Agency theory (SP)

Question 1

A01

Answer 1

• Agency Theory suggests people switch from an autonomous state, where they act according to personal conscience e.g. committing a crime and accepting jail,
• to an agentic state, where they act on behalf of an authority figure e.g. following boss’ instructions to complete work. In the agentic state, individuals feel less personal responsibility for their actions, leads to greater obedience.
• The agentic shift occurs when a person views themselves as an instrument for carrying out the wishes of the authority figure, e.g. mom walks into room and tells to clean it.
• The theory also introduces the concept of moral strain, where people experience discomfort when their actions conflict with their moral beliefs e.g. hesitancy, but they comply due to the authority’s pressure.
• Binding factors aid in causing an individual to follow an instuction from somone e.g. clothing

Question 2

Evaluate a strength of agency theory (with supportive evidence)

Answer 2

I - Milgram experiment 65% obeyed
J - Evidence for AT showed moral strain e.g. nervous laughter, blamed experimenter
E - Therefore, displaces responsibility on experimentor what agency theory explains would happen

Question 3

Evaluate a weakness of agency theory (with supportive evidence)

Answer 3

I - not account individual differences on why some obey + some don’t
J - Milgram experiment 35% disobeyed
E - AT not explain why disobeyed as can be many reasons e.g personalityl, gender