1.1.1 Theories of obedience Flashcards
State and explain the two mental states suggested by agency theory
Autonomous: In the Autonomous State we perceive ourselves to be responsible for our own behaviour so we feel guilt for what we do
Agentic: In the Agentic State we perceive ourselves to be the agent of someone else’s will; the authority figure commanding us is responsible for what we do, so we do not feel guilt and do not take responsibility for our actions. This allows them to avoid the moral strain of following an order to do something that they believe is wrong.
Why did Milgram develop Agency theory?
Milgram (1973) developed a theory to explain the high levels of obedience found in his study of destructive obedience.
What is moral strain?
The anxiety we feel when an authority figure issues an order that goes against our conscience, that we believe to be morally wrong. This is because we have two contradictory urges: to obey the authority figure (and society’s expectations) and to obey our consciences (and keep our own self-image as “a good person”).
Describe some signs of “defence mechanisms” to lessen moral strain, observed in studies.
Milgram points out that his own participants used “defense mechanisms” (a term originally used by Freud) to lessen the moral strain such as:
- Avoidance: many participants tried not to look at the Experimenter or even look up from the shock generator
- Degree of Involvement: some participants only flicked the switches on the shock generator lightly, as if this would somehow lessen the pain
- Helping the Learner: other participants tried to help the Learner by stressing the correct answer on the memory test; in Variation #7, some participants deliberately gave a weaker shock rather than the stronger shock because they thought no one was watching
Signs of moral strain
Moral strain might appear as physical distress, like shaking or weeping.
What is the agentic shift, what triggers it?
Shift from autonomy to agency. The agentic shift is triggered by cues that suggest authority, such as uniform.
What is socialisation?
The process by which we learn the cues and norms of society, through parents and teachers. NURTURE as it is learned and not inate.
