Social Influence-Agentic State And Legitimacy Of Authority Flashcards
What is the agentic state?
A person sees himself or herself as an agent for carrying out another person wishes
How does the obedient individual see themselves?
Not being responsible
How did Milgram describe this shifting responsibility for ones action to someone else?
“Agentic shift”
What was said in interview after Milgram’s study when asked why they continued to administer electric shocks?
“I wouldn’t have done it myself. I was just doing what I was told”
Why do people adopt an agentic state in regard to their self-image?
They would like to maintain a positive self-image
What is no longer relevant once a person shifts to an agentic state?
1️⃣-
2️⃣-
3️⃣-
1️⃣-Evaluative concern
2️⃣-Self-image
3️⃣- their own responsibility
From a participants perspective what are action carried out under agentic state?
Guilt-free 🔓
How do binding factors prompt actions?
Subject fears that breaks off, he/she will breach the commitment made and will appear arrogant or rude.
What is legitimacy of authority?
A person who is perceived to be in a position of social control in a situation
In Milgram’s study, what expectations do participants enter the labotory with?
That someone will be charge
What does legitimate authority require to be effective?
They must occur within some sort of institutional structure (I.e. University)
What did Milgram find out in regard to the power of types of institution in relation to legitimate authority?
A institution does not have to be particularly reputable to be effective in creating a legitimate authority as when his shock study was carried out in a rundown office in Bridgeport it still obtained relatively high level of obedience.
Evaluation-
Agentic state explanation and real-life obedience:
How does Lifton (1986) show that Milgram’s idea of rapidly shifting states (autonomous to agentic) is not entirely true? 🇧🇪🚑
German doctors working at Auschwitz had changed from ordinary medical professionals concerned with only the welfare of their patients… ⬇️
… Into me and women capable of carrying out vile and potentially lethal experiments on helpless prisoners.
What does Staub (1989) suggest is more responsible for the behavioural transition?
Rather that the agentic state shift being responsible for the transition found in many holocaust perpetrators, it’s in rather the experience of carrying out acts of evil over a log time that changes the way in which individuals think and behave.
Evaluation
Agentic state or just plain cruel?
What do social scientists believe was the primary cause for the behaviour of guards in the SPE instead of agentic state?
There was no obvious authority figure instructing the guards to behave accordingly hence the guards inflicting rapidly escalating cruelty was an opportunity to express sadistic impulses
What do both prison studies highlight about human nature?
The unflattering aspect of human nature
Evaluation:
Legitimate authority explanation and real-life obedience
What happens when people allow allow others of authority to make judgement on appropriate conduct?
They no longer feel that their own morals are relevant to their conduct.
What is a consequence of authorise other to make judgement on appropriate conduct?
When directed by a legitimate authority figure to engage in immoral actions they are more willing to do so
Evaluation
Real life example of agentic state:
What happened in 1968 in My Lai?
American Soldiers faced the agentic shift where they intended to kill Vietcong fighter however found unarmed Villegers and killed them anyway
Who instructed the soldiers to kill the unarmed villagers?
Lt. William Calley (Platoon commander)
How many villagers were killed?
500 villagers
What do Calley say in defence at his military trial?
He too had just been following the orders of his superior officer… Capt. Ernest Medina
