Agentic state and legitimacy of authority

Question 1

What is an agentic shift?

Answer 1

Moving from an autonomous state to an agentic state

Question 2

What is an agentic state?

Answer 2

a person sees themselves as an agent for carrying out another persons wishes (feel no longer responsible for actions)

Question 3

In the interviews carried out by Milgram after his study, what did he find?

Answer 3

Participants blamed the experimenter for their administration of shocks, arguing they wouldn’t have done it by themselves, they were just doing what they were told to do (individuals do not feel responsibility for their actions)

Question 4

What is one reason why a person might adopt an agentic state?

Answer 4

In order to maintain a positive self-image,
once participant had moved into agentic state, evaluative concern is no longer relevant because the action is no longer their responsibility- no longer reflects their self-image (actions performed in agentic state are visually guilt-free)

Question 5

What are the binding factors to an agent state?

Answer 5

Commitment to investigator (does not want to appear arrogant or rude)

Question 6

What is legitimacy of authority?

Answer 6

A person who is perceived to be in control within a situation

Question 7

What is the first condition a person needs to shift to an agentic state?

Answer 7

Perception of a legitimate authority figure

Question 8

What did Milgram believe about legitimacy of authority?

Answer 8

Shared expectation that many situations have a socially controlling figure

Question 9

Why do individuals listen to a legitimate authority figure?

Answer 9

The participant allows for the authority figure to define the situation - thus taking responsibility off of them (they feel committed to the legitimate authority figure

Question 10

What is a key factor affecting whether an individual is perceived as a legitimate authority figure?

Answer 10

An institutional structure - an environment that makes sense

Question 11

How can an agentic state be seen as a loss of personal control?

Answer 11

Fennis & Aarts claim the agentic shift is more likely in situations where the individual experiences a reduction in their sense of personal control - accept external control to compensate for their lack control

Question 12

Agentic stae or just plain cruel?

Answer 12

Many argue Milgram had detected signs of cruelty among his participants - used situation to express sadistic impulses
Stanford Prison Experiment - guards inflicted rapidly escalating cruelty
Suggests some obedience may be due to agentic state but for others it may be due to a more fundamental desire to inflict harm on others