4. Obedience: Situational Explanations

Question 1

define an agentic state

Answer 1

• a mental state of believing we have no personal responsibility, as we believe we are acting for an authority figure

Question 2

define the legitimacy of authority

Answer 2

it is an explanation for obedience that suggests we are more likely to obey people that we believe have higher authority than us

Question 3

what did Milgram propose about authority figures and obedience?

Answer 3

• that obedience through an authority figure happens when the person refuses to take responsibility

Question 4

what is an autonomous state?

Answer 4

• the idea that a person is not under the influence of an authority figure and therefore is ‘free’ and takes responsibilities for their actions

Question 5

what is it called when someone moves from an autonomous state to an agentic state?

Answer 5

the agentic shift

Question 6

what did Milgram believe about the Agentic shift?

Answer 6

• that it occurs when someone believes they are in the presence of someone with a higher authority than them

Question 7

an authority figure has higher authority as they have a higher place in the —————-

Answer 7

social hierarchy

Question 8

What is a destructive authority?

Answer 8

When a person in power uses their authority as destructive powers, ordering others to be cruel and dangerous

Question 9

What are the strengths of Situational explanations?

Answer 9

• Milgrams own study provides research support

Question 10

What are the limitations of a situational obedience?

Answer 10

• the agentic shift does not support many researches
• Rank and Jacobsons (1977) study found 16/18 nurses disobeyed orders from a doctor going against the theory of agentic shift