1751-9004/asset/olbannerleft.jpg?v=1&s=15f71b05e9b0dee1b831f0f416216fc04d1cae6a)
1751-9004/asset/olbannerright.jpg?v=1&s=0a787d954ae5beaa077753a089ee866592a81436)
The Concept of Situations
Article first published online: 27 NOV 2009
DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-9004.2009.00236.x
© 2009 The Authors. Journal Compilation © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Additional Information
How to Cite
Yang, Y., Read, S. J. and Miller, L. C. (2009), The Concept of Situations. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 3: 1018–1037. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-9004.2009.00236.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 27 NOV 2009
- Article first published online: 27 NOV 2009
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Abstract
The concept of situations has a long past, but the conceptualization of situations only has a short history. This article provides a survey of the concept of situations. Based upon Milgram’s [Human Relations 18 (1965), 57] vision toward ‘a compelling theory of situations,’ the authors examine the concept of situations in three specific literatures: definitions of situations, taxonomies of situations, and interrelationships among persons, situations, and behaviors. To further integrate the literature, the authors propose that the essence of a situation is its affordance of human goals, and that situations are largely characterized by two specific principles of goal processes (what happened, is happening, or might happen to people’s goals) and goal contents (the specific goals afforded in the situation).