Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Introduction
- I EXPLANATION AND MECHANISMS
- II THE MIND
- III ACTION
- 9 Desires and Opportunities
- 10 Persons and Situations
- 11 Rational Choice
- 12 Rationality and Behavior
- 13 Responding to Irrationality
- 14 Some Implications for Textual Interpretation
- IV LESSONS FROM THE NATURAL SCIENCES
- V Interaction
- Conclusion: Is Social Science Possible?
- Index
10 - Persons and Situations
from III - ACTION
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Introduction
- I EXPLANATION AND MECHANISMS
- II THE MIND
- III ACTION
- 9 Desires and Opportunities
- 10 Persons and Situations
- 11 Rational Choice
- 12 Rationality and Behavior
- 13 Responding to Irrationality
- 14 Some Implications for Textual Interpretation
- IV LESSONS FROM THE NATURAL SCIENCES
- V Interaction
- Conclusion: Is Social Science Possible?
- Index
Summary
Shame and guilt, or contempt and anger, differ in that the first emotion in each pair targets a person's character and the second some action by the person (Chapter 8). Similarly, pridefulness rests on the belief that one is a superior person, and pride on the belief that one has performed some outstanding deed. But when we blame or praise an action, is it not because we believe it reflects the agent's character? To what other factor could it be ascribed?
When Folk Psychology Goes Wrong
This book is not about praise or blame, but about the explanation of behavior. In this context, the question is the power of character to explain action. People are often assumed to have personality traits (introvert, timid, etc.) as well as virtues (honesty, courage, etc.) or vices (the seven deadly sins, etc.). In folk psychology, these features are assumed to be stable over time and across situations. Proverbs in all languages testify to this assumption. “Who tells one lie will tell a hundred.” “Who lies also steals.” “Who steals an egg will steal an ox.” “Who keeps faith in small matters, does so in large ones.” “Who is caught red-handed once will always be distrusted.” If folk psychology is right, predicting and explaining behavior should be easy. A single action will reveal the underlying trait or disposition and allow us to predict behavior on an indefinite number of other occasions when the disposition could manifest itself.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Explaining Social BehaviorMore Nuts and Bolts for the Social Sciences, pp. 178 - 190Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2007
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