Obedience: Agency Theory

Question 1

What is the autonomous state?

2

Answer 1

• Behaviour = ‘self-directed’

- We take ^responsibility for cons of our actions

Question 2

What is the agentic state?

2

Answer 2

• Mindset allows us to take orders from authority figure, even if conflict w sense of right/wrong
• As responsibility on LAF

Question 3

What is the agentic shift and when does this occur?

2

Answer 3

• Switch between autonomous/agentic state

- When perceive someone to be a LAF

Question 4

What is moral strain?

1

Answer 4

• Mental discomfort experienced in agentic state, persons actions conflict with their morality

Question 5

Evaluate agency theory

3

Answer 5

Milgram’s 1963 study found 100% of ppt would administer a 300V shock to a actor as a punishment for making a mistake on word learning task (65% went to 450V ‘danger’). LAF = obedient despite moral strain

Agentic shift not inevitable. Rank and Jacobson found 89% of nurses failed to obey orders from a doctor who asked them to administer overdose of the drug Valium. Despite doctors LAF = majority remained autonomous

Milgram said if binding factors outweigh moral strain = obedience. This help ensure soldiers follow orders w/out question e.g. using dehumanising language refer to enemy and euphemisms (collateral). LAF comm = agency even w torture (Fatouros)

Question 6

What is obedience?

1

Answer 6

• Social influence, where individual follows direct order

Question 7

When is authority legitimate?

1

Answer 7

• When there’s consensus person has right to enforce obedience

Question 8

What happens when confronted with a legitimate authority figure?
1

Answer 8

• Agentic shift

Question 9

What is cognitive dissonance?

1

Answer 9

• State of mental conflict, leads to moral strain