Agentic State and Legitimacy of Authority

Question 1

What is the agentic state

Answer 1

when a person sees themself as an agent for carrying out another person’s wish

Question 2

what is the agentic shift?

Answer 2

when someone moves from an autonomous state to an agentic state

Question 3

what is an autonomous state?

Answer 3

when a person sees themself as responsible for their own actions

Question 4

why might someone adopt an agentic state?

Answer 4

because of the need to maintain a positive self image

Question 5

what keeps someone in an agentic state?

Answer 5

social etiqutte in regulating our behaviours - so the person doesn’t want to appear rude

Question 6

what is a legitimate authority?

Answer 6

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

Question 7

evaluation points for agentic state and legitimacy of authority

Answer 7

1. research support - milgrams study
2. Hofling et al (1966) in support
   3.
   4.

Question 8

how did milgram’s study support the agentic state

Answer 8

Milgram’s studies support the agentic state. Participants were told that the experimenter would take the blame for any harm suffered by the participants, and would continue with the experiment. Shows that once an individual is relieved of responsibility of consequence, they are more likely to obey.

Question 9

Hofling et al (1966)

Answer 9

nurses were told over the phone by a ‘doctor’ to give twice the advised dosage of a made-up drug to patients- 21 out of 22 obeyed (95%), supporting Milgram’s findings that people are obedient and strengthening the external validity of the findings.