Personality & Social Interaction - PDF

15.1 Personality & Social Interaction Tuesday, November 12, 2024 10:50 AM HOW DOES PERSONALITY INFLUENCE RELATIONSHIPS + SOCIAL INTERACTIONS? 3 KEY PROCESS: 1. Selection 2. Evocation = personality traits can evoke others/responses 3. Manipulation = active + intentional actions to manipul...

15.1 Personality & Social Interaction Tuesday, November 12, 2024 10:50 AM HOW DOES PERSONALITY INFLUENCE RELATIONSHIPS + SOCIAL INTERACTIONS? 3 KEY PROCESS: 1. Selection 2. Evocation = personality traits can evoke others/responses 3. Manipulation = active + intentional actions to manipulate others SELECTION = personality characteristics of others influence whether we select them as dates, friends, marriage partners - Our personality influence how we select to enter or stay in situations - Judges we make influence how we choose others - Our personality + others Ø Mutual attraction/love was the most FAVOURED CHARACTERISTIC - Almost as important as: dependable character, emotional stability, pleasing disposition (low neuroticism) ATTRACTION: 2 COMPETING THEORIES 1. Complementary Needs Theory = attracted to those who have different personality dispositions than they have - Complementarity in dominance > compliments their personality - OPPOSITES ATTRACT 2. Attraction Similarity Theory = attracted to those who have similar personality characteristics - Power Couple: matched on dominance - DOMINANT > DOMINANT ASSORTATIVE MATING Ø Select partners similar to themselves Ø Couples who have been together the longest >> most similar in personality PERSON SIMILARITY: DOGS + OWNERS Ø Significant positive correlations b/w owners + dogs = BIG 5 (neuroticism, extraversion, ASSORTATIVE MATING Ø Select partners similar to themselves Ø Couples who have been together the longest >> most similar in personality PERSON SIMILARITY: DOGS + OWNERS Ø Significant positive correlations b/w owners + dogs = BIG 5 (neuroticism, extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, openness) - Could not be attributed solely to the owners' self-projection ASSORTATIVE MATING CAUSES? >> PREFERENCE 1. Sheer proximity or actual preference?? = similar environment/actively choosing partners that are similar to us Ø Correlations were consistently positive Ø Positive correlations b/w spouses in heterosexual marriages are due, in part, to PREFERENCES DO PEOPLE GET THE PARTNERS THEY WANT? Botwin 1997 Ø Preferences for ideal personality characteristics in a partner VS actual personality characteristics of an obtained partner - Consistently positive correlations = people get partners they want in terms of personality RECIPE FOR MARITAL SATISFACTION Ø Partner's personality had a large effect on marital satisfaction Ø Especially happy if married to partners with high: 1. Agreeableness 2. Emotional Stability 3. Openness SELECTIVE BREAKUP OF COUPLES 1. Violation of Desire Theory: Ø Break-ups more common when one's desires are VIOLATED than when fulfilled Ø People actively seek partners who are dependable + emotionally stable Ø Those who face to choose such partners: - Tend to selectively break up - Are at risk for divorce SHYNESS AND SITUATIONAL AVOIDANCE Ø SHYNESS = tendency to feel tense, worried, anxious during social interactions/anticipating social interactions AVOIDS SOCIAL SITUATIONS s y SHYNESS AND SITUATIONAL AVOIDANCE Ø SHYNESS = tendency to feel tense, worried, anxious during social interactions/anticipating social interactions - AVOIDS SOCIAL SITUATIONS Ø Shy Women avoid: - Gynecological exams - Asking sexual partners to use contraception - Placing risky bets in gambling experiments EVOCATION Ø Our own personality characteristics evoke predictable responses from others - Ex. Donald Trump's personality evokes HOSTILE behaviours in others EVOCATION OF HOSTILITY = **Self Fulfilling Prophecy 1. Expectancy Confirmation = people's beliefs about personality characteristics of others cause them to evoke actions that are consistent with their INITIAL beliefs 2. Aggressive people expect others to be hostile - They treat others aggressively - People treated aggressively tent to aggress back Ø AGGRESSIVE PEOPLE EVOKE HOSTILITY FROM OTHERS SADISTIC FIRST IMPRESSIONS Ø Everyday Sadism: dispositional tendency to enjoy cruelty Ø Sadists were disliked by others - Seen as less likeable, less trustworthy, less physically attractive Ø Sadist saw others as: - Aggressive + unrestrained - Sarcastic + demanding - Hypocritical + shortsighted - Less engaging + less mature EVOCATION OF ANGER + UPSET Personality influences INTERPERSONAL UPSET: 1. Direct Effect = person's traits can directly influence the likelihood that they behave in EVOCATION OF ANGER + UPSET Personality influences INTERPERSONAL UPSET: 1. Direct Effect = person's traits can directly influence the likelihood that they behave in ways that upset others 2. Indirect Effect = MAY influence the likelihood that other people behave in ways that upset that person > not aware of the impact they have on their actions EVOCATION OF ANGER + UPSET IN COUPLES Ø Buss (1991) = role of personality on anger + upset in husbands + wives Ø STRONGEST PREDICTORS OF UPSET: - Disagreeableness - Neuroticism (emotional instability) EVOCATION OF LIKEABILITY Ø Personality traits that evoke positive responses in others: 1. Agreeableness 2. Honesty- humility 3. Extraversion MANIPULATION Ø Or social influence; people INTENTIONALLY alter, change, or exploit others Ø Research Questions: - What are the personality predictors of manipulation tactics? - Are some people consistently more manipulative than others ? Ø Women = higher in REGRESSION than men Ø No gender differences in their tactics in Manipulation