6/19/20181PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL INTERACTIONChapter 15 – Part 13 Mechanisms of Social InteractionSelectionEvocationManipulationSelectionPersonality influences selection ofPeopleRomantic partnersFriendsColleaguesSituations6/19/20182Personality & Romantic RelationshipsBuss, et al. (1990)Surveyed mate prefs of over 10,000 P’s, from 33 countriesMost desired characteristics:Mutual attraction/love DependablityEmotional stabilityPersonality & Romantic RelationshipsTwo competing hypotheses:Complementary needs theory:we like people who are different from us“opposites attract”Attraction similarity theory:we like people who are similar to us“birds of a feather flock together”Personality & Romantic RelationshipsAssortative mating: People like (and marry) others who are similar to themselvesWhy?Active selection of mates who are similar?By-products of other processes (e.g., proximity)?6/19/20183Personality & Romantic RelationshipsBotwin et al. (1997)Studied relationship between desired mate personality & own personalityResult: Positive CorrelationPeople want mates with similar personalities to their ownPersonality & Romantic RelationshipsDo people get the mates they want?Botwin et al. (1997)Compared prefs for ideal mate personality & actual mate personalityResult: Positive correlationConclusion: People frequently get the mates they wantPersonality & Romantic RelationshipsDoes partner personality affect marital satisfaction?YES!: People are happiest if married to partners high inAgreeablenessEmotional stability (low neuroticism)Openness6/19/20184Personality & Romantic RelationshipsPersonality & BreakupViolation of Desire theory (Buss, 2003):Prediction: break-ups more common when people don’t get what they wantMost people want mates who are dependable & emotionally stableThose who fail: risk of divorceConclusion: People who don’t get what they desire are more likely to break-up0 ---------- 1 ---------- 2 ---------- 3 ---------- 4Not at all Slightly Moderately Very Extremely1. I get nervous if I have to speak with someone in authority (teacher, boss, etc). 2. I have difficulty making eye contact with others. 3. I become tense if I have to talk about myself or my feelings. 4. I find difficulty mixing comfortably with the people I work with.5. I find it easy to make friends of my own age.6/19/201856. I tense-up if I meet an acquaintance on the street.7. When mixing socially, I am uncomfortable. 8. I feel tense if I am alone with just one person. 9. I am at ease meeting people at parties, etc. 10. I have difficulty talking with other people. 0 ---------- 1 ---------- 2 ---------- 3 ---------- 4Not at all Slightly Moderately Very ExtremelySocial Interaction Anxiety ScaleReverse #5 & #9:0=4 1=3 2=2 3=1 4=0Add all items to get the totalSocial Interaction Anxiety ScaleReverse #5 & #9:0=4 1=3 2=2 3=1 4=0Add all items to get the total0-13: Low Social Anxiety14-26: Moderate Social Anxiety27-40: High Social Anxiety6/19/20186Personality & Selection of SituationsShyness: feeling tense/worried/anxious during social interactionsStates vs. traitsTrait shyness: feeling awkward in MOST situationsPersonality & Selection of SituationsShy women less likely to:visit a gynecologistdiscuss contraception with potential sexual partnersGreater health riskPersonality & Selection of SituationsShy women less likely to gambleLower financial riskConclusion: Shyness leads to greater vulnerability to some types of risks, but decreases others6/19/20187Personality & Selection of SituationsPersonality affects selection of activitiesHigh Empathy: More likely to do volunteer workHigh Machiavellianism: Prefer face-to-face interactionEasier to manipulate