Individual VS Situational Debate Flashcards
Define the individual side?
The individual explanation centres on the individual and how their behaviours are unique to them due to a combination of biological and experiential factors.
Behaviour results from personality and factors internal.
Define the situational side?
The situational explanation looks at the individuals surroundings, social contexts and those around them.
Behaviour is a response to the situation a person finds themselves in.
Individual
Strengths? (2)
Weaknesses? (1)
Strengths:
- supports scientific research
- easy to access and study individuals
Weakness:
- puts too much blame on the individual
Situational
Strengths? (3)
Weaknesses? (3)
Strengths:
- useful: offers opportunities for managing behaviour.
- allows changes in the environment to be made to improve anti-social behaviour.
- allows learning experiences to encourage desired behaviours.
Weakness:
- reductionist explanation as it ignores individual factors.
- expensive to make appropriate environmental changes.
- Managing behaviour in one situation leads to displacement in another.
Core studies that support the individual debate?
Chaney = There were some children who didn’t comply with the funhaler suggesting some role for individual factors.
Core studies that support the situational debate?
Milgram = showed how the presence of an authority figure influences behaviour.
How is the individual debate similar to other debates? (2)
- Reductionist
- Nature and Nurture
How is the situational debate similar to other debates? (3)
- Holistic
- Deterministic
- Ignores the role of nature
Practical applications of the debate?
Individual = treatments / techniques arising from the individual approach recognise the uniqueness of individuals.
Situational = treatments / techniques arising from the situational approach allows for generalisation.
