365). This approach emphasizes the influence of experience and situational interpretation, and is supported by the notion that people construct situations in a distinct way which is unique to their perception of environment as well as their personal expectations. As defined by Schacter et al., in the social-cognitive approach, responses and behaviour are products of both learning history and the circumstances of daily life. However, the person-situation controversy raises questions concerning the social-cognitive approach. This controversy challenges the nature of behaviour and attempts to establish whether it is determined by circumstance or innate personal traits. Though a definite answer might never be determined, various studies have attempted to shape public and professional opinion.
Schacter et al. have cited a 1928 study by Hartshorne-May which revealed that children’s willingness to cheat was highly subject to change based on their circumstances and thus could not be predicted accurately. In reality, conventional personality traits are poor indicators of an individual’s actions as personality tests are often conducted in a vacuum, and rely on premeditated rather than live responses. Nonetheless, some intrinsic characteristics have been shown to influence …show more content…
My parents had raised me to be firm in my beliefs and in a private all-girls high school, I had always felt comfortable enough to express myself without hesitation. After graduation, I did not expect my academic behaviour to change upon my entry to CEGEP. To my surprise, in a strange new environment without the classmates I had known for half a decade or the teachers who knew my family, my class participation declined sharply. I felt shy and unsure of my opinion, in fear of the judgement from strangers who might not understand me or my point of view. My timidness disappointed me, as I always considered myself secure and I now questioned my identity. It was only after gaining perspective from my older sister and close friends that I realized my new behaviour was fairly normal and did not necessarily imply insecurity. I had to accept that I would need to settle into this new environment before feeling truly comfortable expressing myself and that there would be certain situations in which I would feel no desire to speak up. Though my behaviour was different, there would still be values I believed in and opinions I would hold onto. Different situations call for different behaviour as they require individuals to fulfill different roles and I am no longer disappointed in my low-profile classroom