Introduction: Why Do We Act the Way We Do?
Welcome to the study of Dispositional Factors! In our last section, we looked at how situations (like being in a crowd or following a boss) change our behavior. But have you ever noticed that in the exact same situation, two people might act completely differently?
That is where dispositional factors come in. These are "internal" characteristics, like your personality, your self-esteem, or even how your brain is wired. In this chapter, we will explore why who you are on the inside determines how you react to the social world around you.
1. Self-Esteem and Conformity
Self-esteem is how much we value and like ourselves. It plays a huge role in whether we "go along with the pack" (conformity).
- Low Self-Esteem: People who don't feel very confident in their own abilities are more likely to conform. They might think, "Everyone else must be right, and I'm probably wrong," or they may fear being rejected by the group.
- High Self-Esteem: People with high self-esteem are more likely to trust their own judgment and stand their ground, even if the group disagrees.
The Brain Connection: The Hippocampus
Psychologists have found a link between the brain and how we feel about ourselves. Research suggests that hippocampal volume (the size of the hippocampus) is related to self-esteem. People with higher self-esteem often have a larger hippocampus. This part of the brain is involved in memory and learning, helping us process information about ourselves and our successes.
Quick Review:
Low Self-Esteem = High Conformity.
High Self-Esteem = Low Conformity (usually linked to a larger hippocampus).
2. Locus of Control (LoC) in Crowds
Imagine you are at a music festival and a small riot starts. Do you join in, or do you walk away? Your Locus of Control (LoC) helps predict what you'll do. This is a person's belief about how much power they have over their own life.
- Internal Locus of Control: You believe you are in charge of your own fate. If you have an internal LoC, you are less likely to be influenced by a crowd because you take personal responsibility for your actions.
- External Locus of Control: You believe outside forces (like luck, fate, or other people) control what happens to you. People with an external LoC are more likely to "flow" with a crowd because they feel they have less personal control.
Analogy: Think of a car. A person with an Internal LoC feels like they are the driver. A person with an External LoC feels like they are a passenger just going along for the ride.
3. Morality and Social Behavior
Morality is our sense of "right" and "wrong." It dictates whether we engage in pro-social or anti-social behavior.
- Pro-social behavior: Actions that help others (e.g., donating to charity or helping a stranger).
- Anti-social behavior: Actions that harm others or society (e.g., vandalism or bullying).
The Brain Connection: The Pre-frontal Cortex
The pre-frontal cortex (PFC) is the "decision-making" part of your brain. It helps us control our impulses and think about the consequences of our actions. If the PFC is working well, we are more likely to behave pro-socially. If this area is less active or damaged, a person might struggle to control their "darker" impulses, leading to anti-social behavior.
Key Takeaway: Our pre-frontal cortex acts like a moral compass, helping us choose "good" (pro-social) behaviors over "bad" (anti-social) ones.
4. The Authoritarian Personality and Obedience
Why do some people follow even the cruelest orders without questioning them? Some psychologists suggest these people have an Authoritarian Personality.
Characteristics of an Authoritarian Personality include:
- Extreme respect for authority figures.
- Looking down on people they see as "lower" in status.
- Rigid thinking (everything is either "right" or "wrong" with no middle ground).
People with this personality type are much more likely to show high levels of obedience to anyone in a uniform or a position of power.
Did you know? This theory suggests that our childhood might shape this personality. Very strict parents who use physical punishment might raise children who grow up to have an Authoritarian Personality.
5. Criticisms of Dispositional Factors
While personality is important, we have to be careful not to ignore other factors. A major criticism of these theories involves Generalisability.
- The Problem: Can we really say that everyone with low self-esteem will conform? Or that everyone with an external LoC will follow a crowd?
- The Reality: People are complex! Sometimes a person with an internal LoC might still follow a crowd if the situation is scary enough. This means dispositional factors don't explain 100% of human behavior.
Common Mistake: Don't assume that dispositional factors are the only reason people act the way they do. Social influence is usually a mix of the situation AND the disposition.
Core Study: NatCen (2011) - The August Riots
To understand how these factors work in real life, we look at a study of the 2011 England Riots (specifically the events in Tottenham).
Background
In August 2011, riots broke out across England following the police shooting of Mark Duggan in Tottenham. Thousands of people took to the streets, looting shops and clashing with police. Researchers wanted to know: "Why did some people join in while others stayed home?"
Method
- Design: This was a qualitative study using in-depth interviews.
- Sample: Researchers interviewed 36 people who were involved in or affected by the riots. They made sure to include different ages and backgrounds.
- Procedure: Participants were asked about their motivations, their feelings during the riots, and what they thought about the consequences.
Results
The researchers found several dispositional factors influenced those who rioted:
- Nudge and Tug: People felt a "tug" to join the crowd (situational) but their "nudge" (internal thoughts/morality) decided if they actually did it.
- Locus of Control: Those who joined often felt they had nothing to lose and little control over their future (External LoC).
- Morality: Some rioters lacked a sense of "right and wrong" regarding the shops they were looting, seeing it as "payback."
- Self-Esteem: Some felt that joining the riot gave them a sense of power or status they didn't have in daily life.
Conclusions
The study concluded that rioting isn't just "mindless violence." It is a combination of situational factors (the excitement of the crowd) and dispositional factors (a person's own beliefs, morality, and sense of control).
Criticisms of the NatCen Study
- Memory Bias: Since the interviews happened after the riots, people might have misremembered how they felt or lied to make themselves look better (social desirability).
- Generalisability: The sample size was small (36 people), so it might not represent everyone who was involved in the riots across the whole country.
Quick Review Box: NatCen (2011)
What? Interviews with 2011 rioters.
Why? To see why people joined in.
Key Finding: Behavior was a mix of "the situation" and "the person's own values/control."