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Personality and Interpersonal Influence: Low Adjustment and Low Competitiveness is Associated With Low Assertiveness.
Adrian Furnham1, Stephen Cuppello2, David S Semmelink3
1Department of Leadership and Organizational Behaviour, Norwegian Business School, Oslo, Norway.
Psychological Reports
|November 15, 2024
Summary
Personality traits significantly influence interpersonal styles. Low conscientiousness and adjustment, coupled with high competitiveness, correlate with interpersonal aggression. Passivity is linked to lower adjustment, while assertiveness is associated with risk approach, sex, and age.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Organizational Behavior
- Personality Science
Background:
- Understanding the link between personality and interpersonal behavior is crucial in professional settings.
- Interpersonal assertiveness styles are important but often neglected in research.
- This study focuses on the relationship between work-related personality traits and four distinct interpersonal styles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between a six-factor personality test (HPTI) and interpersonal styles (Assertiveness, Passiveness, Hostile aggression, Manipulative aggression).
- To identify personality correlates of aggressive and passive interpersonal behaviors.
- To explore traits associated with assertive behavior.
Main Methods:
- Survey research involving 396 working adults.
- Utilized the Hogan Personality Test (HPTI) to measure work-related personality traits.
- Employed a two-dimensional assessment (III) to evaluate four interpersonal styles: Assertiveness, Passiveness, Hostile aggression, and Manipulative aggression.
Main Results:
- Interpersonal aggression was associated with low Conscientiousness and Adjustment (Neuroticism), and high Competitiveness (low Agreeableness).
- Passivity showed a negative association with all measured personality traits, particularly Adjustment, but not Conscientiousness.
- Assertiveness was linked to sex, age, and the personality trait Risk Approach (Courage).
Conclusions:
- Distinct personality profiles are associated with different interpersonal styles, including aggression and passivity.
- Assertiveness appears less strongly tied to specific personality traits compared to aggressive or passive styles.
- Findings highlight the importance of considering personality in understanding and potentially teaching assertiveness skills.
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