Situational factors refer to external influences that can affect an individual's behavior and decision-making in a specific context. These factors include the environment, social interactions, and immediate circumstances that can shape how a person reacts or feels. For example, the presence of others, the physical setting, and time constraints can all play a role in influencing actions. Understanding situational factors is important in fields like psychology and sociology, as they help explain why people may behave differently in various situations. By analyzing these factors, researchers can gain insights into human behavior, such as how peer pressure or stressful environments can lead to different outcomes in decision-making.