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

Statement 1: The Situationist perspective views human behaviour always as a result of influence of external factors.   

Statement 2: Sometimes, the situational influences are so powerful that individuals with differing personality traits respond to them in almost the same ways.

Statement 3: Each individual is unique as s/he exemplifies a typical combination of various traits.   

Only 2 and 3

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 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 (not always) as a result of influence of external factors.

Different traits can exist in varying degrees in an individual. In this sense, each one of us is unique as s/he exemplifies a typical combination of various traits.