Outline one alternative explanation for obedience. [3 marks]

Answer: One explanation for obedience is the agentic state theory. An agentic state is when an individual acts on behalf of an authority figure. In this state, the individual feels little or no personal responsibility for their actions and may not experience guilt. The opposite of this is the autonomous state, in which individuals act according to their own principles and take full responsibility for their behaviour. The movement from autonomy to agency is known as the agentic shift.

Examiner Comment: The specification outlines two explanations for obedience: agentic state and legitimacy of authority. It is therefore advisable for students to focus on one of these when answering this type of question. While it is possible to refer to situational variables that affect obedience (such as proximity, location, and uniform), these must be presented as explanations by clearly stating why they make people more or less likely to obey.