3. Evaluate and Apply Agency theory two essay questions (8 marks) PDF

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Evaluation of Agency theory. ...

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EXEMPLAR ESSAY HOW TO WRITE A 8-MARK ESSAY 

Evaluate the Agency Theory of obedience. (8 marks) A 8-mark “evaluate” question awards 4 marks for AO1 (Describe) and 4 marks for AO3 (Evaluate). Agency Theory is a credible theory because it is supported by Milgram’s observational studies into obedience. (AO1) In these studies, participants obeyed an authority figure by giving electric shocks to a learner. An objection to Agency Theory is the idea of moral strain, which is supposed to go away when people enter an Agentic State. (AO1) Milgram observed distress in the participants who obeyed (like crying and shaking), not the ones who disobeyed, which goes against the theory. A different approach is Social Impact Theory which suggests lots of other pressures that make a person obey besides the authority figure’s status. (AO1) Agency Theory says obeying is automatic but Social Impact says it depends on whether the authority figures outnumber the followers. Agency Theory has a clear application because it says people will obey if teachers surrounded themselves with symbols of authority (such as wearing a uniform and having the flag in their classroom). (AO1) This was backed up by Milgram's Variation #10 who found the participants were more obedient at prestigious Yale University than at a rundown office. Conclusion Some things about Agency Theory are backed up by evidence but the idea that people can't help obeying isn't so credible and Social Impact Theory is a better explanation of why some disobey.

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Apply Agency Theory. A 4-mark “apply” question awards 4 marks for AO2 (Application) and gives you a piece of stimulus material. Since it's only 4 marks, you don't need a conclusion There has been a long running conflict between the two neighbouring countries of Ranzea and Gofani. The president of Ranzea has ordered the invasion of Gofani to take control of the country. There have been reports of soldiers from Ranzea carrying out atrocities in Gofani villages. Use your understanding of prejudice and/or obedience to explain these events. (4 marks) Agency Theory would explain these events by saying that the President of Ranzea is an authority figures and the soldiers are in an Agentic State. The President probably has symbols of authority, such as appearing on TV in a military uniform with the Ranzean flag behind him.

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The soldiers see themselves as agents of the President’s will, so they do not take any responsibility for what they do. They view the blame for atrocities as going to the President, not to them. Some soldiers might feel moral strain at carrying out these atrocities, but if they enter an Agentic State this strain will go away. Soldiers with an Authoritarian Personality will take this way out. You will notice the question says "prejudice and/or obedience" - so this answer could use the studies or theories about intergroup conflict instead of, or as well as, the stuff on obedience here...