Explanations for Obedience

• 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)