Psychological factors

• The Agentic State - A diffusion of responsibility on those around you, who are giving the orders.
• Agentic state is needed to maintain a positive self image.
• Actions performed under the Agentic State are virtually guilt-free.
• Binding Factors - The fear of breaking social etiquette that binds an individual to obedience.
• A condition needed for someone to shift into the Agentic State is the perception of a legitimate authority figure.
• Milgram believed that people have an expectation that, in many situations, there will be a socially domineering figure.
• The experimenter in Milgram’s study had legitimate authority as when the participants entered a lab they expected somebody to be in charge. His outfit also helped secure his position of power.
• Legitimate authority requires an institution (e.g. a university, the military).
• Milgram’s variation of his study, moving from Yale university to an abandoned office block conducted by “Research Associates of Bridgeport”, showed similar levels of obedience. This suggests that the nature of the institution matters more than the relative status.
• Real life examples (Agentic State)

  • Milgram claimed people shift between the agentic and autonomous state.
  • This idea of rapid change does not explain the gradual transition in Lifton’s sturdy of German doctors working at Auschwitz. Going from caring for their patients to carrying out vile and lethal experiments.
  • Staub suggests that the experience of caring out evil acts over a long period is what changes the way individuals think and behave.
• Milgram himself recognised the possibility personality impacts the levels of obedience in his experiment, some participants being more sadistic than others.
• Tarnow provided support for the legitimacy of author its through his study into aviation accidents. He found there was excessive dependence on the captain’s authority.