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smith.mary4 7d ago β€’ 0 views

Breaking Down the Agentic State: A Guide for Psychology Students

Hey everyone! πŸ‘‹ I'm really trying to get my head around the 'agentic state' in psychology. It sounds super important, especially when we talk about obedience and responsibility. Can anyone help break it down for me so I can truly grasp it for my psych class? I'm hoping for something clear and easy to understand. Thanks a bunch! πŸ™
πŸ’­ Psychology

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michael.cardenas Jan 15, 2026

🧠 Understanding the Agentic State: A Core Psychological Concept

  • πŸ’‘ A fundamental idea explaining how individuals can act as an 'agent' for an authority figure.
  • βš–οΈ Shifting from an autonomous state (feeling responsible for one's actions) to an agentic state (perceiving oneself as an instrument carrying out another's wishes).
  • 🚫 In this state, personal responsibility for actions is diminished or transferred to the authority.
  • πŸ”‘ Crucial for understanding phenomena like destructive obedience and collective behavior.

πŸ“œ The Origins: Stanley Milgram's Groundbreaking Research

  • πŸ”¬ Pioneered by social psychologist Stanley Milgram in the 1960s.
  • ⚑️ Emerged from his famous obedience experiments, which sought to understand compliance with immoral orders.
  • 🌍 Milgram's work was largely influenced by the Holocaust and the question of how ordinary people could commit atrocities.
  • πŸ“š His findings challenged prevailing beliefs about human nature and individual moral autonomy.

πŸ”‘ Core Principles Defining the Agentic State

  • 🀝 Agentic Shift: The psychological process of transitioning from an autonomous state to an agentic state.
  • πŸ”— Binding Factors: Elements that keep an individual in the agentic state, such as fear of disrupting the experiment, social etiquette, or the perceived legitimacy of authority.
  • πŸ–ΌοΈ Buffers: Psychological or physical distance from the consequences of one's actions, which can reduce moral strain.
  • βš–οΈ Moral Strain: The discomfort experienced when an individual feels compelled to act against their conscience, even within an agentic state.
  • πŸ—£οΈ Legitimacy of Authority: The belief that the authority figure has the right to give orders, often reinforced by their uniform, setting, or title.
  • πŸ”„ Gradual Commitment: The incremental nature of demands, making it harder to refuse later requests after complying with initial, smaller ones.

🌎 Agentic State in Everyday Life and Historical Context

  • πŸŽ–οΈ Military Obedience: Soldiers following orders from superiors, even when those orders conflict with personal ethics, often due to strict hierarchy and training.
  • 🏒 Workplace Dynamics: Employees carrying out tasks they personally disagree with because it's "part of the job" or directed by a manager.
  • πŸ›οΈ Historical Atrocities: The actions of individuals in genocides or war crimes, where perpetrators claimed they were "just following orders."
  • 🚨 Police Authority: Citizens complying with police instructions, often due to the perceived legitimate authority of law enforcement.
  • πŸ‘¨β€βš•οΈ Medical Settings: Junior staff following a senior doctor's instructions, sometimes overriding their own judgment due to hierarchical structures.

πŸ“ Concluding Thoughts: The Lasting Impact of the Agentic State

  • 🌟 The agentic state remains a powerful concept for understanding human behavior in hierarchical and authoritative contexts.
  • πŸ›‘οΈ It highlights the delicate balance between individual autonomy and the pressures of social influence.
  • πŸ” While controversial, Milgram's theory provides critical insights into how ordinary people can engage in extraordinary acts under certain conditions.
  • 🧠 Encourages critical thinking about responsibility, authority, and the dynamics of social power.

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