Explanation of Obedience Flashcards
What is agentic state?
People following an authority figures wishes
What is an autonomous state?
An individual acts according to their own wishes
Who proposed the agency theory and what did they say?
Milgram. We are socialised from an early age to obey rules and this results in giving up some of their free will.
What happens when a person is in an agentic state?
A person sees an authority figure as responsible for what they do, they’re an agent of the authority figure.
What does de-inviduated mean?
Losing their sense of individuality and may go against their own moral code
What are the three situational variables affecting obedience?
Proximity, location and uniform
What is proximity?
How aware individuals are of the consequences of their actions
What study links to proximity?
Milgram 1974 teacher and learner were in the same room. Obedience declined from 62.5% to 40%.
What is location?
Location of an environment can be relevant to the amount of perceived authority a person given order is seen to have. Highest in institutionalised environments.
What study links to location?
Milgram (1974) Office block in a rundown town. Obedience dropped from 62.5% to 47.5% . Change in location from Yale reduced perceived legitimacy
What is uniform?
Can give a perception of added legitimacy to authority figures when delivering orders.
What study links to uniform?
Bickman (1974) ordered people in New York street to pick up rubbish. 19% obeyed RA dressed in civilian clothes and 38% obeyed when dressed in security clothes.
Give 3 examples of an authoritarian personality
Rigid beliefs Strict parents Develops from early childhood Submissive to authority Fixated on status
What scale is used to measure an authoritarian personality?
F - Scale
Give an example of research behind authoritarian personality
Milgram and Elms (1966) Milgrams study who were highly obedient were significantly more authoritarian on F scale
