Explanations of Obedience

• Agentic State

  State of mind in which individual believes they have no control/responsibility of behaviour due to being an agent of an authority figure

  • Allowing them to commit acts they personally morally oppose
• Autonomous State

  Opposite of Agentic State, behaviours are free of control, they are responsible for their actions
• Legitimacy of Authority

  Accepting higher individuals in society to be obeyed, having a sense of duty and punishment

  • Learnt in childhood through socialisation
• (+) A03: Milgram (1963)


  Professor presents Legitimacy of Authority, participants were agreeing to continue the study after prompt, but lowered in non-uniform
• (+) A03: Bickman (1974)


  Field study, 39% participants picked up rubbish when told by a security guard, but only 14% when asked by a milkman
• (-) A03: War Crimes

  Agentic State used to justify war crimes e.g. Nazi Eichmann