"Situational variables can exert powerful influences over human behavior, more so that we recognize or acknowledge"
- Philip Zimbardo
About this Quote
This quote by Philip Zimbardo recommends that situational variables, or the environment in which a person is in, can have a strong impact on their behavior. This influence is often underestimated or not fully acknowledged. Zimbardo's quote implies that the environment in which a person remains in can have a greater influence on their habits than we may think. For instance, an individual might act in a different way in a formal setting than they would in a casual setting. This is due to the fact that the environment can affect how a person behaves, and can even form their behavior. Zimbardo's quote recommends that we should be aware of the power of situational variables and how they can affect our behavior. We must also be mindful of the environment we remain in and how it can affect our behavior.