Agentic state and legitimacy of authority

What is the agentic state

A state where a person sees themselves as acting on behalf of an authority figure, feeling no personal responsibility for their actions

What is the difference between an autonomous state and an agentic state

• Autonomous state: A person is responsible for their actions and behaves independently

• Agentic state: A person shifts responsibility to an authority figure and obeys orders

What is the agentic shift

The process of moving from an autonomous state to an agentic state, where responsibility is transferred to an authority figure

Do people in an agentic state feel guilt

Yes, they experience moral strain, realising their actions are wrong, but feel powerless to disobey

What are biding factors that keep people in an agentic state

• Not wanting to challenge authority

• Avoiding the hassle of resistance

• Fear of being seen as rude or breaking commitments

What is legitimacy of authority

The perception that someone has a socially accepted position of power, making people more likely to obey them

What is the first condition for someone to enter an agentic state

The perception of a legitimate authority figure

How does a legitimate authority influence how a situation is perceived

People accept the authority figure’s interpretation of events, even if their actions cause harm (e.g. in Milgram’ study)

Why is an institution important for legitimacy

Harmful orders are more likely to be seen as legitimate if they come from an institutional setting

How does Zimbardo’s study challenge the agentic state explanation

Some guards chose to be cruel without direct orders, suggesting obedience may stem from human nature rather than just authority

How did Bass & Schmitt (2001) support the legitimacy of authority explanation

• Showed studnets a film of Milgram’s study

• Students blamed the experimenter (scientist) for the learner’s harm

• This supports the idea that people see authority as responsible for obedience