Agency Theory Flashcards
What did Milgram propose in response to obedience to destructive obedience?
It occurs when a person doesn’t take responsibility. They’re an ‘agent’ acting for someone else.
The agency theory implies the existence of 2 states
Autonomous state
Agentic State
Describe the agentic shift
A cognitive shift from the autonomous state (in control of their own actions; responsible) to the agentic state (instruments for another’s wishes).
Agentic shift consequences
Agent attributes responsibility to the person in authority, due to their position in social hierarchy.
What triggers the agentic shift?
Children socialised at an early age to accept authority, e.g parents or teachers. We obey unquestionably, bc most requests seen as reasonable.
What keeps people in the agentic shift?
Binding effects: aspects of a situation which allow people to minimise/ignore damage they do- reducing the moral strain they feel.
Strength: Agentic shift has real world examples
Example: Nazi soldiers claim they were following orders. Acted in the agentic state, responding to those percieved superior. Strength; it supports agentic shift’s existence, theory applicable to real world.
Weakness: Contrary findings
Rank and Jacobson (1977)
found nurses disobey doctor’s order to give excessive dose. Doctor was an authority figure, yet nurses remained autonomous. Weakness: shows agentic shift only explains obedience in some instances.
Weakness: Some nazi behaviour cannot be explained by the agentic shift
Eg: Nazis shooting polish civillians, despite not having orders to do so. They acted autonomously.Weakness: implies agentic state is not needed for destructive behaviour.
