Original scientific paper
The Reconciliation of Estranged Sisters: Dispositional Explanations in Personality Psychology and Social Psychology
Goran MILAS
Abstract
In the work the author discusses the nature and meaning of
dispositional explanations in personality psychology and social
psychology. Instead of supporting the belief in completely
separate and diverging fields of interest of both disciplines, the
paper offers the possibility of their reconciliation in the area of
related dispositional constructs such as personality traits and
attitudes. The closeness of these, in psychology often used
constructs, is reflected in the fundamental features and
mechanisms of influencing behaviour, while their differences are
much subtler, although often overemphasised. Despite the fact
that personality traits and attitudes were equally disputed in the
past as sources of consistency in behaviour, extensive research
and meticulate analyses showed they were not only useful but
also irreplaceable in examining the differences in people's
behaviour. The criticism of dispositional psychology which drew
on the weak predictive value of attitudes and personality traits
was partly constructive indicating the neglect of some important
behavioural determinants, while in part it reflected the
methodological ignorance underlined by later research, stressing the conditions to be fulfilled in order to ensure a more precise
prediction of behaviour. The author continues to present in the
paper a survey of dispositional theories and models within the
framework of personality psychology and social psychology
illustrating their intertwinement and close connection which,
perhaps, offers a foundation for the further development of
dispositional psychology integrating both disciplines.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
19668
URI
Publication date:
31.10.2002.
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