Is behavior consistent? Summarize evidence bearing on this question. Why is this question such an important one?
What will be an ideal response?
* Walter Mischel suggested that personality traits do not lead to consistent behavior across situations and that psychologists should turn their attention to how situations influence behavior.
* There are several reasons why we perceive consistency in behavior: (1) we rely on preconceived notions of how behaviors are related and may jump to conclusions about consistency, (2) some characteristics are stable over time, (3) our behavior may elicit particular behaviors in others, and (4) there may be limitations to previous methodologies.
* Personality theorists do not seek to explain a single response of an individual in a novel situation.
* The method of aggregation is useful in research on the consistency of personality.
* Overall, researchers have found consistency in individual behavior across situations, yet situations also exert important influences.
* The response should include some indication of the importance of the consistency of behavior.
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The medulla:
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