Individual/ situational explanations

Question 1

What is this debate about?

Answer 1

Whether a persons behaviour is a result of their own personality or the context they are in

Question 2

Situational explanations

Answer 2

Suggests that behaviour is best explained by the situation and circumstance someone is in.
Most extreme shows people can act the same if in same situation

Question 3

Individual explanations

Answer 3

Suggests behaviour is best explained as arising from a persons own personality or characteristics. At most extreme this shows a persons behaviour is unchanging whatever situation they’re in

Question 4

Strengths of situational explanations

Answer 4

Supported by evidence where people are influenced by situations they’re in
Has practical applications in research where psychologists can manipulate situations to change Ps behaviour

Question 5

Weaknesses of situational explanations

Answer 5

Could be used as an excuse to explain away bad behaviour (eg x made me do it)
This underplays the individual responses by taking into account the person

Question 6

Strengths of individual explanations

Answer 6

Supported by idea of individual differences
Could be useful by placing people in certain jobs
Holds people accountable for their behaviour

Question 7

Weaknesses of individual explanations

Answer 7

Makes it difficult to predict how people behave in given situations
Makes generalisations