Situational influences refer to external factors or circumstances that can impact an individual's behavior, thoughts, and feelings. These influences include the environment, social norms, and specific situations a person finds themselves in.
Related terms
Attribution Theory: The theory that explains how individuals interpret the causes of behaviors, whether they attribute them to internal factors (dispositions) or external factors (situations).
Fundamental Attribution Error: The tendency to overemphasize internal dispositions when explaining others' behaviors while underestimating the impact of situational influences.
Self-Serving Bias: The tendency for individuals to attribute their successes to internal factors but blame failures on external factors.