Agency Theory

Question 1

Define Autonomous State

Answer 1

-When a person acts according to their own free will

Question 2

Define Agentic State

Answer 2

-When given instructions by authority , they see themselves as an agent of the authority.

Question 3

Define moral strain

Answer 3

-When an authority figure issues an order that goes against our conscience, we experience moral strain.

Question 4

Define Agentic shift

Answer 4

-Shifting from Autonomous state to Agentic state.

Question 5

What is the agency theory?

Answer 5

-Milgram believed we have a tendency to be obedient and we are pre-programmed to be obedient.

• He proposed that humans exist as either:
  1) AUTONOMOUS- where person acts according to their own free will
  2) AGENTIC- when given instructions by authority , they see themselves as an agent of the authority and act on behalf of them
• Many participants in Milgram’s study experienced moral strain – occurs when people are asked to do something they would not choose to do themselves in the autonomous state- they feel it is immoral and unjust
• This leads to the individual thinking about dissent (disobeying the instruction.
• Shifting to the agentic state (known as agentic shift) relieves the moral strain as the responsibility for their actions is displaced onto the authority figure- therefore seeing the authoritative figure responsible.