1.1.1 Agency Theory

Question 1

Autonomous State

Answer 1

• Act under own power
• Decisions are based on our own ideas of what it reposngbele and right
• Actions are voluntary
• Acting under free will

Question 2

Agentic State

Answer 2

• Give up own free will and become an agent to authority
• Defer responsibility to those in charge
• Perceive people to be authority figures who have symbols of authority (Milgram lab coat) or status (teacher)
• An order from authority triggers agnostic shift into the agentic state

Question 3

Moral Strain

Answer 3

• When we have to do something we consider morally wrong because an agent has ordered it
• Use defence mechanisms denial and avoidance
• E.g. nervous laughter and stuttering

Question 4

Denial

Answer 4

• ## Pushing the memories to the back of the mind to prevent thinking about them

Question 5

Strength

Answer 5

Evidence
- Milgram
- Asked men to give shocks to a stranger starting at 15V up to 450V
- 100% went to 300V
- 65% went to 450V

Question 6

Weakness

Answer 6

Critisism
- Milgram used an artificial task of asking a participant to shock someone else
- Not reflective of daily life where you might be obedient

Question 7

Strength

Answer 7

Evidence
- Hofling
- 22 nurses called by an unknown doctor asking them to administer an overdose to a patient
- 21/22 gave the drug even knowing it was wrong

Question 8

Weakness

Answer 8

Limitation
- Can’t explain individual differences
- Neglects the 35% that didn’t go to 450V

Question 9

Weakness

Answer 9

Limitation
- The idea of an agentic shift can be measured
- Doesn’t explain processes of agentic shift
- Little evidence of agentic shift