12. Obedience: Social-psychological Factors AO1 Flashcards
What are the two social psychological factors of obedience?
- Agentic state
2. Legitimacy of authority
Briefly outline agentic state
Occurs when acting on behalf of someone else - person feels no personal responsibility for their actions
What is the opposite of agentic state
Autonomous state
What is autonomy
Means to be independent or free
How would a person in an autonomous state act?
Behaves according to their own principles - feel responsible for own actions
When does agentic shift occur
When some acts on behalf of someone else and defers responsibility
Define agentic shift
The shift from autonomy to being an agent
When is agentic shift likely to occur
When we perceive so,one else as an authority figure - they have power because of position in social hierarchy
What are binding factors
Aspects of a situation - allow the person to ignore/minimise damaging effects of their behaviour - reducing moral strain
What do binding factors do?
Reduce moral strain of obeying immoral orders
Name two strategies individuals may use to reduce moral strain
- Shifting responsibility to victim
2. Denying damages they’re doing to victim
Outline legitimacy of authority
We obey people at top of social hierarchy - most societies structured in this way - people in certain positions e.g. Police hole authority over everyone else
How do authorities gain their legitimacy
Authority they wield is legitimate as it’s been agreed by society - most people accept authority figures exercise social power over others
Why doe people willingly hand control of behaviour over to authority figures
Due to trust - we learned to accept during childhood from parents
What is a consequence of legitimate authority?
Some people are granted power to punish others - we give up some independence to people we trust will use authority appropriately
