explanations for obedience

Question 1

agentic state

Answer 1

when an individual believes they aren’t responsible for their own actions as they are an agent of an authority figure.

Question 2

autonomous state

Answer 2

individuals actions are free from control and they are fully responsible

Question 3

legitimacy of authority

Answer 3

individuals accept that other individuals who are higher up in the social hierarchy should be obeyed, as they have a sense of duty, and can punish if not obeyed.

Question 4

how did a professor differ from non uniform instructors in Milgram’s study?

Answer 4

professors are high up in the social hierarchy and are therefore respected and hold high authority - therefore conformity rates increased. However, someone in non uniform holds less authority therefore conformity rates dropped

Question 5

strength of the agentic state theory

Answer 5

has been used to justify war crimes such as death camp Nazi Eichmann