AO1

• What do social-psychological explanations focus on?

  Influences of others on individual behavior
• What sparked Milgram's interest in obedience?

  The trial of Adolf Eichmann in 1961
• Who was Adolf Eichmann?

  In charge of the Nazi Death camps
• What was Eichmann's defense during his trial?

  He was only 'obeying orders'
• What does Milgram propose about obedience to authority?

  It occurs when individuals do not take responsibility
• What is the agentic state?

  Acting for or in place of another
• What is the opposite of the agentic state?

  Autonomous state
• What does being in an autonomous state mean?

  Behaving according to one's own principles
• What is the agentic shift?

  Shift from autonomy to agency
• When does the agentic shift occur according to Milgram?

  When someone sees another as an authority figure
• What are binding factors in the context of obedience?

  Aspects that minimize the moral strain felt
• What is moral strain?

  High levels of anxiety experienced in agentic state
• How do individuals in an agentic state view their actions?

  They see the wrong but feel powerless
• What strategies do individuals use to reduce moral strain?

  Shifting responsibility or denying damage
• What did Blass and Schmitt find regarding Milgram's study?

  Participants blamed the experimenter for actions
• How is authority structured in most societies?

  Hierarchically, with certain positions holding authority
• Why do we accept legitimate authority figures?

  To allow society to function smoothly
• What is one consequence of accepting authority?

  Some people can punish others
• How do we learn acceptance of legitimate authority?

  From childhood, starting with parents
• What are the different levels of legitimacy of authority?

  Legitimacy of the system, authority, and order
• What does legitimacy of the system refer to?

  Extent to which the body is a legitimate authority
• What does legitimacy of authority within the system mean?

  Power individuals hold to give orders
• What does legitimacy of the order given refer to?

  Extent to which the order is perceived as legitimate
• What problems arise from destructive authority?

  Legitimate authority used for cruel purposes
• How was destructive authority evident in Milgram's study?

  Experimenter used prods against participants' consciences