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Britain & the wider world: 1745 -1901
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Psychology
10 Dec 2025
510
1 page
Amy Breen @amybreen_ikkr
Ever wondered why ordinary people sometimes follow orders that go against their moral beliefs? Two key psychological concepts... Show more
Think about times when you've followed instructions without question - this happens because of how our minds handle authority. The agentic state occurs when we stop taking personal responsibility for our actions and instead see ourselves as agents carrying out someone else's orders.
In our normal autonomous state, we make our own decisions and accept the consequences. However, the agentic shift happens when we encounter an authority figure - suddenly, we pass responsibility onto them rather than ourselves. This explains why participants in Milgram's famous obedience experiments often blamed the experimenter rather than themselves.
The legitimacy of authority works alongside this. We're naturally programmed to obey people who hold legitimate power within social hierarchies - teachers, police officers, military commanders. This becomes dangerous when leaders use their legitimate powers for destructive authority, as history tragically demonstrates.
Key Insight Research shows that people are more likely to accept authority as legitimate in certain cultures, which explains why obedience varies across different societies.
Evaluation points show these theories have strong research support from historical events like the Mai Lai massacre, where soldiers followed orders due to their agentic state. However, these explanations can't account for why some people disobey authority or the role personality plays in obedience - showing they're useful but limited theories.
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
8
Smart Tools NEW
Transform this note into: ✓ 50+ Practice Questions ✓ Interactive Flashcards ✓ Full Mock Exam ✓ Essay Outlines
Explore the strengths and weaknesses of Informational Social Influence (ISI) and Normative Social Influence (NSI) as explanations for conformity. This evaluation covers key studies, including Asch's experiments, and discusses individual differences in conformity behavior. Ideal for students preparing for psychology exams.
PsychologyExplore the Agentic State and Legitimacy of Authority as key explanations for obedience in psychology. This summary evaluates their strengths and limitations, highlighting critical studies such as Milgram's and Rank & Jacobson's. Understand cultural differences in obedience and the implications of disobedience in hierarchical structures. Ideal for psychology students preparing for exams or assignments.
PsychologyExplore a critical evaluation of Asch's conformity experiments, focusing on cultural bias, ethical concerns, and the impact of gender. This summary highlights key findings, limitations, and implications for understanding conformity across different contexts. Ideal for psychology students preparing for exams or discussions.
PsychologyExplore the key findings and evaluations of Asch's conformity experiment, including its methodology, results, and implications for social psychology. This summary covers the factors influencing conformity, such as group size and cultural context, while addressing the study's limitations in terms of ecological and temporal validity.
PsychologyExplore the relationship between authoritarian personality traits and obedience in this detailed evaluation. This summary covers key studies, including Milgram's experiment, and critiques the dispositional explanations of obedience, highlighting strengths, limitations, and alternative theories. Ideal for psychology students studying obedience theories and personality psychology.
PsychologyExplore key concepts of obedience in social psychology, including Milgram's experiment, agency theory, and the diffusion of responsibility. This summary provides insights into how social influence shapes behavior, supported by critical evaluations and research findings. Ideal for students studying social psychology.
PsychologyQuotes from every main character
English LiteratureApp Store
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
Amy Breen
@amybreen_ikkr
Ever wondered why ordinary people sometimes follow orders that go against their moral beliefs? Two key psychological concepts - the agentic state and legitimacy of authority- help explain why people obey authority figures even when it leads to harmful... Show more
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Think about times when you've followed instructions without question - this happens because of how our minds handle authority. The agentic state occurs when we stop taking personal responsibility for our actions and instead see ourselves as agents carrying out someone else's orders.
In our normal autonomous state, we make our own decisions and accept the consequences. However, the agentic shift happens when we encounter an authority figure - suddenly, we pass responsibility onto them rather than ourselves. This explains why participants in Milgram's famous obedience experiments often blamed the experimenter rather than themselves.
The legitimacy of authority works alongside this. We're naturally programmed to obey people who hold legitimate power within social hierarchies - teachers, police officers, military commanders. This becomes dangerous when leaders use their legitimate powers for destructive authority, as history tragically demonstrates.
Key Insight: Research shows that people are more likely to accept authority as legitimate in certain cultures, which explains why obedience varies across different societies.
Evaluation points show these theories have strong research support from historical events like the Mai Lai massacre, where soldiers followed orders due to their agentic state. However, these explanations can't account for why some people disobey authority or the role personality plays in obedience - showing they're useful but limited theories.
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
8
Smart Tools NEW
Transform this note into: ✓ 50+ Practice Questions ✓ Interactive Flashcards ✓ Full Mock Exam ✓ Essay Outlines
Explore the strengths and weaknesses of Informational Social Influence (ISI) and Normative Social Influence (NSI) as explanations for conformity. This evaluation covers key studies, including Asch's experiments, and discusses individual differences in conformity behavior. Ideal for students preparing for psychology exams.
PsychologyExplore the Agentic State and Legitimacy of Authority as key explanations for obedience in psychology. This summary evaluates their strengths and limitations, highlighting critical studies such as Milgram's and Rank & Jacobson's. Understand cultural differences in obedience and the implications of disobedience in hierarchical structures. Ideal for psychology students preparing for exams or assignments.
PsychologyExplore a critical evaluation of Asch's conformity experiments, focusing on cultural bias, ethical concerns, and the impact of gender. This summary highlights key findings, limitations, and implications for understanding conformity across different contexts. Ideal for psychology students preparing for exams or discussions.
PsychologyExplore the key findings and evaluations of Asch's conformity experiment, including its methodology, results, and implications for social psychology. This summary covers the factors influencing conformity, such as group size and cultural context, while addressing the study's limitations in terms of ecological and temporal validity.
PsychologyExplore the relationship between authoritarian personality traits and obedience in this detailed evaluation. This summary covers key studies, including Milgram's experiment, and critiques the dispositional explanations of obedience, highlighting strengths, limitations, and alternative theories. Ideal for psychology students studying obedience theories and personality psychology.
PsychologyExplore key concepts of obedience in social psychology, including Milgram's experiment, agency theory, and the diffusion of responsibility. This summary provides insights into how social influence shapes behavior, supported by critical evaluations and research findings. Ideal for students studying social psychology.
PsychologyQuotes from every main character
English LiteratureApp Store
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
Sociology