Obedience Theories

According to Milgram, Obedience is a result of both nature and nurture. This is because ?

• We are taught to obey and continue to learn obedience through socialisation.

• We obey because we have evolved to have a hierarchical structure and then we are socialised to follow the order of a legitimate authority figure.

• We are genetically predisposed to being obedient.

• Obedience is only learnt through nature.

Why do people obey a legitimate authority figure, even if they feel it goes against their moral compass?

• People are instrinsically evil

• The source has a strength because of their status.

• They relieve their moral strain by giving responsibility of actions to the legitimate authority figure.

• They are taught to do so.

Name one factor, according to Milgram increases obedience.

• A run down location

• private acceptance

• Status of the location

• The number of targets

Which two factors can lead to a reduction in obedience?

• Receiving instructions over the phone

• A high status location

• An ordinary man and not a legitimate authority.

• Having a buffer e.g. a wall

There is evidence to support Milgram's agency theory. Tick the correct pieces of evidence that supports agency theory.

• Milgram found that participants would question the experimenter and inflict harm on Mr Wallace.

• Sherif found that two groups competing for points/ trophies will show hostility to the opposing teams.

• Milgram's peer support condition showed that when participants are given support from another peer they may reject the demands of the legitimate authority figure.

• Hofling found that 21/22 nurses obeyed the legitimate authority over the telephone.

There may be practical issues with research used to support Milgram's Agency Theory. This may mean that theory may be based on invalid research. Tick the statement that highlights practical evidence used to support Milgram's Agency Theory.

• Milgram's research has been criticised for not being reliable because of the use of standardised procedures.

• Milgram's study has been criticised for having poor external validity. This is because the task of shocking an individual is unrealistic, therefore lacks mundane realism.

Sam is on holiday. He chooses to go to the shops rather than do his Psychology revision. According to Milgram, he is in the ............................. state.

• Autonomous state and therefore he is acting on his own free will.

• Moral state and so he feels he need to obey in order to relieve himself of moral strain.

• Agentic State and he quickly obeys the commands of a legitimate authority figure.

• To increase his self esteem he becomes hostile towards the out group.

Sam has been told that he must revise over the holidays by his headteacher. He therefore devises a revision timetable and revises consistently over the two week period. He has, therefore shifted to an ................................ state

• Moral state

• Agentic State

• Autonomous State

Milgram's agency theory can be criticised using the issues and debates. Tick the correct criticisms of Milgram's agency theory.

• Milgram's research is based on a wide body of evidence, increasing it's credibility.

• Milgram's agency theory ignores individual differences e.g. the personality of the individuals.

• Concepts such as moral strain are difficult to measure under a scientific framework.

• The theory is reductionist and therefore this allowed Milgram to isolate factors impacting obedience e.g. the legitimacy of setting.

Milgram's Agency theory can be counter argued using ................ theory.

• Social Identity Theory

• Realistic Conflict Theory

• Social Impact Theory

• Agency Theory