agency theory key terms

Question 1

agency theory

Answer 1

This is the idea that our social systems lead to obedience. If people see themselves as individuals they will respond as individuals in an autonomous state, however of they don’t we see an agentic shift

Question 2

agentic state

Answer 2

Where we give up our free will and see ourselves as an agent of those in authority. Defer responsibility of our actions to others, as if they are in charge, we are just an agent.

Question 3

autonomous state

Answer 3

When we act under our own power, decisions are based on our own ideas of what is the responsible and right thing to do. Actions are voluntary and self-directed, conscience is fully optative

Question 4

agentic shift

Answer 4

When someone shifts from the autonomous state to the agentic state. They give up their responsibility and follow orders without considering the consequences or whether the request is appropriate and it also frees them from the demand of their consciences.

Question 5

moral code

Answer 5

In many social situations we become the agent of someone elses will and follow orders and don’t feel responsible for their actions, they feel they have no power so they act against their own moral code

Question 6

moral strain

Answer 6

We feel great discomfort in giving up control, inwardly disagreeing with orders given to us.
In order to deal with this we use defence mechanisms such as: denial, rationalisation and avoidance.

Question 7

heirarchial social systems

Answer 7

Obedience can be explained in terms of functions of the hierarchical social system from an evolutionary perspective. Within a heircarchial arrangement a degree if control over someones actions is given up accepting control from a supior.

Question 8

malevolent authority

Answer 8

Obedience can lead to destructive obedience, obeying orders that are harmful to other people- e.g., Hitler