Subjects

Careers

Open the App

Subjects

Why We Obey: Agentic State and Legitimacy of Authority

Open

8

0

user profile picture

Shannon Walker

14/10/2022

Psychology

Evaluation of agentic state and legitimacy of authority

Why We Obey: Agentic State and Legitimacy of Authority

The Milgram experiment and related studies on obedience are crucial in understanding human behavior in response to authority. This summary explores two key explanations for obedience: the Agentic State theory and Legitimacy of Authority.

  • Agentic State theory proposes that individuals shift from an autonomous state to an agentic state when following orders.
  • Legitimacy of Authority suggests that obedience stems from recognizing an authority figure's legitimate power.
  • Both theories have strengths and limitations in explaining obedience across various contexts and cultures.
...

14/10/2022

194

Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Knowunity is the #1 education app in five European countries

Knowunity has been named a featured story on Apple and has regularly topped the app store charts in the education category in Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Join Knowunity today and help millions of students around the world.

Ranked #1 Education App

Download in

Google Play

Download in

App Store

Knowunity is the #1 education app in five European countries

4.9+

Average app rating

21 M

Pupils love Knowunity

#1

In education app charts in 17 countries

950 K+

Students have uploaded notes

Still not convinced? See what other students are saying...

iOS User

I love this app so much, I also use it daily. I recommend Knowunity to everyone!!! I went from a D to an A with it :D

Philip, iOS User

The app is very simple and well designed. So far I have always found everything I was looking for :D

Lena, iOS user

I love this app ❤️ I actually use it every time I study.

 

Psychology

194

14 Oct 2022

1 page

Why We Obey: Agentic State and Legitimacy of Authority

The Milgram experiment and related studies on obedience are crucial in understanding human behavior in response to authority. This summary explores two key explanations for obedience: the Agentic State theory and Legitimacy of Authority.

  • Agentic State theoryproposes that individuals... Show more

40106
A03=10
8
Outline and evaluate one or more explanations of obedience (16). Outline and evaluate Agentic State and Legitimacy of authori

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Explanations of Obedience: Agentic State and Legitimacy of Authority

This page discusses two key explanations for obedience: the Agentic State theory and Legitimacy of Authority. It evaluates their strengths and limitations in explaining obedience across different scenarios and cultures.

The Agentic State theory, proposed to explain findings from the Milgram obedience study, suggests that individuals shift from an autonomous state to an agentic state when following orders. However, this theory faces challenges in explaining certain research findings.

Example: In Milgram's study, not all participants obeyed fully, with only 65% administering the maximum 450-volt shock. This contradicts the expectation that all participants would shift to an agentic state.

Highlight: The Rank and Jacobson 19771977 study found that 16 out of 18 nurses disobeyed a doctor's orders to administer an excessive drug dose, challenging the Agentic State theory's applicability in real-world scenarios.

The theory also struggles to explain findings from Hofling's study on nurses, where participants did not experience high anxiety as predicted by the Agentic State theory.

Definition: Agentic state refers to a condition where an individual sees themselves as an agent carrying out another person's wishes, rather than being responsible for their own actions.

Legitimacy of Authority as an explanation for obedience offers insights into cultural differences in obedience rates.

Example: Kilham and Mann 19741974 replicated Milgram's research in Australia, finding only 16% of participants administered the maximum voltage, while Mantell 19711971 found 85% obedience among German participants.

This theory suggests that cultural perceptions of authority and social hierarchies influence obedience levels. However, it has limitations in explaining instances of disobedience within clear hierarchical structures.

Vocabulary: Legitimacy of authority refers to the perceived right of an authority figure to issue commands and expect obedience.

Both theories contribute to our understanding of obedience but have limitations in fully explaining all observed behaviors. The complexity of human obedience suggests that multiple factors, including situational and dispositional explanations, may play a role.

Highlight: The inability of these theories to explain all instances of obedience and disobedience indicates that obedience is a complex phenomenon influenced by various factors, including individual personality traits and specific situational contexts.

Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Students love us — and so will you.

4.9/5

App Store

4.8/5

Google Play

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user