Orders and obedience: structure and agency

Purpose - The major thesis of this article is how social contract theory sheds light on the interaction of structure and agency. A minor thesis is to rebut the conclusions drawn from Stanley Milgram's famous obedience experiments. Design/methodology/approach - The argument rests in large part on an extensive review of authentic, empirical evidence found in studies of medical compliance. Findings - Patient agency is choosing not to comply with medical orders has over the years forced structural changes in the doctor-patient relations. These changes can be understand through the evolution of three kinds of social contract. Practical implications - One important implication is that non-compliance can be a relational choice in one's lifeworld. Originality/value - No other study has brought together Milgram's evidence with the medical compliance literature to demonstrate the integration of agency and structure.