Agentic State

• AO1 - Agentic State

  • Normally a p acts in an autonomous  state
  • = acting according to their own moral values
  • Taking responsibility for their own actions
  • HOWEVER when given an order by an authoritative figure
  • = shift into an agentic state (agentic shift)
  • = see themselves as acting as an agent for the authority figure
  • They no longer take responsibility for their actions
  • = assume the authority figure is responsible
  • Milgram suggested when in this state 
  • = P’s may act in a way that goes against their moral code
  • = may cause harm to another P
• A strength of agentic state is there is evidence to support it

  • Blass & Schmitt (2001) 
  • = showed a recording of milgram's study to students
  • Asked them who was responsible for the harm caused
  • The students said the experimenter was
  • = because he was the expert and in authority

  THEREFORE this supports the validity of agentic state as an explanation for obedience

  BECAUSE it shows that the students recognised the power of the situation 

  AND perceived the P’s as acting as agents for the experimenter 

   
• WEAKNESS  of Agentic State AND Legitimate Authority: 

   

  A weakness of both theories is that they only offer a limited explanation

  • Although in M’s study
  • 65% gave the full shock 
  • = 35% didn't
  • This cannot be explained by these theories
  • BECAUSE everyone was in the same situation with an authoritative figure 
  • giving them an order
  • SO According to the theory everyone should have obeyed

  THEREFORE this a major problem for the theories 

  BECAUSE it cannot account for individual differences