Explanation Of Obedience

Agentic State + Legitimacy Of Authority

Agentic Shift

When ppl move from a state where they take personal responsibility for their actions (autonomous state) to a state where they act on behalf of an authoritative figure (agentic state).

Individuals carry out wishes of an authoritative figure as the authoritative figure is taking responsibility - If in agentic state, more likely to obey.

They also loose their sense of responsibility.

Legitimacy Of Authority Figures

Obedient ppl accept the power + status of authority figures - see them as being in charge as the authority they hv is legitimate (agreed by society)

We accept ppl credentials + believe they know what they’re doing - ingrained in us to obey these ppl even if order may be unethical

Milgram’s research shows this - seedy office - gv order on telephone - obedience reduced as experimenter has less legitimate authority.

Research to Support agentic state + legitimacy of authority

Blass + Schmitt - Showed pps a film of Milgram’s study + asked to identify who was responsible for the harm to learner.

Blamed the experimenter - he was legitimate authority figure in exp.

Supports - shows ppl believe legitimate authority figures who hv credentials will take responsibility for another’s actions is they’re given orders.

Research to Support agentic state + legitimacy of authority

Bickman - New York - confederates in 3 diff. outfits (milkman, businessman and security guard) - ask passers by to pay money for parking or pick up litter.

Found that pps were twice as likely to follow instructions from security uniform than businessman.

Supports - shows ppl are more likely to obey those in uniform who have credentials.

Research to Contradict agentic state + legitimacy of authority

Mandel - incident where Germany Nazi Soldiers men obeyed orders to shoot civilians in small town in Poland

However before hand - told they could do other duties instead

Contradicts - soldiers choose to shoot civilians over other duties - meaning they wouldn’t be able to put the blame on authority figure.

Alternate explanation

Dispositional factors (Authoritarian Personality) - would argue obedience due to internal characteristics - e.g having extreme respect for authority due to upbringing rather than obeying because they believe legitimate authority figure will take responsibility for their actions

Therefore may not be only explanations.