Person-Situation Debate

Question 1

Person-Situation Debate

Answer 1

Person position:
- Person is the cause of behaviour
- Similarity in behaviour of one individual
- Describing indivu’s way of acting is useful and traits exist
- Focus of study is difference between people and correlations among differences

Situation position:
- Situ is cause of behaviour
- Variable behaviour in one indivu
- Describing acting is not useful and traits don’t exist (personality might)
- Foucs on process, reaction to situ and psych functioning

Question 2

How both sides are correct

Answer 2

Situation: Variability of trait is very large within a person. People adapt to a situation and don’t maintain relative position

Person: If taken over larger time, behaviour is very similar w correlations of .9 on a trait in one week vs the second week

Question 3

Interactionism

Answer 3

Compromise position