The Agentic State and Legitimacy of Authority
The agentic state is a crucial concept in explanations of obedience a level Psychology. It occurs when a person shifts responsibility for their actions to someone else, typically a figure of authority. This state is characterized by high levels of anxiety as the individual realizes the implications of their actions.
Definition: The agentic state is when a person doesn't take responsibility for their actions but blames someone else, particularly a figure of authority.
The agentic shift happens when a person perceives another as having higher authority, often due to social hierarchy. In most situations where someone is in charge, others defer to this person, shifting from autonomy to agency.
Vocabulary: Autonomous state refers to being in charge of one's own actions, contrasting with the agentic state.
Legitimacy of authority psychology is another key factor in obedience. Most societies are structured hierarchically, with legitimate authority agreed upon by governments and passed down through generations. This structure can lead to obedience to destructive authority, as seen in historical events like the My Lai massacre.
Example: Hitler's rise to power demonstrates how those with legitimate authority can abuse their position, leading to destructive consequences.
Binding factors Psychology examples include aspects of a situation that allow a person to ignore or minimize the damaging effects of their behavior, thus reducing moral conflict. Milgram proposed that people may shift responsibility to the victim as a binding factor.
Highlight: The concept of binding factors is crucial in understanding how individuals justify or rationalize obedient behavior that may be morally questionable.
