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Comparing A Theory and SIT Handout
Comparing A Theory and SIT Handout
Comparing A Theory and SIT Handout
Application to the Social Impact Theory Comparison point Application to the Agency Theory
Useful to society in that they may help predict and Use to society The agency theory employs the idea that demonstrates
prevent future atrocities. The social impact theory power of authority figures in the Second World War and
uses a mathematical formula by which predictions Abu Ghraib
can be made to help society control its members
across all cultures.
Shows the impact of others in the environment Offer an explanation for Milgram’s findings Shows the power of being in an agentic state
Constantine Sedikides and Jeffrey Jackson (1990) Supporting evidence The agentic theory is supported by Milgram’s 1962 study.
conducted a field experiment at a zoo in New York, In this study he found out that 100% of participants would
where visitors were asked not to lean on a railing. administer a shock of 300V to a confederate as a
The researchers manipulated the strength of the punishment for making a mistake on a word learning task
source by dressing the confederate as either a zoo and 65% would go right up to the final 450V, beyond the
keeper (58% obedience) or in a t shirt and shorts shock labelled ‘danger, extreme shock’. This suggests
(35% obedience). Obedience also declined when the Milgram’s suggestion that in the face of legitimate authority
visitors are further away from the person making the people are highly likely to carry out orders, despite high
request (61% obedience when they are in the same levels of moral strain.
room and 7% obedience when in an adjacent room).
In conclusion, obedience was greater in a smaller
group of one or two visitors compared to a group of
five or six.
Differences:
Application to the Social Impact Theory Comparison point Application to the Agency Theory
Less relevance as it was never specifically designed Relevance to why we obey (think about any prior Less relevance as it was never specifically designed to
to explain obedience. research that was directly into obedience) explain obedience. Has more relevance to why we obey as
it arose as a direct result of research into obedience
Offers more of an explanation as its formula can work More of an explanation - is one more of a circular Is rather circular as it claims we obey authority as we are
in all situations argument than the other? agents of authority.