Social Influence - Explanations of Obedience Flashcards
I.E Agentic state, Legitimacy of authority
What’s the definition of Agentic state?
A mental state in which individuals see themselves as an agent (acting on behalf) of an authority figure
The individual doesn’t feel guilt or responsibility of their actions as they believe the responsibility lies with the authority figure
What’s the definition of Autonomous state?
Occurs when an individual acts according to their principles & feels responsible for their actions
What’s the definition of Agentic shift?
Its the movement from an autonomous state to an agentic state, happens in the presence of an authority figure
What’s the definition of Legitimacy of authority?
An explanation of obedience in which an individual obeys someone in a perceived higher position of authority or in a social hierarchy
How is Legitimacy of authority learnt & communicated?
It’s learnt through socialisation & communicated through visual symbols like uniform & or Location
i.e. You obey teachers in school but wouldn’t do so in a supermarket
Strength ( Agentic state) : Research support by Blass and Schmitt
Point: Research by Blass and Schmitt supports the concept of the agentic state in explaining obedience.
Evidence: They showed participants footage of Milgram’s original obedience experiments and asked them to identify who was responsible for the harm inflicted on the learner. Most participants attributed responsibility to the experimenter rather than the teacher, suggesting that people see authority figures as responsible for actions carried out under their orders.
Explanation: This supports the idea that individuals enter an agentic state, where they view themselves as agents executing the orders of an authority figure, rather than acting on their own accord.
Link: This finding strengthens the agentic state theory by demonstrating how authority figures can shift perceived responsibility.
Weakness ( Agentic state) : Limited explanation
Point: The explanation of the agentic state is limited and doesn’t fully account for all obedience behaviour.
Evidence: The agentic state theory doesn’t explain why some individuals resist authority while others obey, even under the same conditions.
Explanation: This suggests that other psychological factors, such as personality traits or situational variables, play a significant role in obedience.
Link: This limitation weakens the agentic state theory, indicating that it cannot fully explain obedience without considering additional factors influencing behaviour.
what’s are Binding factors?
Allows individuals to ignore the damaging effects of their obedient behaviour
Strengths ( Legitimacy of Authority) : Explains obedience across different cultures
Point: A strength of the legitimacy of authority explanation is that it accounts for obedience across different cultures.
Evidence: Research has shown that in cultures with a high degree of respect for authority, such as many Asian societies, obedience rates in experiments similar to Milgram’s are typically higher compared to cultures that prioritize individualism, like many Western societies.
Explanation: This suggests that the legitimacy of authority is a universal concept, influencing obedience behavior regardless of cultural background.
Link: This cultural applicability strengthens the legitimacy of authority explanation by demonstrating its relevance in diverse societal contexts.
