How did Walter Mischel resolve the person-situation debate that he initiated regarding personality consistency?

• A. He argued that behavior results from an interaction between personal traits and situational factors, emphasizing the importance of situational context.
• B. He suggested that personality is unpredictable and cannot be studied scientifically.
• C. He proposed that behavior is shaped by stable personality traits that remain consistent across all situations.
• D. He concluded that personality is entirely determined by genetic factors, with little influence from the environment.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the person-situation debate: This debate centers on whether behavior is primarily influenced by stable personality traits (person) or by situational factors (situation).
2. Recognize Walter Mischel's contribution: He challenged the idea that personality traits alone can predict behavior consistently across different situations.
3. Explore Mischel's resolution: He proposed that behavior is best understood as an interaction between personal traits and situational factors, meaning that both influence how a person acts.
4. Emphasize the role of situational context: According to Mischel, the same person might behave differently in different situations because the situation interacts with their traits.
5. Summarize the outcome: Mischel's view integrates both perspectives, suggesting personality consistency depends on the interplay between traits and situations rather than traits alone.