reasons for why we obey including agentic state theory, legitimacy of authority, authoritarian personality essay plan
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Course
Social Influence
Institution
AQA
This document includes an essay plan grid for the subtopic reasons for why we obey including agentic state theory, legitimacy of authority, authoritarian personality in the A level Psychology social influence topic
Legitimacy of
authority - This explanation of obedience suggests that people will obey someone they The legitimacy of authority explains cultural differences in obedience, which
explanation perceive to be ‘above’ them in the social hierarchy, and therefore think they have increases the validity of the explanation.
the right to give orders.
- Uniforms are a key factor here in conveying a sense of legitimacy and authority. Many studies show that countries differ in the degree to which people are
- This authority is ‘rightful’, as it is agreed by society that it is necessary for some traditionally obedient to authority. Kilham and Mann (1974) found 16% of
people to be able to tell others what to do in some situations. participants in Australia obeyed until the end. Mantell (1971) found 85% of
German participants obeyed until the end.
This shows that in some cultures, authority is more likely to be accepted as
legitimate and entitled to demand obedience from people. This reflects the ways
that different societies are structured and how children are raised to perceive
authority figures.
Agentic state
theory - The agentic shift - moving from a state of autonomy to an agentic state. There is research to support the agentic state theory.
- Individuals feel less responsible for their own actions and behave as an ‘agent’ to
the authority figure. Blass and Schmitt (2001) showed a film of Milgram’s study to students and asked
- This theory suggests that people obey because once an authority figure tells them them who was responsible for the harm to the learner. The students blamed the
to do something, they no longer feel like they are responsible for that experimenter rather than the participant.
action/behaviour.
The students recognised that the responsibility was due to legitimate authority
being the cause of obedience.
Dispositional
explanation of - Obedience cannot always be explained by factors within the situation or social
obedience structure - a person’s disposition (personality) may make them more likely to obey.
- Such as having an authoritarian personality, makes people more likely to obey
authority.
Authoritarian
personality Those with this tended to be :
- Hostile to those who are of inferior status, but obedient to people with high status.
- Fairly rigid in their opinions and beliefs.
- Conventional, upholding traditional values.
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