Explanations of obedience (psychological): agentic state, legitimate authority

Question 1

What is agentic state?

Answer 1

A mindset where we follow orders from an authority figure, whether or not they conflict our own beliefs

Question 2

What are three characteristics of the agentic state

Answer 2

• We are agents of another person/organisation
• Carrying out acts on behalf of another person/organisation
• Not responsible for our actions, rather responsible to an authority figure

Question 3

What is autonomous state?

Answer 3

A mindset where we behave independently and take responsibility for our actions

Question 4

What are three characteristics of the autonomous state?

Answer 4

• We are agents of another person/organisation
• Carrying out acts on behalf of another person/organisation
• Not responsible for our actions, rather responsible to an authority figure

Question 5

What study can be used to support the idea that uniform increases obedience?

Answer 5

Bickman 1974

Question 6

Explain Bickman’s study (1974)

Answer 6

• Used 3 male actors
• One was a milkman
• One was a security guard
• One was a pedestrian
• Actors approached people and gave them instructions

Question 7

What were the final statistics in Bickman’s study (1974)

Answer 7

The guard was obeyed 76% of the occasions
The milkman 47% of the occasions
The pedestrian 30% of the occasions

Question 8

What do the statistics suggest in Bickmans study (1974)

Answer 8

These results suggest that people are more likely to conform when confronted with someone in a uniform

Question 9

What is legitimacy of authority

Answer 9

Legitimacy of authority is an explanation of obedience offered by Milgram. Milgram suggested that we are more likely to obey a person who has a higher position or status in a social hierarchy.

Question 10

What experiment can show the dangerous ability of obedience and people in power

Answer 10

The Holfing hospital experiment

Question 11

Explain the Holfing hospital experiment

Answer 11

• They recruited 22 american nurses for the study
• One of the researchers called claiming to be “Dr Smith”
• Asked the nurses to administer 20mg of a fake drug ‘astroten’
• Label stated 10mg was the maximum daily dosage

Question 12

What were the statistics for the Holfing hospital experiment

Answer 12

21 out of 22 of the nurses administered the fake drug ‘astroten’ to the patients even though it was double the recommended dosage.