructed someone else to press the switches 92.5% shocked to the maximum - when there is less personal responsibility obedience increases
• What is the authoritarian personality as an explanation for obedience?

  • Proposed by Adorno, suggested dispositional factors rather than situational factors explain obedience
  • Suggested some people favour an authoritarian social system and admire obedience to authority figures
  • Features: hostile towards those of inferior status, extreme respect for authority, need for a strong leader
• What are two limitations of the Authoritarian personality as an explanation for obedience

  • Biased sample
  • Low temporal validity