Situational explanation for Obedience Flashcards
What is the agentic state?
When we perceive someone as higher in the social hierarchy, we are likely to act as an agent.
Do people acting as an agent have responsibility for their actions?
NO. Feel as they are simply following orders.
What is moral Strain?
Trying to pull you out of the agentic state, but we are powerless as we are lower in the social hierarchy. /
What is the autonomous state?
When we are independent and have free will.
Agentic shift
The change from the autonomous state to the agentic state if ordered by an authority figure.
Legitimate authority
If people are high up in social hierarchy we believe they have legitimate authority.
Trust them to use their power over us appropriately and for good.
This authority derives from uniform and status.
Destructive Authority
Some authority figures explicit their legitimate authority to cause destruction
Order people lower to act in cruel ways.
What was the aim of Milgram’s study ?
To find the conditions an individual would obey authority.
What were the prods used by psychologist to get the teacher to continue?
- Please continue
- The experiment requires you to continue
- It is absolutely essential that you continue.
- You have no choice but to continue
What did Milgram find?
65% of all participants continued to the highest voltage (450v)
All participants continued to 300v
What did Milgram conclude?
The reason they all conformed was due to the situation they were in.
The fact they were in an unfamiliar location, the behaviour of the experimenter, they volunteered, and they were paid influenced their behaviour.
Experimenter in a white lab coat meant people recognised their high authority and acted as an agent not fearing the consequences.
Milgram - Women
Same as original = 65%
Screaming - Milgram
Same as original = 65%
Same room as P - Milgram
40%
Have to place hand on shocker - Milgram
30%
