Agency theory- Stanley Milgram
According to this theory we can be in one of two states – autonomous where we
have our own free will and feel responsible for the actions we carry out; or agentic
– we see ourselves as an agent for another person, seeing them as responsible for
the consequences of our actions.
When we are given orders by someone of higher authority, we switch to an agentic
state of mind.
Milgram suggested that two things must be in place in order for a person to enter
the agentic state:
1. The person giving the orders is perceived as being qualified to direct other
people’s behaviour. That is, they are seen as legitimate.
2. The person being ordered about is able to believe that the authority will
accept responsibility for what happens.
Moral strain- When the orders given by an authority figure go against your personal
judgement. This occurs between the two states (autonomous and agentic). We are
relieved of moral strain in the agentic state, because we place that responsibility
onto the authority figure.
According to Milgram we have evolved to be in an agentic state. Living in social
groups is important in evolutionary terms as it ensures survival. A hierarchy is
necessary so that some people are leaders, while others are followers. During our
early years, primary socialisation teaches us who to obey.
According to this theory we can be in one of two states – autonomous where we
have our own free will and feel responsible for the actions we carry out; or agentic
– we see ourselves as an agent for another person, seeing them as responsible for
the consequences of our actions.
When we are given orders by someone of higher authority, we switch to an agentic
state of mind.
Milgram suggested that two things must be in place in order for a person to enter
the agentic state:
1. The person giving the orders is perceived as being qualified to direct other
people’s behaviour. That is, they are seen as legitimate.
2. The person being ordered about is able to believe that the authority will
accept responsibility for what happens.
Moral strain- When the orders given by an authority figure go against your personal
judgement. This occurs between the two states (autonomous and agentic). We are
relieved of moral strain in the agentic state, because we place that responsibility
onto the authority figure.
According to Milgram we have evolved to be in an agentic state. Living in social
groups is important in evolutionary terms as it ensures survival. A hierarchy is
necessary so that some people are leaders, while others are followers. During our
early years, primary socialisation teaches us who to obey.
