Lesson 7 - Situational Explainations of Obedience

Question 1

Agentic State

Answer 1

Milgram (1974) argued people obey horrific orders not because of their own personalities but because of the situation they are in
Suggests people go from autonomous state into an agentic state (agentic shift)
Once in an agentic state, people unthinkingly carry out orders and perceive themselves as instruments of an authority figure
Believe authority figure is responsible for actions (diffusion of responsibility) so do not feel guilt

Question 2

Diffusion of Responsibility

Answer 2

Believe authority figure is trustworthy
Orders seem reasonable at first then become more aggressive (gradual commitment) and psychologically protected from consequences of their own actions (buffers)

Question 3

Positive Self Image

Answer 3

Explanation as to why people adopt agentic state
Does not matter negative behaviour shown as they are not responsible
Once in agentic state, they stay in it
Concerned breaking commitment to authority figure seems arrogant and rude

Question 4

Milgram (1974) Agentic State

Answer 4

Thought agentic state developed during human evolution and is necessary for hierarchies to function in society, preventing chaos
Obedience is essential as in society we constantly submit to authoritative figures

Question 5

Agentic State Evaluation
Milgram (1974)
Positive

Answer 5

Participants less likely to shock Mr Wallace as they were in the same room as him and could see the consequences of their actions (no buffers)
Supports idea of agentic state
Close proximity prevents some participants from entering agentic state

Question 6

Agentic State Evaluation
Mandel (1998)
Negative

Answer 6

Without buffers, people should not go into agentic state and obey an order to harm someone
Case of Major Wilhelm Trapp
1942, Major Trap given orders to take his battalion to shoot a group of Jewish people
Battalion given chance to say no
Most accepted and massacre went ahead
Despite close proximity, agentic state entered

Question 7

Legitimate Authority

Answer 7

Situational explanation of obedience
Claims we recognise our own and other people’s position in social hierarchy and we obey those with a higher position
=> They have legitimate authority over us
We will not obey those equal to or lower than us

Question 8

Legitimate Authority Factors

Answer 8

Increased through visible symbols of authority (uniform)

Dependent on setting, order, system and location

Question 9

Legitimate Authority Evaluation
Hofling (1966)
Positive

Answer 9

Found nurses would obey dangerous order from a doctor as they are in a hospital location
Nurses receive phone call from unknown doctor (actor)
Asking them to administer 20mg of a drug called Astroten (just a sugar pill) to patients
Broke hospital rules as it was twice maximum dose indicated on bottle
Instructions given over phone, doctor unknown and medicine not on stock list
95% carried out instructions as doctors have authority

Question 10

Legitimate Authority Evaluation
Bickman (1974)
Positive

Answer 10

Asked confederates to order passerbys to pick litter off street or move away from bus stop
Confederates dressed as guard, milkman or in smart clothes
90% obeyed guard but only 50% civilian
Guard in uniform is more likely to be perceived as legitimate authority figure

Question 11

Legitimate Authority Evaluation
Milgram (1963)
Negative

Answer 11

Does not explain why some people were able to resist order of authority figures in Milgram’s initial study
35% refused to obey experimenter even though he had legitimate authority in that situation

Question 12

Obedience Situational Explanations Evaluation Points

Answer 12

Agentic State
Milgram (1974) Positive
Mandel (1998) Negative

Legitimate Authority
Hofling (1966) Positive
Bickman (1974) Positive
Milgram (1963) Negative