Obeidnce Theory

Question 1

Agency theory

Answer 1

• we all evolved to obey authority as it gives survival advantage when in organised groups
• we are born with predisposition to obey

Question 2

Features of autonomous state

Answer 2

• have free will
• acct according to our conscience
• see ourselves as responsible

Question 3

Features of agentic state

Answer 3

• experience an agentic shift
• surrender our free will
• no longer act according to our conscience
• an agent to AF
• defer responsibility

Question 4

Moral strain

Answer 4

• uses defence mechanisms - avoid distress and guilt of performing acts that we normally find abhorrent
  E.g. denial

Question 5

Pros of agency theory

Answer 5

• supported by Milgram’s research = increase validity of the theory
• supported by blass = all society instil obedient during socialisation as theory suggests
• practical application to society = prevent atrocities from happening by educating that orders can be questioned

Question 6

Cons of agency theory

Answer 6

• cannot explain individual differences = it is reductionist
• House’s study = disobedience may be results of AF lacks charisms rather than individual autonomous state

Question 7

What is Blass study about?

Answer 7

Looked at cross cultural comparisons of obedience to AF = found similar rates cross culturally

Question 8

What is house’s study about ?

Answer 8

• charismatic leadership - it is the traits of leader that are important in causing obedience.
  Disobey= maybe due to AF lack charisms

Question 9

What does social impact theory suggest?

Answer 9

• our behaviour changes due the presence and actions of other people = social forces

Question 10

3 factors of social forces

Answer 10

• strength
• number
• immediacy

Question 11

What does strength of SIT suggests ?

Answer 11

• the status of authority figure can affect obedience level
• the higher/ more legitimate status the AF is = obedience will increase

Question 12

What does number of SIT suggests ?

Answer 12

• the higher number of AF giving the order = Message is stronger = obedience is greater
• must be high no. AF vs low number / specific receiver to get the greatest obedient

Question 13

What does immediacy of SIT suggests ?

Answer 13

• the closer proximity AF - receiver = the more impact the Order has = greater obedience
• with no space, time, barriers

Question 14

Psychosocial law in SIT

Answer 14

• the no. Of social forces increase = increase social influence, however at a diminishing rate
• optimum level of social forces applied
• over optimum level = obedience decrease

Question 15

Division of impact in SIT

Answer 15

• diffusion on responsibility
• more receiver = lower the strength of order = lower obedience as responsibility spreads out

Question 16

Pros of social impact theory

Answer 16

• supported by Bickman and Milgram’s study
• supported by Asch’s study
• supported by Milgram study on no. 7 variation

Question 17

What is Bickman and Milgram’s experiment about SIT

Answer 17

• 15 confederates adding one by one looking up the sky on the street and see if any one would conform to look up
• found that increase number = increase conformity
  But over optimum level = conformity decrease
• supports psychosocial law of diminishing rate of social influence

Question 18

Asch’s experiment that supports SIT

Answer 18

• one confederate = 3 % conformity
  +2 = 12.8%
  +3 = 32%
• supports psychosocial law of increase social forces = increase conformity

Question 19

Cons of SIT

Answer 19

• theory is reductionist = Adorno F scale unsupported this theory = oversimplify human interaction and ignore individual differences
• descriptive rather than explanatory = cognition of human is not being considered = reductionists