Agency Theory vs Social Impact Theory
Similarities
Application to the Social Impact
Comparison point
Theory Application to the Agency Theory
It can show why people in society
A strength is that it can easily be
act in a certain way. Like citizens
applied to understand how people Use to society
and the government, teachers and
enhance their social influence.
students etc.
There was the experimenter who People take orders from an
was one authority figure and there Offer an explanation for Milgram’s authority figure as they are seen to
was one naïve participant so they findings be more authoritative and hold
were solely pressured into obeying. more power.
Sedikides and Jackson (1990)
Milgram found that 65% obeyed his
conducted a field experiment at
orders to 450v showing that they
New York Zoo where visitors were Supporting evidence
were in the agentic state. They no
asked not to lean on the railings. 1-
longer felt that they controlled
2 visitors = 60% vs 5-6 visitors =
their actions.
14% obedience
Differences
Application to the Social Impact
Comparison point
Theory Application to the Agency Theory
When an authority figure is giving
SIN - strength, immediacy and
out orders, people are more likely
numbers. The higher these factors Relevance to why we obey (think
to comply as they seem like a
are, the more likely people are to about any prior research that was
reliable source. The nurses
obey in society. directly into obedience)
experiment.
More of an explanation - is one more There is a moral strain which is to
However, this may not apply to
of a circular argument than the do something against our principles
everyone as some people may not
other? but seem to be for the greater good
conform to these social findings.
- only for destructive obedience.
Similarities
Application to the Social Impact
Comparison point
Theory Application to the Agency Theory
It can show why people in society
A strength is that it can easily be
act in a certain way. Like citizens
applied to understand how people Use to society
and the government, teachers and
enhance their social influence.
students etc.
There was the experimenter who People take orders from an
was one authority figure and there Offer an explanation for Milgram’s authority figure as they are seen to
was one naïve participant so they findings be more authoritative and hold
were solely pressured into obeying. more power.
Sedikides and Jackson (1990)
Milgram found that 65% obeyed his
conducted a field experiment at
orders to 450v showing that they
New York Zoo where visitors were Supporting evidence
were in the agentic state. They no
asked not to lean on the railings. 1-
longer felt that they controlled
2 visitors = 60% vs 5-6 visitors =
their actions.
14% obedience
Differences
Application to the Social Impact
Comparison point
Theory Application to the Agency Theory
When an authority figure is giving
SIN - strength, immediacy and
out orders, people are more likely
numbers. The higher these factors Relevance to why we obey (think
to comply as they seem like a
are, the more likely people are to about any prior research that was
reliable source. The nurses
obey in society. directly into obedience)
experiment.
More of an explanation - is one more There is a moral strain which is to
However, this may not apply to
of a circular argument than the do something against our principles
everyone as some people may not
other? but seem to be for the greater good
conform to these social findings.
- only for destructive obedience.
