Situational Explanations for Obedience

Question 1

Explain Agentic State

Answer 1

Not taking responsibility for our actions as we believe we are acting on behalf of an authority figure.

Question 2

Explain Autonomous state

Answer 2

Feeling free of other influences so taking responsibility for our own actions.

Question 3

Explain Agentic Shift

Answer 3

Switching from autonomous to agent because we perceive someone as being an authority figure to be obeyed

Question 4

Explain Legitimate authority

Answer 4

Some are perceived to have authority because they have been entrusted in society with certain powers (e.g. police)

Question 5

How does power make us obey?

Answer 5

If someone holds the power to punish we obey out of fear of punishment (learnt in childhood).

Question 6

Explain Destructive obedience

Answer 6

We behave in cruel ways if ordered to do something destructive by a legitimate authority