Legitimacy of authority and agentic state

• What is the Agentic state? A mental state where we feel no personal responsibility for our behaviour because we believe ourselves to be acting for an authority figure. I.e as an agent
• What is the opposite of the Agentic state? Autonomous State
• What is the Autonomous State? They are free to behave to their own principles and therefore feel a sense of responsibility for their own actions
• What is an Agentic shift? Milgram suggested that this occurs when a person perceives someone else as an authority figure.

  
  

  When they go from an autonomous state to an agentic state
• What are binding factors? Aspects of the situation which will allow the person to minimise the damaging effect of their behaviour. They could shift responsibility onto the victim
• What research supports the agentic state? Blass and Schmitt

  Showed Milgrams study to students and asked them who's fault it was. They said Mr Wallace. Said it was due to the 'legitimate authority.

  
  

  (Authority was the cause of obedience, support)
• What is a negative evaluation point of the Agentic shift explanation? It's a limited explanation. Does say why some pps didn't obey.

  
  

  Doesn't explain Hofling's research (doctors and nurses) as the nurses handed over responsibility to the doctors.

  
  

  Suggests Agentic state can only account for some reasons
• What is Legitimacy of Authority? It explains that we are more likely to obey people who we perceive to have an authority over us.

  
  

  This is justified by the individuals position of power within a social hierarchy.
• What is one consequence of legitimacy of Authority? Some people are granted power to punish others. So, if the authority abuses their power it isn't being used appropriately.
• What is destructive authority? When a Legitimate Authority becomes destructive. I.e Hitler.

  
  

  This was shown in Milgrams study when the experimenter used verbal prods.
• Evaluation points of legitimate Authority: Cultural differences: many studies show people are traditionally obedient. It varied in countries for Milgrams studies- showing how different societies are structured and how children are raised.

  
  

  This increases the validity
• Examples of some binding factors:

  • denying impact of actions
  • commitment to role
  • shifting responsibility onto victim
  • guilt/anxiety on the thought of leaving