What is the primary difference between dispositional and situational factors in crowd behavior?

Dispositional factors are internal characteristics like personality and morality, while situational factors are external environmental influences like group size or anonymity. Dispositional factors explain why individuals react differently to the same environment.

How does an Internal Locus of Control (LOC) differ from an External LOC regarding crowd influence?

People with an Internal LOC believe they control their own destiny and are less likely to be swayed by group pressure. Those with an External LOC feel controlled by outside forces and are more likely to follow the crowd's lead.

How does Kohlberg's 'Post-conventional' level of morality affect behavior in a riot?

Individuals at this level follow universal ethical principles rather than social norms or laws. They are the most likely to resist participating in harmful crowd behaviors like looting, even if the rest of the group is doing it.

What is a common mistake when using dispositional factors to explain all behavior?

The mistake is ignoring the situation (situational factors). This is known as being reductionist, as it oversimplifies complex human behavior by focusing only on internal traits and ignoring the power of the environment.

Why is it incorrect to assume that someone with an Internal LOC will never conform?

Locus of Control is a continuum, not a binary state, and behavior is an interaction between disposition and situation. Even an 'internal' person may conform if the situational pressure is extreme or if they value the group highly.

What error occurs when researchers apply Western moral development theories to all cultures?

This results in cultural bias. Theories like Kohlberg's may not accurately reflect moral reasoning in collectivist cultures, where group harmony and social responsibility might be prioritized over individual justice.

Define 'Dispositional Factors' in the context of social psychology.

They are the individual's internal traits, such as personality, self-esteem, and moral values, that influence how they perceive and respond to social influence and group dynamics.

What is 'Self-Esteem' and how does it relate to conformity?

Self-esteem is an individual's sense of self-worth. High self-esteem correlates with greater confidence in one's own opinions, which leads to a lower likelihood of conforming to a crowd's behavior.

What does 'Locus of Control' (LOC) measure?

It measures the extent to which individuals believe they have power over the events in their lives, ranging from internal (self-determined) to external (determined by fate or others).

Why are people with high self-esteem less likely to follow a crowd?

They trust their own judgment and feel less need for social validation or acceptance from the group. This internal confidence allows them to remain independent even under significant social pressure.

The Effect of Dispositional Factors on Collective & Crowd Behaviour | OCR GCSE Psychology

1. Definition & Core Concepts

Dispositional factors refer to internal, personal characteristics such as personality traits, attitudes, and morality that influence individual behavior.
Unlike situational factors, which emphasize the power of the social environment (e.g., anonymity or group size), dispositional factors explain individual variation within the same context.
These factors determine whether a person will conform to a crowd's actions, obey a leader's commands, or maintain independent judgment during collective events.

A diagram showing an individual at the center resisting external crowd pressure through internal dispositional factors.

2. Locus of Control (LOC)

Locus of Control is a psychological concept describing the degree to which people believe they have control over the outcome of events in their lives.
Individuals with an Internal LOC believe their own actions and choices determine their success or failure, making them more likely to resist group pressure and act independently.
Individuals with an External LOC believe that outside forces, such as luck or powerful others, control their lives, making them more susceptible to following the crowd or feeling powerless in social movements.

3. Levels of Moral Development

Morality acts as an internal compass; people at different stages of moral development react differently to crowd behaviors like looting or violence.
Pre-conventional level: Behavior is driven by self-interest and the avoidance of punishment; an individual might join a riot simply because they believe they won't get caught.
Conventional level: Behavior is dictated by social norms and the desire to maintain order; these individuals are likely to follow the majority to 'fit in'.
Post-conventional level: Behavior is guided by universal ethical principles; these individuals are the most likely to stand against a crowd if the crowd's actions violate their personal sense of justice.

4. Self-Esteem and Independence

Self-esteem refers to an individual's overall sense of self-worth or personal value.
People with high self-esteem are generally more confident in their own perceptions and less likely to seek validation from a group, leading to higher rates of non-conformity.
Conversely, those with low self-esteem may feel a greater need for social acceptance, making them more likely to adopt the behaviors and attitudes of a crowd to avoid rejection.

5. Key Distinctions: Internal vs. External Factors

Feature	Dispositional Factors	Situational Factors
Source	Internal (Personality, Morality)	External (Environment, Group Size)
Consistency	Stable across different situations	Varies depending on the context
Focus	Individual differences	Universal human tendencies
Example	High self-esteem resisting a riot	Anonymity leading to deindividuation

While situational factors explain why most people might act a certain way, dispositional factors explain the exceptions—the people who refuse to follow the crowd.

6. Exam Strategy & Tips

Identify the 'Why': When an exam question asks why an individual resisted a crowd, look for keywords like 'Internal Locus of Control' or 'Post-conventional morality'.
Compare and Contrast: Be prepared to explain how dispositional factors interact with situational ones; for example, a person with an External LOC is more affected by the situational factor of anonymity.
Evaluate the Theory: Remember that dispositional explanations are often criticized for being reductionist, as they may ignore the overwhelming power of a high-pressure environment.

7. Common Pitfalls & Misconceptions

The 'Either/Or' Fallacy: Avoid assuming behavior is only dispositional or only situational; in reality, behavior is usually an interaction between the person and the environment.
Over-generalizing LOC: Having an Internal LOC does not mean a person never conforms; it simply means they are statistically less likely to do so compared to those with an External LOC.
Confusing Morality with Law: In the post-conventional stage, an individual might break the law (e.g., illegal protest) to follow a higher moral principle.

The Effect of Dispositional Factors on Collective & Crowd Behaviour

Summary

1. Definition & Core Concepts

2. Locus of Control (LOC)

3. Levels of Moral Development

4. Self-Esteem and Independence

5. Key Distinctions: Internal vs. External Factors

6. Exam Strategy & Tips

7. Common Pitfalls & Misconceptions

The Effect of Dispositional Factors on Collective & Crowd Behaviour

Summary

1. Definition & Core Concepts

2. Locus of Control (LOC)

3. Levels of Moral Development

4. Self-Esteem and Independence

5. Key Distinctions: Internal vs. External Factors

6. Exam Strategy & Tips

7. Common Pitfalls & Misconceptions