Character Traits, Social Psychology, and Impediments to Helping Behavior

Abstract

In a number of recent papers, I have begun to develop a new theory of character which is conceptually distinct both from traditional Aristotelian accounts as well as from the positive view of local traits outlined by John Doris. On my view, many human beings do have robust traits of character which play an important explanatory and predictive role, but which are triggered by certain situational variables which preclude them from counting as genuine Aristotelian virtues. Like others in this discussion, I have focused on helping behavior in particular, and have gone on to argue that much of the social psychology literature is compatible with this new approach. The goal of this paper is to develop the model as it pertains to helping behavior further by examining how helping-relevant traits can serve as impediments to helping behavior.

Consistent egoists and situation managers: two problems for situationism

“…Some opponents of situationism have pointed out that the evidence presented by situationists does not show that broad character traits do not exist; virtue may be rare, or the evidence may be of the wrong kind (cf. Miller 2003Miller , 2009Miller , 2010Snow 2010;Wielenberg 2006).…”

Religion, Spirituality, and Thriving: Transcendent Narrative, Virtue, and Telos

“…Although some philosophers and researchers might argue that narrative identity or self‐concept variables should not be incorporated into psychological conceptualizations of character or virtue (e.g., Miller, ), theory and research support our choice of framing virtue in light of narrative identity. Theoretically, Kristjánsson () contends virtues are distinct from other skills and characteristic adaptations in their irreplaceability, depth of integration with the self, and broad scope across interactions and situations.…”

Virtue, Vice, and Situationism

“…First, several authors have replied that the empirical evidence on which situationists rely does not actually show the nonexistence of global character traits (Miller 2003(Miller , 2009(Miller , 2010Snow 2010;Wielenberg 2006). At most it simply shows that virtues are rare--and the data show that a non-negligible minority of subjects do display 'good' behavior.…”

“…It is clear why situationists can be interpreted this way: they state that the criterion for appropriate trait attribution is that the trait be 'reliably manifested' under the appropriate 'trait-relevant eliciting conditions' (Doris 2002, 22 (Webber 2006, Kamtekar 2004. Also, an agent may possess a trait but not in full (Miller 2003, 378-379) or have some traits but not others (Miller 2010). …”