Reinvigorating the concept of situation in social psychology

Pers Soc Psychol Rev. 2008 Nov;12(4):311-29. doi: 10.1177/1088868308321721. Epub 2008 Sep 23.

Abstract

The concept of situation has a long and venerable history in social psychology. The author argues that recent approaches to the concept of situation have confused certain important elements. Herein, the author proposes that attention to three of these elements will reinvigorate the concept of situation in social psychology: (a) that the analysis of situations should begin with their objective features; (b) that situations should be conceptualized as affordances; and (c) that the interpersonal core of situations, in particular the extent to which they are influenced by relationships, is the proper and most profitable focus for social psychology. These elements are consistent with recent developments in the study of situated social cognition and may help better define social psychology's position within the sciences.

Publication types

  • Address

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Personal Construct Theory
  • Personality*
  • Psychology, Social*
  • Self Concept
  • Social Behavior
  • Social Conformity
  • Social Environment*
  • Social Values