explanations of obedience

Question 1

legitimate authority

Answer 1

the perception that certain people have higher power to order others, therefore acting obligingly because we respect their credentials and assume they’re an expert

Question 2

gradual commitment

Answer 2

becoming sucked in to obeying each step at a time- with greatening consequences. find it difficult to disengage from the procedure because you get so far and cannot step back. with milligram the voltage increments were fairly low.

Question 3

the agent shift

Answer 3

milligram’s agency theory states that people operate on two levels

• as autonomous indivuals- behaving voluntarily and aware of the consequences
• as an agent- seeing themselves as agents- the consequences of your actions lie in the hands of others

Question 4

buffers

Answer 4

something that protects people from having to confront the consequences of their actions. in milligram’s study the teacher was buffered from seeing the victim- this reduced the strain of obeying an unethical command.