Psychology - Social Influence: Explanations for Obedience Agentic state/Legitimacy of Authority

Question 1

What is the definition of Conformity?

Answer 1

A type of social influence where a person changes their beliefs or behaviours based on a group

Question 2

What is the definition of Obedience?

Answer 2

Following a direct order from someone we believe has authority over us

Question 3

What was the aim of Milgram’s Obedience study?

Answer 3

To measure levels of Obedience

Question 4

What was the sample of Milgram’s Conformity study?

Answer 4

40 Males ages 20-50 who had volunteered

Question 5

What was the procedure of Milgram’s obedience study?

Answer 5

. P’s were invited to Yale and Told there would be a teacher and a student and they would be the teacher
. They were told to preform word matching tests and every time the student got an answer wrong to increase the voltage of the shock (being with 15 increasing to 450)
. After 315 was administered there was no response

Question 6

What were the Quantitative findings?

Answer 6

100% reached 300v

65% reached 450v (the max)

Question 7

What is the Qualitative data?

Answer 7

All P’s were under extreme stress, sweating, trembling and shaking showing visible signs of emotional disturbance with three having break downs

Question 8

What is the conclusion of Milgram’s Obedience study?

Answer 8

Under the correct circumstances, ordinary people will preform unjust orders from people they perceive to be in a position of authority

Question 9

What are the evaluation points for Milgram’s Obedience study?

Answer 9

. Low ecological validity - low in mundane realism cannot be generalised
. Ethical breaches - Right to withdraw; informed consent; deception; psychological harm
. External validity - Positive it can be generalised between men: Negative it can only be generalised for men

Question 10

What are the three situational factors of obedience in Milgram’s Variations?

Answer 10

Proximity - Location - Uniform

Question 11

What was the effect of Proximity on obedience in Milgram’s Variations?

Answer 11

In one variation the learner and the teacher were in the same room and so the obedience dropped from 65% to 40% when administering the full dose as the teacher could understand the pain of the student

Question 12

What was the effect of location in Milgram’s Variations?

Answer 12

In one variation he conducted the study in a rundown building and conformity in the full does draped from 60% to 47% displaying the effect of location upon conformity

Question 13

What was the effect of Uniform in Milgram’s variations?

Answer 13

In one variation the doctors in la coats were replaced by P’s in everyday clothing and conformity dropped from 65% TO 20% when administering the full dose displaying the effect of uniform on Obedience

Question 14

What is an Agent state?

Answer 14

When you give up autonomy to follow the rules of another becoming an agent for them

Question 15

What is an Autonomous state?

Answer 15

When we act independently

Question 16

What is an Agent shift?

Answer 16

Where we transition from an autonomous state to an agent one

Question 17

What are binding factors?

Answer 17

Factors which keep us in an agent state whilst absolving us of any blame

Question 18

What is an extended explanation for the agent state?

Answer 18

An agentic state is where we are no longer in an autonomous state, acting independently, and have instead had an Agentic shift pushing us into an Agentic state where we obey the social hierarchy; whilst we may feel some moral strain we nullify them with binding factors which exonerate us from blame.

Question 19

What is the effect of social Hierarchy?