Explaining obedience

What is agentic state?

A mental state where you feel no personal responsibility for your behaviour because you believe yourself to be acting for an authority figure

What is a mental state where you feel no personal responsibility for your behaviour because you believe yourself to be acting for an authority figure?

Agentic state

What is autonomous state?

Opposite of Agentic state

Independent and free to behave according to own principles

What is the opposite of Agentic state

Independent and free to behave according to own principles?

Autonomous state

What is legitimacy of authority?

Degree to which individuals are justified in having power over others

What is the degree to which individuals are justified in having power over others?

Legitimacy of authority

What is the shift from autonomous state to agentic state called?

Agentic shift

What is Agentic shift?

Shift from autonomy to agency

What is a real life example of destructive authority?

My Lai massacre

Why does Milgram say agentic shift happens?

Someone perceives someone else to have legitimate authority

Social heirarchy

Why does Milgram say people follow destructive authority?

Agentic state

Feel the moral strain but powerless to disobey

What study proves Milgram's explanation for obedience to destructive authority?

Blass + Schmidt (2001)

-Asked people who was responsible in Milgram (1963)

-Said Scientist was responsible

What is Blass + Schmidt (2001) and what do they prove?

Asked people who was responsible in Milgram 1963 and most said scientist

Proves Milgram's explanation for obedience to destructive authority

What is the My Lai massacre an example of and what happened?

Example of destructive authority

504 Unarmed civilians raped and killed

Only alt Calley punished and he said he was just following orders

What are binding factors?

Aspects of the situation that allow the person to ignore or minimise the damaging effects of their behaviour therefore reduce the mental strain they feel

What is aspects of the situation that allow the person to ignore or minimise the damaging effects of their behaviour therefore reduce the mental strain they feel?

Binding factors

2 strengths of the explanation of obedience

There is research supporting it

Real-life applications

Limitation of the explanation of obedience

Legitimate authority figures differ culturally

Explanation for obedience strength - There is supporting research

P: There is research supporting Milgram's explanation for obedience

E: Blass + Schmidt (2001)

C: Scientists were top of the hierarchy in that room

I+D: Explanation adopts a nomothetic approach

Explanation for obedience strength - Real life applications

P: Real-life applications because it explains obedience in war crimes

E: My Lai

C: Practical explanations can help prevent war crimes

Explanation for obedience Limitation - Legitimate authority differs culturally

P: Legitimate authority figures differ culturally

E: Replicated Milgram (1963) in Australia and only 16% of participants went to full voltage

C: Different countries follow different hierarchies