Explanations for Obedience

Cards (4)

  • define agentic state

    - state of mind in which the individual believes they dont have resopsibility fro their behaviour as they are the agent of an authority figure
    - allowing individuals to commit acts that they personally morally oppose
  • define legitimacy of authority
    - individuals accept that other individuals who are higher up the social hierarchy should be obeyed
    - learnt through childhood through socialisation processes (relationships: parent/child, student/teacher)
    - accepted by most people that legitimacy of authority is needed for society to function properly
  • outline Bickman (1974)
    - real world, field study
    - 39% of the public obeyed at picking up litter if investigator dressed as a security guard
    - 14% if dressed as a milkman
  • A03,explanations for obedience
    - individual differences in agentic state/legitimacy of authority: 35% of ppts refused to deliver 450V shock in Milgram
    - the agentic state has been used to try and justify war crimes (Nazi Germany)