Social Psych Lecture 9 - Interactionism

Epigenetics

1. DNA inherited from mom and dad. DNA genetic blueprint that makes you who you are

2. Epigenetics -- tags put on top of DNA; on/off
   switches that determine how body and mind function

Behavioral Epigenetics

study of epigenetic influences on behavior

1. Epigenetic tags placed by environmental influences – things you encounter and choices you make influence how genes influence eating behavior, anxiety, etc.

2. Epigenetics passed to offspring

3. Mice -- shocks create epigenetic tag; offspring (and their offspring) also anxious and extra sensitive to shock

4. Identical twins share same DNA but unique experiences cause some genes (and not others) to express themselves

Transition Type

• Type/trait, need/motive, and biological approaches showed personality is real and important

  • There is consistency across time and situation

  • This can be organized into systematic models

Then came Personality and Assessment Mischel (1968) and the “Person-Situation Debate”

Mischel’s Critique

1. If traits → consistency

2. Only modest consistency observed in
studies:
Personality coefficient: +.30

Mischel’s Critique (cont)

3. Modest consistency is the reality (not
   just due to measurement error)

4. Biases “create” consistency
   *perceptual bias: expectation driven
   *sampling bias: limited situations

Responses: 3 camps

1. Defend personality dispositions

2. Situationism perspective

3. Dynamic interactionist perspective

Defense of Dispositions

1. +.30 is still important
*Aspirin ingestion example
*Experimental drug example

Defense of Dispositions (cont.)

2. Aggregation

Combining numerous behaviors = better measure and higher consistency

*Daily diary example

*Exam example

Defense of Dispositions (cont.)

3. Phenotype/genotype distinction

Phenotype = outward behavioral expression

Genotype = underlying purpose

Defense of Dispositions (cont.)

4. Some people consistent/some not

Self-monitoring: high conformity, low staying “true to self”

Low self-monitors > consistency

Situationism Perspective

• Emphasize situation as primary cause of behavior

• If all behave same in a situation, must be due to situation, not disposition
  

Dynamic Interactionism

• Emerged as middle camp

• People are active agents – persons influence situations

Three Types

1. Proactive – select self into situations

2. Evocative – unintentionally alter situations

3. Manipulation – intentionally alter situations

Responses: A 4th camp

4. Personality state perspective

The Outcome

1. r = .30 is nothing to be ashamed of

2. Some people more consistent than others

3. Influence of persons on behavior more complex/pervasive than initially thought

4. Personality states on average represent dispositions with situational variation