Agentic State and Obedience in Social Psychology
This page explores psychological factors affecting obedience in social influence, focusing on Milgram's concept of the agentic state and related theories.
The agentic state is a key concept in understanding obedience. Milgram proposed that people obey when they do not take responsibility for their actions, believing they are acting as an agent for someone else. This is contrasted with the autonomous state, where individuals are free to behave as they wish and take responsibility for their actions.
Definition: The agentic shift is the transition from autonomy to 'agency', occurring when a person perceives someone else as a figure of authority based on their position in the social hierarchy.
Milgram also introduced the concept of binding factors, which prevent a person from leaving a situation and allow them to ignore the effects of their behavior, reducing moral strain.
Example: Blass and Schmitt's 2001 study showed students a film of Milgram's experiment. The students felt the experimenter was responsible, not the participant, due to legitimate and expert authority.
While the agentic state theory provides valuable insights, it has limitations. It doesn't fully explain why some participants did not obey in Milgram's experiments, suggesting it can only account for some situations of obedience.
The concept of legitimacy of authority is also introduced, explaining how hierarchical societal structures grant certain individuals authority over others. This legitimate authority, agreed upon by society, allows some people to punish others.
Highlight: The legitimacy of authority concept is crucial in understanding obedience in social psychology and how it can be used for both constructive and destructive purposes.
