The Interactionist Perspective

Question 1

Features of the Interactionist Approach

Answer 1

• Believes behaviours can be influenced by both genetic and environmental influences.
• It combines the two underlying concepts: Trait theory and the Social Learning Approach.
• Their are 2 models within this perspective: Lewin’s Model (1935) & the Hollander model (1962).

Question 2

The Lewin Model

Answer 2

An individuals personality is produced when both their natural traits and the experiences they have combine in a specific situation.
- B=f(P x E) Meaning that behaviour i a function of Personality x Environment.
- A performer will adapt to the situation they find themselves in, even behaving differently to how they would normally.
- The interactionist approach suggests that we can predict personality/ behaviour in a specific situation and accounts for behaviour change to suit the situation.
* This can help coaches, as they are able to predict how a player will react in a specific situation.
This is because innate, consistent traits can be adapted to the situation, and those traits will produce a typical response.

Question 3

The Hollander Model

Answer 3

• Suggests that there are 3 aspects to an individual’s personality: the core, the typical response and the role-related behaviour.
  1. The core= the real you and your beliefs/ values. It does not change and represents the stable aspects of your personality (genetic traits).
  2. Typical responses= describes how individuals usually respond.
  3. Role related behaviour= how an individual responds in a specific environment. This may be uncharacteristic behaviour. Most unstable aspect of your personality and does not necessarily reflect your core.
• Hollander believed that the environment does influence behaviour (social learning).

Question 4

How can the Interactionist Perspective improve performance?

Answer 4

1. Allows coach to predict situation to avoid specific aspects of personality being displayed.
2. Coach identifies aspects of personality or behaviour to be changed. This means they can create situations in training or experiences to cause change in behaviour.
3. Coach alters behaviour for improved performance, by encouraging performers to act in certain ways in specific circumstances.

Question 5

Limitations of the Interactionist approach

Answer 5

• Environment is unstable; particular competitive situations may require varying behavioural responses from a performer, which may be difficult depending on their traits.
• A performers core values could be very hard to alter- behaviour may remain stable (can be positive or negative).
• Reinforcement could lead to the behaviour of a performer being continued- (both positive and negative effects).
• Performers need to understand their personality profile as this may assist them in altering/ adapting/ learning to cope better in any given competitive situation.