Explanations for obedience Flashcards
What is the agentic state
When an individual obeys orders from an authority figure and is able to take little responsibility for their actions
When are individuals more likely to obey inhumane orders
If they shed responsibility from themselves
What is the autonomous level
An individual is acting voluntarily, according to their own morals and are aware of their actions
What is the agentic level
Individuals act as ‘agents’ of others, based on the other persons morals. They don’t appreciate the consequences or take responsibility
What is the agentic shift
The shift from autonomous to agentic level
What is legitimacy of authority
Obeying authority figures as we respect their credentials and assume they have the necessary qualifications, knowledge and power to tell us what to do
What are we raised to do
Trust in authorities such as teachers and doctors
What do we sometimes fear
Punishment if we don’t obey
How will we assess the legitimacy of authority
Look for visual symbols of power
