The interpersonal circumplex as a model of interpersonal capabilities

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Personality Psychology

Background:

• Interpersonal capabilities are often viewed separately from interpersonal traits.
• Circumplex models are common in interpersonal research.
• The general factor in interpersonal models requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To challenge the distinct conceptualization of interpersonal capabilities versus traits.
• To examine the structure of the Battery of Interpersonal Capabilities (BIC).
• To compare the BIC with the Interpersonal Adjective Scale (IAS).

Main Methods:

• Principal components analysis (PCA) was used to analyze the BIC.
• A randomization test of hypothesized order relations was conducted.
• PCA and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used for joint analysis of BIC and IAS.

Main Results:

• Contrary to prior research, the BIC demonstrated a circular ordering.
• The BIC and IAS measures represented similar underlying constructs.
• The general factor within the BIC was uncorrelated with self-competence, life satisfaction, or general pathology.

Conclusions:

• Interpersonal capabilities and traits may not be distinct constructs.
• The BIC's circular structure supports integration with other interpersonal models.
• The general factor in interpersonal capabilities has unique variance not explained by general self-competence or pathology.