Given below are some statements. Read them carefully and choose the correct statement (s) from the given options.

Statement 1: For psychologists, individual differences refer to distinctiveness and variations among people’s characteristics and behaviour patterns.

Statement 2: Situationism states that situations and circumstances in which one is placed influence one’s behaviour.   

Statement 3:  A person, who is generally aggressive, will  behave in an aggressive manner in the presence of her/his top boss. This is an example of situtationism.

Only 1 and 2 are correct

For psychologists, individual differences refer to distinctiveness and variations among people’s characteristics and behaviour patterns.

While many psychologists believe that our behaviours are influenced by our personal traits, some others hold the view that our behaviours are influenced more by situational factors. This latter view is known as situationism, which states that situations and circumstances in which one is placed influence one’s behaviour. A person, who is generally aggressive, may behave in a submissive manner (not aggressive manner) in the presence of her/his top boss. Sometimes, the situational influences are so powerful that individuals with differing personality traits respond to them in almost the same ways. The situationist perspective views human behaviour relatively more as a result of influence of external factors.