Describe Dispositional and Situational Factors in Explaining Behavior Essay Example for Free

Describe Dispositional and Situational Factors in Explaining Behavior EssayDescribe the role of situational and dispositional factors in explaining port Both situation and dispositional factors play a significant role in people explaining behavior. (in that they guide the judgment on both our actions and peoples actions. ) Attribution theory, known as how people interpret and explain behavior in the social world, is closely related to these two factors. People tend to dimension behavior depending on their roles as actors or observers, known as the actor-observer effect.Milgrams study (1963) investigated the role of situation and dispositional factors in participants explaining their own behavior. Nine out of cardinal participants completed the task under the researchers authoritative guidance. The participants considered the task unethical so they putd their negative behavior to the researchers guidance sort of of the dispositional factor, such as their personality. When pe ople explain their own behavior, they tend to attribute it to situation factors such as the interference from the authority.Zimbardo et al (1973) conducted an experiment in Stanfords prison to investigate the role of actor-observer effect. Participants were assigned with either the role of prisoners or the role of guards. In the experiment, both the guards and prisoners were very dedicated into their acting roles. Most of the prisoners obeyed the guards because the guards enforce violent behavior to the prisoners. It is found that the prisoners believed and attributed the guards violent behavior to the guards dispositional factor.When people observe others behavior, they usually attribute it to dispositional factor such as personality. Therefore, with the knowledge of the prison as a simulation, the prisoners still obeyed the guards like they were real guards who always acted violently. People usually attribute their behavior to situational factors when they perform the behavior. Wh ereas, people attribute others behavior to dispositional factor when they are the observers.