Agency Theory (1)

Question 1

What is obedience?

Answer 1

Obedience is a form of social influence in which an individual follows a direct order. The person is during the order is usually a figure of authority.

Question 2

What is an autonomous state?

Answer 2

An autonomous state is where we behave independently, make our own decisions about how to behave and take responsibility for the consequences of our actions.

Question 3

What is an agentic state?

Answer 3

A mindset where we carry out orders from an authority figure the rn though they conflict with our beliefs. It comes under the idea any consequences are down to the authority figure

Question 4

What is an agentic shift?

Answer 4

The switch between an autonomous and agentic state due to the authority figure

Question 5

What is moral strain?

Answer 5

Moral strain is a state of metal discomfort or anxiety experienced in an agentic state when a persons actions conflict with moral belief

Question 6

Supporting evidence for agency theory?

Answer 6

• supported by Milgrams 1963 study
• competing argument- questioned the internal validity of the study
• agentic shift isn’t inevitable

Question 7

Application of agency to the military?

Answer 7

-soldiers act in an agentic state so therefore are they accountable

Question 8

What is Rotter’s locus of control?

Answer 8

A locus of control is the amount of control people feel over their own lives e.g a test score

Question 9

What is an internal locus of control?

Answer 9

Internal locus of control - someone who believes their future is reliant on their actions - feels less influenced by others - less likely to be obedient

Question 10

What is an external locus of control?

Answer 10

External locus of control - someone who believes they do not have control of what happens to them and their future is down to luck - feels more influenced by others - more likely to be obedient

Question 11

What does Agency Theory suggest about social hierarchies?

Answer 11

Human society is hierarchal in nature: there are few at the top giving instructions on how to behave.

This hierarchy must’ve evolved for survival functions, which is why some survive and others die out.

This hierarchy is needed for stability, as without it, there would be chaos + social breakdown.

Question 12

What does Agency Theory suggest about nurture and upbringing?

Answer 12

We are innately prepared to be obedient, due to exposure to authority figures from a young age (e.g. parents + teachers).

They use rewards and punishments to encourage obedience +discourage dissent.

Question 13

What is Socialisation?

Answer 13

Socialisation: The process by which we learn the rules + norms of society through socialising agents such as teachers and parents

Question 14

What is the Agency Theory say about our ‘states’?

Answer 14

Humans exist in 2 different states: Autonomous + Agentic.

An autonomous state refers to humans acting on free will.

Agentic state refers to humans acting as an agent for the authority figure

Moral Strain occurs when a person is asked to do something they wouldn’t choose to do themselves, and goes against their moral rights. Moral strain results in anxiety.

This allows them to reject the consequences of their actions

Question 15

What research evidence supports Agency Theory?

Answer 15

Milgram
Vietnam War- My Lai
Hofling et al

Question 16

How did Milgram’s Study support Agency Theory?

Answer 16

65% of participants were willing to seriously harm an innocent confederate to obey an authority figure.
When he debriefed the participants, many reported that their behaviour was the responsibility of the experimenter, and they didn’t want to do it

Question 17

How did the Vietnam War (My Lai) support Agency Theory?

Answer 17

The village My Lai was approached by American soldiers who were ordered to shoot the occupants who were suspected to being Vietcong soldiers.

Lieutenant Calley instructed his division to enter the village and shoot, despite to return of fire.

The American soldiers massacred old men, women + children in the village that day after being ordered by Calley. Calley claimed to just be following orders.

Question 18

How does Hofling et al’s study support Agency Theory?

Answer 18

A stooged doctor phoned a nurse working on a ward.

He asked to administer twice the daily dose of a drug to the patient.
Against hospital policy, the stooge doctor informed the nurse that she would sign the prescription later

21 out of 22 followed orders, and several justified their behaviour as being a result of authority

Question 19

Why is Agency Theory Reductionist?

Answer 19

Individual Differences: Doesn’t take things like personality, gender, situation, etc into account

Reductionist: Undermines the interconnection between nature and nurture.

Question 20

How is Agency Theory not Credible?

Answer 20

The concept of switching to your agentic state after being in your autonomous state and experiencing moral strain is an internal mental process that can’t be directly measured.

There is no direct evidence for the evolutionary basis of obedience.

Question 21

What does Agency Theory not explain about Obedience?

Answer 21

Doesn’t explain motivational issues behind obedience

Question 22

What is an Alternative Hypothesis to Agency Theory?

Answer 22

Identified 5 Bases of Power-

(Legitimate Power, Reward Power, Referent Power, Expert Power, Coercive Power)

These factors are said to provide a better explanation for Milgram’s findings.