Agency Theory

Question 1

What is the autonomous state

Answer 1

A mindset in which we behave as independent , make our own decisions and take responsibility over our own actions , we act on somebody else’s behalf

Question 2

What is the agentic state

Answer 2

A mondset that allows us to take orders from an authority figure without feeling the consequence of our actions, we are acting on somebody else’s behalf

Question 3

What is the agentic shift

Answer 3

The shift from an autonomous state to an agentic state, happens when we view somebody as a legitimate source of authority

Question 4

Evaluation for agentic theory +

Answer 4

Strength
-Milgram (1963) showed 100 percent of participants went up to 300V when punishing the ‘learner ‘ over mistakes made on a learning task, and 65 percent went to 450V

Participants also showed psychological distress showing moral strain

Supports the theory as it suggests that when in the face of legitimate authority , we are more likely to carry out orders despite moral strain

Question 5

Counter arguement for evaluation of agency theory

Answer 5

Gina perry (2012) examined Millgrams experiment through Yale university archives , over 60 percent had disobeyed rhe experimentor throughout all the variation studies , shows a lack of internal validity, Participants also even questioned wether the shocks were real.
Puts agency theory into question…

Question 6

Weakness for agentic theory

Answer 6

Agentic theory isnt inevitable

Steven Rank and Cradell (1977)
Asked nurses to adminster a drug overdose
16/18 nurses disobeyed these orders even while the doctor is a legitimate authority
Shows that they felt responsible over their own actions

Question 7

Additional weakness

Answer 7

Steve reicher (2012) states rhat people only follow people when they view then as part of a social group that they can identify with
Disobedience occurs when they fail to identify with the leader