Situational explanations for obedience Flashcards
What are the situational explanations for obedience?
Agentic state and legitimacy of authority
What is the agentic state?
A person gives up their free will and no longer sees themselves as acting independently, but merely as an agent for someone else’s authority.
For example - the pts in Milgrim’s study
What is the autonomous state?
You decide on, direct, and take responsibility for your own actions.
What is moral strain?
Feeling uncomfortable as a result of going against your own conscience
How can an individual cope with moral strain?
Defence mechanisms such as repression and denial
What contributes to a person obeying due to legitimacy of authority?
Socialisation and social hierarchy
What is socialisation?
We obey someone with legitimate authority because we trust them, or they have the power to punish us
What is social hierarchy?
When many societies sanction or legitimise authority figures, so we identify with their power
What factors help you recognise legitimate authority?
Institutional context: Moving Milgrim’s study from Yale to rundown office block. 65% - 47.5%
Uniform - Bickman’s research
What is the research for the agentic state explanation?
Milgram found that many pts wanted to stop but were powerless to do so. Many shifted responsibility to victim to alleviate moral strain.
What is the research for legitimacy of authority?
Bickman found people were twice as likely to obey someone dressed as a security guard than jacket and tie.
Alternative theory to agentic state and legitimacy of authority?
Authoritarian personality as it take into account personality factors. More scientific as measured using the F scale.
Theoretical problem with agentic state?
Obedience alibi
Giving criminals an excuse and diffuses responsibility
Practical applications of legitimacy of authority?
Could help us explain and prevent horrific actions. Better grasp of hierarchy within institutions. Can be used as a measure against legitimate assumptions.
