How does Milgram support the agency theory?

How does Milgram support the agency theory?

• A. Obedience decreases when participants are reminded they are responsible for their own actions
• B. The experimenter taking responsibility eliminates moral conflict entirely
• C. People obey even when they believe actions are harmful
• D. Obedience increases when told they won't be responsible

Answer: (B)

Agency theory explains obedience as a shift of responsibility to an authority figure, so a person can act as the agent of that authority and feel less personal moral burden for the actions. In Milgram’s obedience studies, when the experimenter took responsibility for the consequences, participants experienced reduced personal moral conflict and continued to follow orders to administer shocks. That transfer of accountability is the mechanism the theory highlights, showing why obedience can be sustained even when actions are harmful. The other statements don’t capture this key mechanism: reminding someone they are responsible would push against the shift Milgram describes; saying obedience rises when they aren’t responsible is a related idea but not as direct about the authority bearing responsibility; and the broad claim that people obey even when actions are harmful describes obedience in general rather than the specific process of shifting responsibility to an authority.

Agency theory explains obedience as a shift of responsibility to an authority figure, so a person can act as the agent of that authority and feel less personal moral burden for the actions. In Milgram’s obedience studies, when the experimenter took responsibility for the consequences, participants experienced reduced personal moral conflict and continued to follow orders to administer shocks. That transfer of accountability is the mechanism the theory highlights, showing why obedience can be sustained even when actions are harmful. The other statements don’t capture this key mechanism: reminding someone they are responsible would push against the shift Milgram describes; saying obedience rises when they aren’t responsible is a related idea but not as direct about the authority bearing responsibility; and the broad claim that people obey even when actions are harmful describes obedience in general rather than the specific process of shifting responsibility to an authority.