Outline two explanations for obedience. (6 marks)

Model Answer

One explanation for obedience is the agentic state, where individuals see themselves as acting on behalf of an authority figure, rather than taking personal responsibility for their actions. This psychological shift allows individuals to obey orders that may conflict with their morals, as demonstrated in Milgram’s study, where participants continued delivering shocks because they felt the experimenter was responsible.

Another explanation is legitimacy of authority, which refers to the extent to which an individual perceives an authority figure as having the right to give orders due to their recognised role in society. For example, in Milgram’s study, the experimenter’s lab coat and association with Yale University increased participants’ obedience by establishing legitimacy.