Identify a true statement about Walter Mischel’s view on personality.
He stated that the experiences of a common past have made a deep, permanent impression on the human mind.
He proposed that perfection is the key motivator for individuals.
He believed that the human sexual drive was the main determinant of personality development.
He asserted that behaviour is discriminative.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer:
He asserted that behaviour is discriminative.
Explanation
Walter Mischel, a prominent psychologist, challenged traditional trait theories of personality through his groundbreaking work on the cognitive-affective personality system. One of his key assertions was that “behavior is discriminative,” meaning that an individual’s behavior varies across different situations rather than being governed by fixed traits. This idea opposes the traditional notion that people behave consistently across all contexts due to stable personality traits.
Mischel argued that to understand personality accurately, one must examine how people respond to specific situations. According to him, behavior is influenced by the interaction between cognitive and emotional processes (like beliefs, goals, expectations, and emotions) and situational factors. This concept was central to what he called the “person-situation interaction.” For example, a person might appear outgoing and confident in familiar social settings but reserved or anxious in new or formal environments. This variability, according to Mischel, doesn’t imply inconsistency but rather reflects the person’s adaptability and the discriminative nature of behavior.
Mischel’s famous “marshmallow test” further exemplified his interest in how situational cues and cognitive strategies affect self-control and behavior. The study showed that children’s ability to delay gratification (waiting to receive a larger reward instead of a smaller one immediately) varied based on how they perceived and interpreted the situation.
This situational perspective led to a more nuanced understanding of personality, emphasizing that consistency in behavior often appears in patterns over similar types of situations, not necessarily across all environments. Mischel’s work highlighted that rather than being rigid, personality is dynamic, flexible, and deeply context-dependent.
In summary, Mischel’s view that behavior is discriminative reflects his belief that personality cannot be fully understood without considering the influence of situational factors on behavior. This challenged and reshaped modern theories of personality psychology.
