Agency Theory

Question 1

Autonomous state

Answer 1

Free to choose how we behaveTake responsibility for our actionsWe operate autonomously with people we perceive as below us in social hierarchy

Question 2

Making agentic shift

Answer 2

From autonomous state to agentic shiftQuickly judge if someone is above or below up in social hierarchy and if they have legitimate authoritySee legitimate authority = change from autonomous to agentic stateWe become agent of authority - behave on behalf of themObey orders of authority

Question 3

Moral strain

Answer 3

Experienced in agentic stateSymptoms of anxiety when obey orders that result in harmCognitive dissonance = believe it is wrong but still do it

Question 4

Strength

Answer 4

Milgram100% 300V65% 450VIn face of legitimate authority people are highly likely to carry out orders, despite high levels of moral strain

Question 5

Counter argument to strength

Answer 5

Perry 2012 claims participants saw through deceptionPeople questioned if shocks were realExamined evidence, showing >60% of participants disobeyed experimenterLacks validity

Question 6

Weakness

Answer 6

Rank and Jacobson 197716/18 nurses disobeyed doctor who ordered overdoseDoctor is authority figure, nurses considered themselves responsible for their actions