the belief that people are more influenced by external, situational factors than by internal ones
situationism in American English
(ˌsɪtʃuːˈeiʃəˌnɪzəm)
noun
Psychology
the theory that behavior is chiefly response to immediate situations
Also: situationalism (ˌsɪtʃuːˈeiʃənlˌɪzəm)
Derived forms
situationist
noun
Word origin
[situation + -ism]-ism is a suffix appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it was used to form action nounsfrom verbs (baptism). On this model, -ism is used as a productive suffix in the formation of nouns denoting action or practice,state or condition, principles, doctrines, a usage or characteristic, devotion oradherence, etc. (criticism; barbarism; Darwinism; despotism; plagiarism; realism; witticism; intellectualism)