Dissent and Altruism are a matter of personal conviction, but situational factors are also involved. Analyze five situational factors that are involved when a person decides to rock the boat and choose conscience over conformity.
Dissent and Altruism is the inclination to assist others selflessly or take dangerous actions on behalf of others. (Wade & Tavris, 2008, p. 298) It is partly a sense of moral goodness of one’s own conduct, intentions or character together with a feeling of obligation to do what is right. Additionally, there are external or situational factors that can influence a person’s decision to state an unpopular opinion, choose conscience over conformity or assist a stranger in trouble.
The decision by someone to act courageously can be influenced by multiple situational factors. Situational factors can influence both Altruism and dissent. Below, we examine five of those factors. 1. You become aware that there is a need to get involved or assist:

Before someone can act without relying on something or someone else, they must be fully aware that their action is absolutely needed. Private Johnson Gideon Beharry, of the Princess of Wales Royal regiment, in 2004 acted courageously to save his fellow soldiers.

He drove his armored vehicle with his hatch open, exposing his face and head to enemy gunfire. Beharry drove the crippled warrior through the ambush, taking his own crew and leading five other warriors to safety. He then extracted his wounded comrades from the vehicle, all that time exposing himself to further enemy fire. (Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry VC, 2011) As cited in (The London Gazette, 2005)

However, people can sometimes purposely ignore wrongdoing to justify their inaction.

2. The situation will increase the probability of someone taking responsibility:

When someone is part of a large crowd of onlookers, the likelihood of someone not taking action is greater because of diffusion of responsibility, which is, reducing one’s sense of accountability, which can result in bystander apathy. When someone is in trouble in a crowd, persons often fail to take action or call for help since they think someone else will do it (Darley & Latane, 1968) One example is the famous case many years ago when a woman named Kitty Genovese was repeatedly stabbed to death on a street as dozens of her neighbors listened and watched without calling for help (Wade & Tavris, 2008, p. 295)

In contrast, if the situation calls for someone not having to rely on someone or something else, an individual may behave accordingly. While Wesley Autrey was waiting for the subway in New York, he saw a man suffering from a seizure, fall onto the tracks. A train was rapidly approaching the station. Wesley knew that the man would be killed instantly and so, he immediately jumped onto the track and covered the man with his body. The train passed over their bodies leaving only inches to spare. The train came so close to Wesley’s body, that it left grease marks on his hat (Buckley, C.2007; Trump, 2007) as cited in (Plotnik & Kouyoumdjian, 2011, p. 595)

3. The cost benefit ratio supports the decision to get involved:

It is easier for someone to take action if the benefits are high compared to the cost.
Conversely, if the cost is higher than the benefits, it is less likely that an individual will take action. Also, the cost of inaction can result in guilt, loss of honor, and injury or death to others. Unfortunately, the costs of dissent and honesty are often high. Most dissenters, instead of being rewarded for their bravery, are often punished for it (Wade & Tavris, 2008, p. 298) When Rosa Parks, a seamstress in Montgomery, Alabama, exercised great bravery for human rights, she was arrested. Parks act of defiance and the Montgomery bus boycott became important symbols of the modern civil rights movement. She became an international icon of resistance to racial segregation (Achievement, 1996 - 2014)

4. You have an Ally:

In a situation where an individual has the support of at least one other person, reassures the individual of the correctness of the protest or action and their efforts may eventually persuade the majority (wood et al., 1994) as cited in (Wade & Tavris, 2008, p. 299)

5. You become entrapped:

Individuals increase their commitment to a course of action to justify their involvement.
The first steps of entrapment pose no difficult choices, but one step leads to another, which results in commitment to the course of action.
According to Haritos-Fatouros “A chilling study of entrapment was conducted with 25 men who served in the Greek military police during the authoritarian regime that ended in 1974”. (Haritos- Fatouros, 1988) as cited in (Wade & Tavris, 2008, p. 283)

From the evidence presented through various studies, it is clear that there are certain social and cultural elements that contribute to Altruism and Dissent.
It is also clear that there are other factors that help prevent Altruism and Dissent from their usual course of action.
Bibliography
Achievement, A. A. (Ed.). (1996 - 2014, March 5). Retrieved March 1, 2014, from www.achievement.org: http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/par0bio-1
Darley, J. M., & Latane, B. (1968). Bystander intervention in emergencies: Diffusion of responsibility., ,. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 8, 377-383. Retrieved March 01, 2014, from http://www.psychwiki.com/wiki/Darley,_J._M.,_%26_Latan%C3%A9,_B._%281968%29._Bystander_intervention_in_emergencies:_Diffusion_of_responsibility._Journal_of_Personality_and_Social_Psychology,_8,_377-383.
Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry VC. (2011). (Jaine J Brent Media) Retrieved March 01, 2014, from www.johnsonbeharryvc.com: http://www.johnsonbeharryvc.com/
Plotnik, R., & Kouyoumdjian, H. (2011). Introduction to Psychology (Vol. 9). California: Wadworth.
The London Gazette. (2005, March 17). The London Gazette 57587, p. 1.
Wade, C., & Tavris, C. (2008). Psychology (Custom Edition for Ashworth). New Jersey: Pearson.