Social Psychology – Lesson 4 Theories of obedience – Agency theory

Introduction to Exam technique Evaluate – 8 marks (already covered in the previous session) PEC x 4 with a conclusion Explain two evaluation points of ___ study (4 marks) 2 marks per evaluation point Point (one mark) and evidence to justify your point (one mark) x 2 Describe – 5 marks Provide descriptive points – read the question properly. If it only asks you for results don’t provide information about the procedure!

Define – usually 1 mark Provide the definition – full sentence Compare – 4 marks One similarity One difference Point – a difference is……. Evidence from study number one Evidence from study number two

Application question – e. g Application question – e.g. John and Katie are discussing obedience and Katie doesn’t understand why 65% of the participants in Milgram’s study obeyed the experiment. Using your knowledge of obedience explain why the participants may have obeyed. Please provide two reasons. (4 marks) You must refer to the scenario in the answer Point – reason why they may have obeyed Justification – elaborate on your point Point – a second reason why they may have obeyed

Agency theory Theories of Obedience

Discuss this scenario Two countries are at war A lieutenant in the American army orders soldiers to shoot occupants of a village It is assumed that the men of the village should be there and the women and other civilians would be at the market When the soldiers arrive the village was bustling with men, women, children, babies and older people. Discuss what you think happens next.

My Lai Can you provide reasons of why this may have happened? In less than four hours they killed as many as 500 women, old men, children, and babies. Real life atrocity – Mai Lai Massacre Can you provide reasons of why this may have happened?

Those who obeyed Those who refused Most of the dozen soldiers E.g. Robert maples Why? Quote from the trial: He did know he could be court-martialled for refusing to obey an order.  I was ordered to go in there and destroy the enemy. That was my job on that day….I carried out the orders that I was given, and I do not feel wrong in doing so, sir.” Agents?

Agency theory Mechanism that ensures obedience. Sorting sheet – on the learning space. Read the description and then put the boxes into order. 1 to 5. Save this – you may be asked to define any part of this theory

Agency theory (Milgram, 1973) Milgram suggests that people are agents of others in society because that is the way society works. People have evolved to obey those in higher positions. This ensures social harmony

How does the agentic shift work? Agency theory Autonomous Agentic state Agentic shift Moral strain due to order against moral judgement Responsibility is displaced Moral strain is reduced Will obey order

How else can someone reduce moral strain? Did 100% of participants obey the experimenter in Milgram’s study up to 450V? 35% of people removed themselves from the situation and refused to continue

Evaluation of a theory – make notes on each point Supporting evidence - A valid theory cannot be proposed without evidence. Without evidence, a theory has no credibility and is really no more than an opinion. Opposing theories – If a separate theory can explain the behaviour or concept as well as the theory you are evaluating then, this makes the theory less valid Application to real life – how can the explanation be useful to society (bigger picture thinking) Reductionism In psychology, reductionism refers to a theory that seems to over-simplify human behaviour or cognitive processes, and in doing so, neglects to explain the complexities of the mind or behaviour.

Reductionism vs. Holism Debate: Would anyone like some cake? Served in the style of reductionism? Reductionism vs. Holism Debate: Holism: “an approach that emphasises the whole rather than their constituent parts” Holism: Reductionism oversimplifies and misses out a lot of important information by trying to explain complex behaviours in a simple way. Therefore reductionist theories or explanations can only provide a limited understanding of behaviour.

Reductionist or holistic – discuss in pairs The human mind is like a computer, which simply processes information. Mental disorders are often explained by an interaction of biological, psychological and environmental factors. Taking a drug (that effects the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain) to help with a psychological disorder will completely treat the disorder. Case studies are in-depth investigations of a single person, group, event or community. Typically the data is gathered from a variety of sources and by using several different method. Phobias are developed as a result classical conditioning.

Pair work - evaluation One person looks at supporting studies and opposing theories Another person looks at applicability and reductionism Use the table on the next slide or draw one out Read the information on the slides, make notes and then explain to your partner the two evaluation points that you were responsible for By the end of the task you should have four complete evaluation points.

Evaluation point Strength or weakness Why is it a strength or weakness? Justify. Provide evidence. Supporting evidence Opposing theories Applicability Reductionism

Supporting study - Agency Theory Without evidence, a theory has no credibility and is not seen as a valid theory. Supporting study - Agency Theory Milgram (1963) How does this study provide evidence for the concepts of the theory? What evidence do we have that the participants may have been experiencing moral strain? Evidence of autonomous state? Evidence of agentic shift? What did they say to displace the responsibility? How does the telephonic instructions variation reflect autonomous behaviour? Hofling (1966) In a real hospital nurses were asked to administer twice the daily dosage of a drug to a patient (as part of a study) each nurse received a call from a doctor 21 out of 22 followed the doctor’s orders Some of the nurses justified their behaviour due to the hierarchy of authority at the hospital. How does this supports the theory? Use key words from the theory.

Opposing theories Agency theory- a claim that provides a description of an internal mental process that can’t be measured No evidence to suggest that we have evolved to obey those in higher position Motivation issues aren’t explained by agency theory There are other possible explanations. When another explanation is equally possible, this makes the theory less valid French and Raven (1959) Five bases of power that motivate and influence behaviour. We may be influenced to act in a certain way (i.e. obedience) if we believe the person providing the order has power over us: Legitimate power - those who we perceive as higher up the hierarchy Reward power – those offering social emotional, economical rewards to others for doing what is wanted or expected Referent power - Concern of likeability using flattery and charisma – to enhance influence Expert power - If the person has more knowledge, experience or special skills Coercive power - threat of force to gain compliance (physical, emotional, political) Legitimate authority – those who we perceive as higher up the hierarchy Social norms dictate that we should obey those with legitimate authority Reward – those offering social emotional, economical rewards to others for doing what is wanted or expected Positive of negative Referent Concern of likeability Flattery and charisma – to enhance influence Expert – based on knowledge experience and special skills (perceived superior skills) Credentials – able to convenience subordinates to trust him/her Perception of expertise does not have to be genuine Coercive - threat of force to gain compliance (physical, emotional, political)

Applicability- usefulness What does the theory help explain? How could society use this theory to ensure atrocities such as My Lai are less likely to occur? Example: Soldiers could be made aware of the theory and they could be trained to report and refuse to carry out orders that go against the Geneva convention. This may stop other soldiers from committing war crimes due to obedience.

Individual differences are the variations from one person to another on variables such as self-esteem, the rate of cognitive development and personality. Reductionism Agency theory does not explain Individual differences – obedience is a more complex process than is being explained by this theory Obedience is a complex behaviour and can occur for many different reasons (i.e. personality type, gender and situation) however this theory does not provide details about these reasons and explains that it is simply the order from an authority figure triggers the shift from autonomous to the agentic state. Evidence: Hofling (1966) 1 nurse refused to obey the order Milgram (1963) 35% left before reaching 450V

Explain one strength and one weakness of the Agency Theory (4 marks) Refer to your notes on this type of question in order to answer it correctly

Use key words from theory and refer to the scenario/situation Application question Use key words from theory and refer to the scenario/situation Extension Using your knowledge of agency theory explain why the soldiers may have behaved in this way: Prisoner’s human rights were abused at the Abu Ghraib prison under the authority of the American armed forces in the aftermath of the 2003 Iraq war. Soldiers were thrust into the role of prison guards and began to sadistically torment prisoners there and at other detention sites in Afghanistan and Iraq. The soldiers claim that they were following orders. ( 4 marks)

Next lesson – review test 1 Based on the last 4 lesson Understanding exam technique is just as important as the content