Are we basically saints or utterly evil good for nothings? There can be times when we can convince ourselves of both propositions, sometimes swinging between the two from second to second. In ‘The Character Gap’ Christian Miller, a Professor of Philosophy, argues that while we are indeed flawed, sometimes in ways we can’t even see ourselves, it is a much more mixed picture than that.

There has been discussion about the extent to which our character is broadly fixed or more fluid, with a return to a broad consensus that it is more fixed. However, Miller argues that while this is true, a character gap can arise in practice.

There are lots of situations where we will act in ways that we or others might consider to be out of character because the context allows it. People are less likely to help others who are in danger if they are with someone else who isn’t acting – the bystander effect. Studies suggest we are much more likely to cheat if we think we can get away with it, yet the act of signing up to an honour code can override that and people will return to their honest selves. We will go to the assistance of complete strangers, or act selflessly in situations where the conditions allow us to connect to our character.

Character is the outward expression of our values and Miller’s conception of the character gap fits with Shove’s idea that the value-action gap is ‘only mystifying if we assume values do (or should) translate into action’. Taken together this suggests that it isn’t surprising we can’t draw a straight line from how someone characterises themselves or the values they hold, to how they will behave. There are lots of factors which determine if and how a link manifests itself but context is one of them.

Over and over the picture that emerges from the literature in different areas is that context is important. People aren’t making decisions in a vacuum and the various factors surrounding them influence what they do. Therefore, trying to understand and engage with that context is helpful in trying to explore and unpick what really makes does a difference.