Lesson 8: Explanations of Obedience

Question 1

What are the two main explanations of obedience?

Answer 1

The Agentic State

Legitimacy of Authority

Question 2

What caused Milgrams initial interest in obedience?

Answer 2

Trial of Adolf Eichmann in 1961 for war crimes
- had been in charge of the Nazi camps and his defence was that he was only obeying orders

This led Milgram to propose that obedience to destructive authority occurs because a person does not take responsibility and are instead acting as an ‘agent’.

Question 3

Explain the two different ways people operate in social situations

Answer 3

When acting as individuals- autonomic state
- people are aware of their actions and make decisions knowing they will be held accountable for the consequence

Agentic state
- a person carries out orders with little personal responsibility
- they see themselves as under the authority of another
- in this state, they will often carry out an order without question

Question 4

The change from an autonomous state to the Agentic state

Answer 4

Agentic shift

Question 5

Why did Milgram believe individuals remain in the Agentic state?

Answer 5

Due to binding factors
- allows the person to ignore the damaging effects of their behaviour and thus reduce the ‘moral strain’ they are feeling
- this helps the person feel calm and in control because they feel that what they were doing is not their fault and that they are merely agents following orders
- fault lies in the victim and authority figure

Question 6

Strengths of the Agentic state explanation

Answer 6

• It makes sense in explaining why we obey authority and is supported by research
• Blass and Schmitt (2001) showed film of Milgrams study to some students and asked them who was responsible for harming the learner. The students blamed the experimenter rather than the participant. Students also indicated that the fact the experimenter was a scientist meant he had authority.

Question 7

Weaknesses of the Agentic state explanation

Answer 7

It does not explain many other research findings such as why some of the pps did not obey the authority in Milgrams study

• One of the nurses in Höflings study did not give the drug prescribed by the doctor who is higher up in the hierarchy

Research evidence has refuted the idea that Nazis behaviour can be explained in terms of Agentic state

• Mandel (1998) explained one incident involving German Reserve Police Batallion 101
• men obeyed instructions to shoot civilians in Poland- however, they weren’t given any direct orders to do so

Question 8

Legitimate authority

Answer 8

• people in society with the power to punish others
• socialised to obey authority figures from childhood as we trust them or fear punishment
• uniforms are often a symbol of legitimate authority
• can become destructive e.g. hitler

Question 9

Strengths of legitimate authority

Answer 9

We need to have them for a well functioning, ordered society, so it explains the functioning of a civilised nation
- e.g. police help prevent crime

Shows how obedience can lead to real life war crimes
Kelman and Hamilton (1989) argue that the My Lai massacre can be understood in terms of the power of the hierarchy of the US army
- took place in 1968 during Vietnam war, 504 civilians were killed and women were gang raped
- soldiers blew up buildings, burnt the village and killed all the animals
- one soldier found guilty and faced charges- same defence as Nazi officers who went to trial in Nuremberg- he was only doing his duty to follow orders
- this clearly shows the legitimacy of authority theory works in real life

Question 10

Strength of legitimate authority- cultural differences in obedience

Answer 10

It explains cultural differences in obedience
- Kilham and Mann (1974) replicated Milgrams study in Australia and found 16% went to the full voltage
- Mantell (1971) replicated MIlgrams study in Germany and found 85% obedience rate
- shows cultural differences in perceived legitimacy of authority and how different cultures have different upbringings

Question 11

Weaknesses of legitimate authority

Answer 11

Not all legitimate authority figures should be obeyed
- Milgrams study showed people will inflict harm when obeying authority

Real life examples of people misusing power of authority
- Harold Shipman was a doctor and killed over 200 patients without suspicion