Dissecting Situational Strength: Theoretical Analysis and Empirical Tests
Abstract
It has been argued that the most important characteristic of situations is their "strength"--and that dispositional forces predict behavior in "weak," but not "strong," situations. Until recently, however, there was little consensus regarding how to measure this construct. As a consequence, several behavioral predictions are less accurate than they could be. The current research presents a theoretically unified conceptualization of this construct (consisting of the four facets of clarity, consistency, constraints, and consequences), provides tests of its primary postulates, and assesses the effects of misfit between preferred and perceived levels of strength on the job. We found that situational strength influenced the impact of personality (conscientiousness and agreeableness) on citizenship and counterproductive (deviant) behavior at work. We also found that the deleterious impact of misfit between preferred and perceived levels of situational strength was worse for certain types of misfit than for others. We suggest fruitful avenues for future research as well as practical implications. Because recent changes in the Army's nature and structure have "weakened" the situations Soldiers commonly experience, the current research has considerable implications for Army research in Soldier selection, classification, and retention. Overall, the current research sheds considerable light on the phenomenon of situational strength.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA564311
Entities
People
- Andrew Hale
- Charlie K. Brooks
- Irwin J. Jose
- Reeshad S. Dalal
- Richard Hermida
- Ronald P. Vega
- Rustin D. Meyer
- Tiffani R. Chen
Organizations
- George Mason University