Obedience

• What is agentic state?

  when a person acts on behalf of an authority figure

  the actor does not feel guilty for their actions

  it is the opposite of an autonomous state in which people act according to their own principles
• What is legitimate authority?

  when a person recognises their own and other’s position in a social hierarchy

  legitimacy is increased by visible symbols of authority, eg uniform legitimacy of setting, order, system.
• What are the situational variables for obedience?

  Proximity, location and uniform
• Why people remain in agentic state?

  binding factors allowed the individuals to ignore damaging effects of a behaviour, reducing moral strain felt
• What does authoritarian personality look like?

  Hostility to those with inferior status

  Extreme respect to those with status

  Rigidity in their opinions and beliefs

  Conventionality and upholding traditional values
• How is authoritarian personality developed?

  Harsh parenting

  Strict upbringing