Have you ever found yourself behaving in ways that surprise even you?

One moment, you're patient and understanding; the next, you're snapping at a loved one over a minor inconvenience.

This human inconsistency is not just a quirk but a fundamental aspect of our nature.

A renowned author and thinker, Malcolm Gladwell, stumbled upon a compelling explanation for this in the book "The Person and the Situation" by Richard Nisbett and Lee Ross.

His discovery in the Bobst Library at NYU in 1996 set the stage for a deep dive into the intricate dance between our environment and behaviour.

Gladwell, who read the entire book in one sitting and photocopied it because he lacked borrowing privileges, describes "The Person and the Situation" as a transformative work that reshaped his understanding of the world.

The book argues that our actions are profoundly influenced by the contexts we find ourselves in, challenging the notion that we operate with a fixed set of moral and intellectual guidelines.

Instead, at the heart of our inconsistent behaviour lies a complex interplay between our internal traits and our external circumstances.

This dual influence can make us behave in seemingly contradictory ways. We are not always as consistent as we would like to believe.

Let's look at a few explanations for this.

1. The Influence of Context

At the heart of Nisbett and Ross's argument is the idea that our behaviour is highly malleable and heavily shaped by situational factors.

We might like to believe that we are autonomous beings, consistently guided by our internal principles. However, the reality is that our surroundings exert a powerful influence on our actions.

One classic experiment that highlights this is the Stanford prison experiment conducted by Philip Zimbardo in 1971.

In this study, college students were randomly assigned to play the roles of guards and prisoners in a simulated prison environment.

The results were startling: those assigned as guards quickly began to exhibit cruel and abusive behaviour, while those playing prisoners became passive and depressed.

The experiment had to be terminated prematurely due to the extreme reactions it provoked. It illustrates how quickly and dramatically our behaviour can shift based on the roles and expectations imposed by our environment.

2. The Fundamental Attribution Error

Nisbett and Ross argue that we often fail to recognise the power of situational factors, instead attributing behaviour to personal characteristics. This is known as the fundamental attribution error.

When we see someone acting in a certain way, we quickly assume that it reflects their personality rather than considering the context that might be influencing their actions.

For example, if a colleague is curt with us, we might think they are inherently rude without considering that they might be under immense stress. But when we're rude, we blame it on a bad day, lack of sleep, or stress.

This error in judgment highlights how we misunderstand the driving forces behind human behaviour.

It suggests that much of what we perceive as personality traits are responses to specific situations.

Thus, the inconsistency we observe in ourselves and others is less about a lack of character and more about the varying contexts we find ourselves in.

3. The Role of Cognitive Dissonance

Cognitive dissonance, a term coined by psychologist Leon Festinger, also plays a crucial role in our inconsistent behaviour.

It refers to the discomfort we experience when we hold conflicting beliefs or our actions contradict our beliefs. We often change our attitudes or behaviours to reduce this discomfort, leading to inconsistency.

Imagine you consider yourself an environmentally conscious person, but you find yourself driving a gas-guzzling car because it's convenient.

This conflict between your values and actions creates cognitive dissonance. To resolve it, you might downplay the importance of environmental issues, convince yourself that your car isn't that bad, or start using public transportation more often.

This process of aligning our attitudes and actions can lead to noticeable shifts in our behaviour over time.

4. The Influence of Social Norms

Social norms exert a powerful influence on our behaviour, often leading to inconsistency.

These unwritten rules dictate acceptable behaviour in different contexts. We might conform to these norms to fit in, gain approval, or avoid conflict, even if it means acting contrary to our usual selves.

Solomon Asch's conformity experiments in the 1950s demonstrated this vividly.

Participants were asked to match the length of a line with one of three comparison lines. When confederates in the experiment intentionally chose the wrong line, many participants conformed to the incorrect choice despite the evidence of their own eyes.

This tendency to conform can lead to inconsistencies in our behaviour. In one context, we might stand firm in our beliefs, but in another, we might bend to social pressure.

It is not a sign of weakness but reflects our deep-seated need for social acceptance and belonging.

5. Situational Cues and Behavioural Triggers

Situational cues and triggers play a significant role in shaping our behaviour.

These are specific aspects of our environment that prompt particular responses.

For example, seeing a "wet paint" sign might make you more cautious, or the presence of a police officer might make you drive more carefully.

Consider also a classic experiment in social psychology: the Good Samaritan study conducted by John Darley and Daniel Batson.

Participants, who were seminary students, were asked to deliver a talk on the parable of the Good Samaritan. On their way to the talk, they encountered a person in distress.

The critical factor was whether they were told they were running late or had plenty of time.

The results were striking. Those who believed they were late were much less likely to stop and help, despite their training and the subject of their talk.

This experiment underscores how situational pressures can override personal values and intentions.

It demonstrates how we are constantly responding to a multitude of cues in our environment, which can result in actions that appear inconsistent.

6. The Concept of "Thin-Slicing"

In his book "Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking", Malcolm Gladwell introduces the concept of "thin-slicing"—the ability to make quick judgments based on limited information.

While this can be a powerful tool, it contributes to our inconsistency.

Our immediate context influences these snap judgments and can lead to actions that differ from what we might do with more time to deliberate.

For example, in a split second, you might trust someone based on their appearance, only to realize later that they weren't trustworthy.

This rapid assessment and subsequent behaviour reflect our tendency to act inconsistently when relying on thin slices of information.

7. The Impact of Stress and Fatigue

Stress and fatigue are significant factors that exacerbate our inconsistency.

When we're tired or stressed, our ability to regulate our emotions and actions diminishes. This can lead to behaviours out of sync with our usual self-control and rationality.

Think about how you react after a long, exhausting day. You might be more irritable, less patient, and prone to impulsive decisions. These changes in behaviour underscore how our mental and physical states can influence our actions, contributing to the inconsistency we often experience.

8. The Role of Emotion

Emotions are a powerful driver of our actions, often leading to inconsistency.

Strong emotions like anger, fear, joy, or sadness can override our logical thinking and lead to behaviours we might not exhibit under more neutral emotional states.

For instance, in a moment of anger, you might say things you don't mean or make decisions you later regret. Conversely, in a moment of happiness, you might act more generously than usual.

These emotional fluctuations can lead to actions inconsistent with our typical behaviour.

9. Self-Perception Theory

Self-perception theory, proposed by psychologist Daryl Bem, suggests that we develop our attitudes by observing our behaviour and inferring our motivations.

This theory implies that our behaviour can shape our self-perception, changing how we see ourselves and, consequently, how we act.

If you notice yourself frequently volunteering to help others, you might start to see yourself as generous, which can reinforce and increase your altruistic behaviour.

This feedback loop between our actions and self-perception can lead to changes in behaviour that might seem inconsistent but are part of a dynamic process of self-discovery.

10. The Power of Habit

Habits are another critical factor in our behavioural consistency.

Once a behaviour becomes a habit, it's performed with little conscious thought, leading to more predictable and consistent actions.

However, forming new habits or breaking old ones can create periods of inconsistency as we transition between different behaviour patterns.

For instance, if you're trying to adopt a new habit of exercising regularly, there might be days when you stick to your routine and days when you skip it. This fluctuation is part of the process of habit formation and highlights how our behaviour can vary as we establish new patterns.

11. The Paradox of Choice

In his book "The Paradox of Choice", Barry Schwartz discusses how too many options can lead to decision paralysis and dissatisfaction.

It can also lead to inconsistent behaviour as we struggle to navigate numerous choices and second-guess our decisions.

The abundance of options in modern life can overwhelm us, causing erratic shifts in our preferences and actions.

Embracing Our Dynamic Selves

Malcolm Gladwell's encounter with "The Person and the Situation" sheds light on the complexity of human behaviour, reminding us that our actions are not solely a reflection of our character but also a response to the dynamic environments we inhabit.

It reminds us that people are not simply "good" or "bad," "kind" or "cruel." Instead, our behaviour is a dynamic interplay between our internal dispositions and external influences.

We are not static beings but are constantly evolving in response to our experiences, environments, and internal states. This dynamic nature allows us to adapt and grow but also leads to fluctuations in our behaviour.

Embracing our inconsistency opens the door to greater self-awareness and personal growth.

By acknowledging the factors that shape our actions, we can strive to create environments that foster positive behaviours and be kinder to ourselves when we fall short of our ideals.

Until next time, may you embrace being human and the unpredictable inconsistency within yourself and others.

Dion Le Roux

References

1. Asch, Solomon. Opinions and Social Pressure. Scientific American, 1955.

2. Darley, John M., and Batson, C. Daniel. From Jerusalem to Jericho: A Study of Situational and Dispositional Variables in Helping Behaviour. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1973.

3. Festinger, Leon. A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance. Stanford University Press, 1957.

4. Gladwell, Malcolm. The Person and the Situation by Richard Nisbett and Lee Ross. Retrieved from NYU Bobst Library, 1996.

5. Nisbett, Richard, and Ross, Lee. The Person and the Situation: Perspectives of Social Psychology. Pinter & Martin Ltd., 1991.

6. Schwartz, Barry. The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less. Harper Perennial, 2004.

7. Zimbardo, P. G. (1971). The power and pathology of imprisonment. Congressional Record.