OBEDIENCE : theories

social psycology

__**social psycology**__ examines the ==effects== of our environment on our behaviour and how our actions are influenced by individuals, groups and culture.

obedience

a form of social influence where an individual acts in response to a direct order, from another individual usually in a position of power

agency theory

Milgram's Agency Theory states that obedience is necessary for the stability of human society, and that we are socialised into obeying from childhood. it's as if we are working as agents of our society.

the two states

agentic state & autonomous state

agentic state

in this state, individuals work to benefit society at the expense of their own wishes.

BONUS : (in agentic state, people feel as if they have no power or choice, so they might as well act against their own moral code)

autonomous state

the state in which an individual feels they are free to act as they wish, and as their own conscience dictates.

moral strain

a state of mental discomfort or anxiety experienced in the agentic state when a person's actions conflict with their personal morality.

compliance

obeying, despite not necessarily agreeing with it

internalising

obeying with agreement

agency theory - STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES

* evidence from different studies, including Milgram's, backs up this theory.
* The theory helps to explain seemingly horrifying inexplicable actions like the holocaust or the Rwandan genocide

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\- the theory does not account for an individual's personal motives or prejudices while performing these acts.

\- the theory does not explain why there isn't 100% obedience. In Milgram's study of obedience 35% people didn't go up to the full 450 volts. this suggests that the agency theory cannot fully explain obedience.

social impact theory / social power theory

any changes in behaviour influenced by the real, implied, or imagined presence or actions of other individuals.

basic principle of social power theory

social force

social forces

social power theory suggests there are 3 social forces that have an impact on our behaviour :

* STRENGTH
* IMMEDIACY
* NUMBERS

social force - STRENGTH

how important the source is to the target, or how much authority they have.

social force - IMMEDIACY

how recently the event occurred, or how close the source is to the target physically.

social force - NUMBER

amount of sources. the impact increases as the sources increase, but each individual source after the first starts having less and less impact.

FORMULA : i = f(S/N)

social impact theory - STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES

* the use of a mathematical formula adds objectivity and validity to the theory.
* Helps in understanding which situations may have the most effect on people and which may have less.

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\- ignores people's individual differences, the roles of personality, age and gender.

\- it's difficult to see how a formula can be used for this very complex theory. for example, how can a formula measure "the power of persuasion"?

agency theory & social impact theory - DIFFERENCES

* agency theory focuses on the role of evolution and socialisation in obedience.
* Social impact theory focuses on the interaction of social forces.

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\- agency theory only applies to obedience

\- social power theory can be applied to any social behaviour including obedience