Explntions Of Obediance Flashcards
Agentic theory
Propound ppl can operate in 2 different social states
2 types of social state
Autonomous individual
Agenic state
Define autonomous individuals
Choose their actions and aware of consequences
Agenic shift
Seeing themselves as agents of others and not responsible for their actions
Why do people shift from state to state
Allows an individual to mindlessly accept authority
Why may some stay in agentic state
To deal with moral strain/ anxiety of being there more code
Wh might someone follow authority even when it breaks our moral code
They don’t want to disrespect authority as respect for authority is something we learn from an early age in most societies
Evaluation of agentic theory - strength
Milgrams experiment
- ppt asked if he were responsible if the learner dies the researcher told them they weren’t so ppt continued to ‘kill’ the learner
- shows ppt shifting into agentic state
Evaluation of agentic theory - weakness
Agentic theory fails to explain the gradual and irreversible conversion that takes place
- Liften: I observed nazi doctors working in Auschuitz came to believe that the medical experiment that they were carrying on prisoners out were justified
Define legitimacy of authority
We are socialised to recognise the value of obedience to authority figures as helping to keep stability in society, the more we recognise someone of authority, the more likely we are to obey them
Evaluation of legitimacy of authority - strength
Milgram
- experimenter wore a lab coat increase in their legitimacy
- some ppt seemed to ignore the learners distress and focused on following orders
- shows they reunited the legitimate authority of researcher
What do we call the factors that increasing the legitimacy of an authority figures
Situational variables
Define situational variables
External explanations of obedience
3 main situational variables
- location
- uniform
- proximity
Define proximity
How aware individuals roof consequences of their actions in obeying authority figures
Evaluation of proximity - strength
Milgram
- teacher and learner 46cm apart = 40% obedience
- experiment left the room = 20.5% obedience
Evident in situation of mass violent
- holocaust
- had mobile killing machine however physical proximity to victims = disturbing psychological effect so gas chamber where created
Define location
Environment people are in can influence level of obedience
Evaluation of location - strength
Milgram
- less prestigious surrounding = 47.5% obedience
Define uniforms
Authority figures are often perceived o be ore legitimate when in uniform
Evaluation of uniforms -strength
Bichman
- an authority figure told a ppt to pick up rubbish
- civilian clothes = 36% obedience
- milkman = 64%
- security guard = 82%
Evaluations of uniforms - weakness
- don’t explain individual differences in ppls obedience
- tell us little about pp who didn’t obey
- personality factors
