Agentic state and legitimacy of authority Flashcards

1
Q

What is the agentic state?

A

A person sees themselves as an agent for carrying out another person’s wishes.

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2
Q

How is an agentic state produced?

A

Agentic Shift - change from autonomous state to agentic. Stop believing they will suffer consequences of their actions.

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3
Q

What is agency theory?

A

People more likely to obey when in agentic state - do not believe they will suffer consequences of their actions

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4
Q

Why do people adopt the agentic state?

A

Maintain positive self-image. Action is no longer their responsibility, no longer reflects their self-image. ‘Guilt free’.

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5
Q

What is a legitimate authority?

A

A person who is perceived to be in a position of social control in a situation.

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6
Q

How does a legitimate authority influence obedience?

A

More likely to obey (agentic shift) if authority figure is morally credible and legitimate.

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7
Q

What is required for an authority to be legitimate?

A

An institution. Milgram showed it doesn’t have to be reputable (run-down condition). Category of institution more important - is it appropriate?

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8
Q

(AO3) What is contradictory evidence against agentic state and legitimacy of authority?

A

Zimbardo’s SPE. Participants inflicted increasingly cruel acts on prisoners despite having no authority figure. Other explanations needed… situational. OR Milgram may have allowed sadistic impulses to show.

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9
Q

(AO3) What is a weakness of the agentic state and legitimate authority in practice?

A

Prevents individual from facing consequences for their actions. May justify harming others. Does not account for free will. Court of law - holds people accountable - theory must accept individual differences & personality types.

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10
Q

(AO3) What is an issue with using Milgram’s study to base this explanation off?

A

Lacked mundane realism. Very unrealistic tasks, never seen in real life. May explain obedience in extreme scenarios, but not in day-to-day obedient scenarios. Lacks external validity.

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11
Q

(AO3) How can the agentic state and legitimacy of authority be used to explain a situation in real life?

A

My Lai Massacres by American soldiers pillaging in Vietnamese villages. Agentic state: following orders of generals - shifted responsibility to them. Legitimacy of authority: high position within US Army’s social hierarchy ranks. Suggests both theories are valid.

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