OBEDIENCE EXPLANATIONS [social psychological factors]

Question 1

AGENCY THEORY

Answer 1

If you’re an agent of an authority figure, the personal responsibility shifts onto them and frees your conscience

Question 2

AGENTIC SHIFT

Answer 2

This occurs when people move from the autonomous state to the agentic state

Question 3

GRADUAL COMMITMENT

Answer 3

Once people have obeyed low level orders, they feel obliged to continue due to a desire to appear consistent [known as foot-in-the-door persuasion]

Question 4

LEGITIMATE AUTHORITY

Answer 4

If someone is perceived to have legitimate authority, they are more likely to be obeyed due to fear of consequences. Authority can be indicated by uniform, title or environment

Question 5

ROLE OF BUFFERS

Answer 5

Certain aspects of a situation that reduce the moral strain - EX: not seeing the effect of the damage

Question 6

SITUATIONAL FACTORS obedience

Answer 6

Location, proximity, uniform

Question 7

DISPOSITIONAL FACTORS obedience

Answer 7

Authoritarian personality

Question 8

How did Blass & Schmitt showcase the effect of agentic shift in real life?

Answer 8

Showed students the footage from Milgram’s experiment, and found that they blamed the experimenter, believing the ppts were just agents of authority