Agency Theory

Question 1

Who created Agency theory?

Answer 1

Milgram

Question 2

What was Milgram’s aim?

Answer 2

To understand why German soldiers followed orders to kill millions during the holocaust.

Question 3

What was the sample of Milgram’s experiment?

Answer 3

40 men, age 20-50

New Haven USA

Question 4

What was Milgram’s baseline study’s sampling technique?

Answer 4

Volunteer sample, newspaper ad ($4.50)

Question 5

What was the procedure of Milgram’s baseline study?

Answer 5

Introduced to 2 men (confederate and Mr Williams) given roles (teacher and learner)
Learner was strapped into a chair and teacher saw a test shock of 45V
They were shown the control room with 30 switched from 15 to 450V and asked to increase voltage each time the learner answered a question wrong.
Given prompts to continue.

Question 6

What were Milgram’s baseline study prompts?

Answer 6

1. Please continue
2. please go on
3. Experiment requires you to continue
4. You don’t have any other choice, go on.

Question 7

What were the findings of Milgram’s baseline study?

Answer 7

65% went to 450V
100% went to 300V
Conclusion= people are obedient to authority figures to an extent.

Question 8

Evaluate G of Milgram’s baseline study

Answer 8

• Volunteer sample means they are more likely to be obedient as they are volunteering to be there.
• 40 is a large sample but anomalies can still skew results
• all men = not generalisable to women

Question 9

Evaluate R of Milgram’s baseline study

Answer 9

+ It has been replicated and similar results have been found. e.g: Burger 2009
+Milgram filmed procedure so it can be analysed and qualitative data can be received

Question 10

Evaluate A of Milgram’s baseline study

Answer 10

+ Used in pilot training. Training co pilots to question pilot in charges orders (reduce 20% of plain crashes)

Question 11

Evaluate V of Milgram’s baseline study

Answer 11

• Ecological Validity is low as the task is artificial (however so is concentration camps to Nazi germany)
• Gina Perry also claimed ppts may have worked out the experiment was fake.

Question 12

Evaluate E of Milgram’s baseline study

Answer 12

• No informed consent as they were told it was a memory test (deception)
• prods mean they didn’t have the right to withdraw

Question 13

Define obedience

Answer 13

Following a direct order from an authority figure

Question 14

Define autonomous state

Answer 14

A state of mind where an individual acts with free will and they are more likely to defy orders and take responsibility

Question 15

Define agentic state?

Answer 15

A mindset which means we follow orders and are more likely to not take responsibility and blame negative consequences on them.

Question 16

Define the agentic shift

Answer 16

The switch between autonomous and agentic that occurs when we perceive someone to be a legitimate source of authority.

Question 17

What is moral strain

Answer 17

Showing anxiousness or nerves when a persons actions conflict with their personal morality

Question 18

What is the supporting evidence of Agency theory?

Answer 18

Milgram’s baseline study (1963)
100% went to 300V
65% went to 450V
= when told by legitimate authority people will obey orders

Question 19

What is the opposing evidence of agency theory?

Answer 19

Agentic shift isn’t inevitable
- Rank and Jacobsen
16/18 nurses failed to obey orders to give a lethal dose of Valium to a patient despite being told by a doctor (authoritarian)
The nurses considered themselves responsable and maintained in the autonomous state
=DECREASES CREDIBILITY

Question 20

What is the Application of agency theory?

Answer 20

Collateral damage
Military strategies to ensure soldiers follow orders (collateral damage term allows soldier to dehumanise life loss and stay in the agentic state)

Question 21

What was Milgram’s experiment 10?

Answer 21

Rundown office block

Question 22

Which experiment was Milgram’s run down office block?

Answer 22

10

Question 23

Which of Milgram’s experiment was telephonic instructions?

Answer 23

7

Question 24

What was Milgram’s #7 experiment?

Answer 24

Telephonic instructions

Question 25

What was Milgram’s experiment #13

Answer 25

Ordinary man

Question 26

What number was Milgram’s ordinary man?

Answer 26

13

Question 27

What is a strength of Milgram’s variations?

Answer 27

Increased validity of Milgram’s original conclusion.
By testing whether other factors would affect obedience he increased the credibility of his results.

Question 28

What was a disadvantage of Milgram’s variations?

Answer 28

Lack of internal validity- many participants worked out the procedure was fake even milgram agreed that the experiment was entirely artificial
Milgram’s variations only apply to western culture that are more individualistic.

Question 29

What were the results of variation 7?

Answer 29

22.5%
Participants lied about the shock they were administering.

Question 30

Describe the procedure of variation 7.

Answer 30

Experimenter gave instructions in person then left the room. If participants wanted to withdraw then prods would be administered over the phone.

Question 31

What were the results of variation 10?

Answer 31

45.5% shocked to 450V
Participants showed more doubt

Question 32

What were the results of variation 13?

Answer 32

20% shocked to 450V

Question 33

Describe the procedure of variation 13.

Answer 33

The experimenter in a lab coat explains the procedure but does not tell them to increase shocks for each incorrect answer and is called away.
An additional confederate teacher then suggests to increase voltage each time.