1.1.1 agency theory

Question 1

who proposed the agency theory?

Answer 1

milgram

Question 2

what two states did milgram’s agency theory propose?

Answer 2

autonomous and agentic state

Question 3

what is the autonomous state?

Answer 3

‘self directed behaviour’
we choose how to vehave and take responsibility for our behaviour

Question 4

what is the agentic state?

Answer 4

becoming the agent for an authority figure, acting on their behalf, don’t take responsibility for behaviour

Question 5

what is the agentic shift?

Answer 5

changing from one state to another

Question 6

what is moral strain?

Answer 6

experiencing anxiety, because you are asked to do something that goes against your moral judgement

to avoid moral strain, you shift from the autonomous -> agentic state

Question 7

agency theory - supporting evidence

Answer 7

P: Supporting evidence

E: Milgram’s baseline study showed people being in the agentic state because 100% of the participants registered the 300V shock and 65% went as far as to register the full 450V. Whereas in Milgram’s experiment 13 an ordinary man gives orders, and obedience dropped to 20%

T: This suggests that Agency theory is a valid explanation of obedience because we can see that the presence of a legitimate authority figure causes people to enter the agentic state

Question 8

agency theory - contradicting theories

Answer 8

P: Contradicting theories

E: Social Impact Theory

T: Therefore it reduces the validity of the theory as there are different explanations that can explain the same behaviour

Question 9

agency theory - application

Answer 9

P: Application

E: the theory suggets that the authority figure must be perceived as legitimate so wearing a uniform in relevant settings can increase obedience. this is useful in setting such as prisons (staff wear uniform) and schools (students wear uniform) to differentiate hierarchy and authority.

T: therefore agency theory is useful to society in increasing obedience in relevant settings

Question 10

agency theory - weakness

Answer 10

P - A further weakness is that it argues that obedience is situational, so it ignores individual differences

E - elms (2000) found a positive correlation between levels of obedience and authoritarian personality traits

T - therefore as agency theory reduces obedience down to situational factors it ignores individual differences, making the explanation less valid