The Agentic State - Deep Dive

Agentic state: “I’m not doing it — I’m just the hand that is.” 

People are allowed to escape from complicity, to become obedient, if there's an authority figure or Master who gives them permission.

The study revealed the agentic state: under hierarchical pressure, people shift from autonomous moral agents to instruments of authority, resolving internal conflict by denying personal responsibility. 

“I’m not the actor — I’m the tool.” 

• Agentic shift → Person now sees self as instrument of authority

• Strain → Tension resolved by obeying, not rebelling

• Denial of responsibility (“I was ordered”)

Following the shift

Before	After
Moral self	Instrumental self
“Should I?”	“Authority say it's ok to continue”

4 Binding Locks: things that lock you into the agentic state

• Politeness
• Escalation
• Denial
• Fear

3 Kill Switches (obedience collapses)

• Contradictory authority → 0% - force the narrative to see 2 authority figures disagree, reduce obedience to zero
• Peer rebellion → 10% - get 2 peers in the state, rebel, reduces obedience 9/10 times 
• Victim screams - initial wake up to the systemic crime