U09 Psych 100 Chapter Notes - Chapter 13.3: Walter Mischel, Shy People, Pollination Syndrome

• School: WUSTL
• Department: Psychology
• Course: U09 Psych 100
• Professor: Rice Heather, Duchek, Carpenter

Document Summary

Shy people tend to be most uncomfortable in new situations in which they are being evaluated. Walter mischel situationism - the theory that behavior is determined more by situations than by personality traits. If behaviors are averaged across many situations, personality traits are more predictive of behavior: shy people may not be shy all the time, but on average they are more shy than people who aren"t. Situations differ in how much they constrain the expression of personality. Strong situations tend to mask differences in personality because of the power of the social environment: ex: job interviews, elevators. Weak situations tend to reveal differences in personality: ex: parks, bars, one"s house. Interactionists - theorists who believe that behavior is determined jointly by situations and underlying dispositions. People also affect their social environments: people choose their situations. Ex: introverts tend to avoid parties, whereas extroverts seek social opportunities: their behavior affects those round them.