Students Behavior in Different Environments

Why do students in a classroom behave differently from students on spring break?

Situational Influence on Student Behavior

The different behaviors of students in a classroom and on spring break due to environmental stimuli is an example of situational influence, highlighting the impact of environmental factors on behavior. The correct option is D) Situational influence.

Explanation: The behavior of students in a classroom compared to their behavior on spring break can be attributed to different environmental stimuli. This phenomenon is an example of Situational influence, which refers to the way behavior is affected by our immediate environment and surroundings. This concept is distinct from assimilation or accommodation which relate to how we incorporate or adjust to new information, and from behavioral adjustment which is more about changing behavior due to changes in one's environment over time.

Learning from classmates that most students buy lunch on Fridays could be an example of cultural transmission, which involves learning the norms, values, and behaviors that are part of a culture. In contrast, when people encounter a new culture and experience culture shock, as described with the exchange student from China and the traveler from Chicago, they may initially react with ethnocentrism but eventually engage in situational adaptation as they become more familiar with and adjust to the new environment.

It's important to distinguish between innate behaviors and learned behaviors. Innate behaviors are instinctual and genetically programmed, such as a baby's grasp reflex, while learned behaviors are acquired through interaction with the environment, such as academic study habits.

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