Asked by Anunciasion Larisa on Jun 14, 2024

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Tonya demonstrates personality traits at parties with her friends that are very different from those she exhibits when she participates in class activities. Using your knowledge of both the person-situation controversy and reciprocal determinism,explain why the variability of Tonya's behavior in different situations is not surprising.

Person-Situation Controversy

A debate in psychology about the relative influence of personality traits versus situational factors on human behavior.

Reciprocal Determinism

A concept in psychology that proposes an individual's behavior is both influenced by and influences their personal factors and the environment.

  • Detail and separate the principal theories of personality, covering psychoanalytic, humanistic, social-cognitive, and trait approaches.
  • Understand the principle of reciprocal determinism and its role in personality and behavior.
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Glenda FentressJun 16, 2024
Final Answer :
The variability of Tonya's behavior in different situations is not surprising because it can be explained by the person-situation controversy and reciprocal determinism. The person-situation controversy suggests that a person's behavior is influenced by both their individual traits and the specific situation they are in. In Tonya's case, her behavior at parties with friends may be influenced by her desire to be social and outgoing, while her behavior in class activities may be influenced by her desire to be focused and attentive.

Reciprocal determinism, on the other hand, suggests that a person's behavior is influenced by the interaction between their individual traits, the specific situation, and their behavior itself. This means that Tonya's behavior at parties and in class activities is not only influenced by her personality traits and the specific situations, but also by how her behavior in one situation may influence her behavior in another.

Therefore, the variability of Tonya's behavior in different situations can be explained by the complex interplay between her individual traits, the specific situations she finds herself in, and the reciprocal influence of her behavior on her future behavior. This understanding helps to explain why Tonya may exhibit very different personality traits at parties with friends compared to when she participates in class activities.