Person x Situation Interaction Flashcards
Social Facilitation
initially a term for enhanced performance in the presence of others, now a broader term for the effect (positive or negative) of the presence of others on the performer
Selection
Selection refers to the idea that individuals choose environments (friends, jobs, etc.) that fit their personal characteristics.
✔ Influence of Personality – Your traits guide the situations or people you choose.
✔ Example: A shy person may select a quiet job rather than one that requires a lot of interaction.
Evocation
Evocation is the process by which an individual’s personality evokes certain responses from others.
✔ Passive Influence – You don’t intentionally try to evoke a response, but your personality naturally causes people to react in specific ways.
✔ Example: A charismatic person may evoke admiration and loyalty from others without trying.
✔ Example: A moody person might evoke frustration or sympathy from those around them.
Manipulation
Manipulation is the intentional attempt to influence others’ thoughts, feelings, or behaviors to achieve a goal.
✔ Active Influence – Individuals use strategies to manipulate others based on their personality traits.
✔ Example: A persuasive person might use charm or flattery to get others to do things.
✔ Example: Someone may exploit a group’s vulnerabilities for personal gain.
Deindividuation
Deindividuation is a psychological state in which people in a group lose their sense of personal responsibility and may engage in behaviors they wouldn’t usually do when they are alone.
Key Points:
✔ Anonymity – Being part of a group reduces self-awareness and accountability.
✔ Loss of Self-Regulation – People may act impulsively or aggressively.
✔ Group Influence – Strong group norms lead to behavior that aligns with the group rather than individual values.
Individuation
Individuation refers to the process of developing a distinct personality and identity that is different from the group, focusing on personal characteristics rather than group norms or collective identity.
Key Points:
✔ Personal Awareness – Becoming aware of your unique traits and values.
✔ Focus on Self-Expression – Moving away from conformity and embracing individual differences.
✔ Increased Self-Understanding – Understanding your own beliefs, desires, and goals.
Example:
🌱 A teenager who wants to express their personal style by choosing unconventional clothing or hairstyle, separate from social pressures.
🎨 An artist who wants to create unique works that express their personal vision, rather than following popular trends.
Self-awareness Theory
False consensus effect
The false consensus effect describes the tendency for people to believe that their own opinions, beliefs, and attributes are more common and normative in others than they actually are and that opinions, beliefs, and attributes that others have but they do not share are more indicative of someone’s personality in general.
Stanford Prison Experiment Philip Zimbardo (Stanford University, 1971)
The Stanford Prison Experiment (1971) was a psychological study on the effects of power and authority in a prison setting, showing how social roles influence behavior.
Method:
✔ 24 male college students randomly assigned as guards or prisoners in a simulated prison at Stanford University.
✔ Guards were given uniforms, sunglasses, and batons; prisoners wore smocks and were assigned numbers.
✔ The study was planned to last 2 weeks but was stopped after 6 days due to extreme behavior.
⚠️ Key Findings:
🔥 Power & Social Roles Shape Behavior:
Guards became cruel & abusive.
Prisoners became submissive & distressed.
🔥 Deindividuation:
Guards lost personal responsibility behind their uniform & role.
Prisoners felt powerless, reduced to their assigned numbers.
🔥 Ethical Concerns:
Extreme psychological distress (some prisoners broke down).
Lack of informed consent (participants weren’t fully prepared for potential trauma).
Zimbardo’s Role Bias (he acted as the prison superintendent, losing objectivity).
Situation construal model
The Situation Construal Model (also called construal level theory) is a psychological framework that explains how individuals interpret or construe situations based on their psychological distance from those events. How we perceive situations and make decisions depends on how near or far we feel from them in terms of time, space, social proximity, and likelihood.
Psychological Distance:
People evaluate situations differently depending on their distance from it.
Greater distance = more abstract thinking.
Closer proximity = more concrete thinking.
2️⃣ Construal:
Construal refers to how we interpret or mentally represent a situation.
Abstract construal: Focus on high-level, general aspects of a situation (e.g., “meeting a new person could be exciting”).
Concrete construal: Focus on specific details of the situation (e.g., “meeting John at a coffee shop at 3 pm for an interview”).
Temporal Distance
ear future events are seen in concrete terms (specific details, actions).
Distant future events are seen in abstract terms (general goals, intentions).
Example: Planning for a vacation in 6 months might focus on how exciting it will be (abstract), while planning for a trip next week focuses on packing details (concrete).
Spatial Distance
Close events are perceived in more concrete terms, while distant events are seen in general terms.
Example: A job interview at a local company is seen in specific terms, like the route to take. A job interview in another city is viewed in general terms, like “will it be worth the relocation?”
Social Distance
Close others (family, friends) are viewed in more specific and personal ways.
Distant others (strangers or people we don’t interact with) are seen more abstractly.
Example: You may view your friend’s decision to get married with detailed emotions, while you may view a celebrity’s marriage in more general terms.
Situationism - modern theory
Situationism is the psychological theory that behavior is largely influenced by external situations or environmental factors, rather than internal traits or dispositions. It emphasizes the power of context in shaping how people behave.
Behavior is not solely driven by personality traits or internal factors (like in trait theory). Instead, the situation or environment plays a crucial role in determining actions and decisions.
Notable studies like the Stanford Prison Experiment (Zimbardo) and Milgram’s Obedience Study showcase how situational factors can override individual morals or personality traits.
