1 Obedience : Agency Theory

Question 1

What are the components of AT? AT

Answer 1

• Autonomous State
• Making the Agentic Shift
• Moral Strain

Question 2

What is the Autonomous State? AT

Answer 2

The autonomous state suggests that our behaviour is self-directed. We are free to choose how we behave and we take responsibility for the consequences of our actions. We work autonomously.

Question 3

What is Making the Agentic Shift? AT

Answer 3

Making the agentic shift is changing from autonomous to agentic. We quickly judge whether another person is higher or lower than us in the social hierarchy and whether they have legitimate authority.

• In the agentic state, we become an ‘agent’ of the authority figure - we see ourselves as an extension of them and act less independently (ie. obedient).

Question 4

What is Moral Strain? AT

Answer 4

Moral Strain is experienced in the Agentic state. These are symptoms of anxiety that develop especially when obeying orders that result in harm.
We may believe harming people is wrong but we know that our actions have resulted in harm - two conflicting ideas that lead to cognitive dissonance, a state of mental turmoil that creates moral strain.

• Moral strain is essentially a result of being obedient for bad things. But it is often not enough to cause defiance and disobedience.