the agentic state is where people act under the belief that someone else is responsible for the outcomes of their actions
the autonomous state is where people act knowing that they are responsible for the consequences of their own actions
agency theory is the idea that people are more likely to obey in the agentic state as they believe that they will not have to deal with the consequences of their own actions
rather, the agent will be responsible instead
Bickman - obedience can depend on legitimacy of authority
got people to do simple tasks such as picking up litter
while in different uniforms (smart clothes, a milkman or a guard's uniform).
found that people are more likely to obey to someone wearing a guard's uniform, due to their authority seeming more legitimate
