Outline two explanations of why people obey. [4 marks]

Answer:

Explanation One: Agentic state. The agentic state occurs when an individual acts on behalf of an authority figure. In this state, a person is more likely to obey because they feel little or no personal responsibility for their actions.

Explanation Two: Legitimacy of authority. This refers to the extent to which an individual is perceived as having the right to give orders. People are more likely to obey those they see as legitimate because they believe these individuals hold recognised positions of power.