Aethelgard Biotech Sector 7 is an isolated deep-sea research station directed by the Chief Science Officer, Dr. Vance, who has held absolute command for 15 years. Dr. Vance mandates that all research personnel must undergo mandatory biometric synchronization at 05:00 daily, consume only synthetic 'Formula-9' nutrient paste, and log exactly 12 hours of algorithmic data-sorting. These directives are continuously projected via personalized holographic retinal displays and broadcast through ambient whisper-speakers in living quarters. Personnel who deviate from these protocols are publicly demoted on the colony's central intranet database and face a temporary 50% reduction in their personal oxygen allocation.
Evaluate how useful agency theory would be in explaining the behaviour of the research personnel at Aethelgard. You must make reference to the context in your answer.
171 exam-style questions on Edexcel A Level Psychology Content, covering Theories of obedience, Research into obedience (Milgram variations), Factors affecting obedience and dissent, Explanations and research into prejudice, Factors affecting prejudice, Individual differences in obedience/prejudice, and Developmental psychology in obedience/prejudice. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.