SI - situational explanations of obedience (M's theories) (A03) Flashcards
What is a strength of the theory of agentic state? - Empirical evidence suggesting perceived responsibility did shift to the experimenter
===> Blass and Schmitt (2001) showed students video of experiment, and they thought experimenter was responsible. Supports theory of authority figure despite teacher carrying out shocks. Ppts. said experimenter had legitimate authority as he was at top of hierarchy and had expert authority as a scientist. Increases validity of theory
What is a limitation of the theory of the agentic state? - Can’t explain all situations of obedience
===> In Milgram’s study, 35% of ppts. didn’t follow instructions to shock the learner up to the lethal 450V, suggesting some other factors must be involved otherwise the figure would have been 100% - dispositional factors are likely involved. Also, theory doesn’t explain the lack of moral strain seen by nurses in Hofling et al (1966) experiment, as theory suggests nurses would have shown levels of anxiety which wasn’t the case. Can be argued that agentic state theory can only be used to explain some situations of obedience and requires caution to generalise
What is a strength of the legitimacy of authority theory? - Useful real-life application to explain war crimes
===> Kelman and Hamilton (1989) suggest My Lai massacre of 1968, where US soldiers killed 500 inhabitants of Vietnamese village said they were obeying Lieutenant William Calley’s orders, can be understood in terms of US army power hierarchy and William Calley as legitimate authority figure. Act of mass murder demonstrates that people will blindly obey orders from an individual with higher perceived authority and proves it has practical value in real life
What is a strength of the legitimacy of authority theory? - Can explain why different cultures have different views towards obedience
===> Kilham and Mann (1974) replicated study in Australia and only 16% went up to lethal 450V, compared to Milgram’s 65% in USA and Mantell’s (1971) 85% in Germany. Cross-cultural comparison shows that different societies demonstrate different levels of obedience as they socialise children to be more (or less) obedient to authority figures. Helps explain different results and how societies impact the legitimacy of authority
