Explanations for obedience: Agentic state and legitimacy of authority Worksheet model answers
Task 1: Model Answers – Description and Supporting Research
| Theory | Explanation | Supporting Study |
|---|---|---|
| Agentic State | This is when an individual sees themselves as an agent carrying out another person’s orders, and therefore not personally responsible for their actions. | One strength of this explanation is that it is supported by Milgram’s obedience study. Participants gave electric shocks when instructed by an authority figure. This supports the theory because it shows people will obey harmful orders when they believe responsibility lies with someone else. |
| Legitimacy of Authority | This refers to the idea that we are more likely to obey someone who we perceive to have legitimate power, such as someone in a uniform or a formal role. | A strength of this theory is that it is supported by Bickman’s field experiment. People were more likely to follow instructions from someone dressed as a security guard than someone in normal clothes. This supports the explanation because it shows people are influenced by perceived authority and legitimacy. |
Task 2: Model Essay Answer – 8-Mark Question
Essay Question: Outline and evaluate the agentic state as an explanation for obedience.
AO1 – Description (3 marks for A Level):
The agentic state is a psychological state where a person sees themselves as an agent executing the orders of someone else. In this state, individuals do not feel personally responsible for their actions because they believe the authority figure is accountable. This is often used to explain why people obey orders that go against their moral values, especially in hierarchical situations.
AO3 – Evaluation (5 marks for A Level):
One strength of the agentic state explanation is that it is supported by research evidence. Milgram’s 1963 study found that 65% of participants obeyed instructions to give electric shocks up to 450 volts, despite showing signs of distress. Many participants said they were “just doing what they were told,” suggesting they had entered an agentic state. This supports the idea that people may obey harmful instructions if they see the responsibility as lying with the authority figure.
However, a limitation is that it doesn’t explain why some people resist authority. In Milgram’s study, 35% of participants refused to continue, even under pressure. This suggests that not everyone enters an agentic state, and individual differences such as personality or moral reasoning may play a role. This weakens the explanation as it cannot account for all obedience behaviour.
Another evaluation point is that alternative explanations exist, such as the authoritarian personality. This is a dispositional explanation that focuses on personality traits, rather than situational factors. This suggests that obedience may be influenced by internal characteristics as well as external authority