1-116 - Circle Up: Using Interpersonal Theory and The Interpersonal Circumplex to Study Interpersonal Relationships Across Development

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

Contemporary Integrative Interpersonal Theory of Personality (CIIT) provides a useful framework to study interpersonal relationships across developmental periods (e.g., childhood, adolescence) and relationship partners (e.g., parents, peers). CIIT is operationalized using the interpersonal circumplex organized around two orthogonal dimensions of agency (dominance) and communion (warmth). Important insights regarding how differences in agency and communion contribute to social adjustment, such as risk for psychopathology, as well as how to individualize treatment based on interpersonal style have been gleaned through work in the personality literature using CIIT and the interpersonal circumplex (Dawood et al., 2017). Yet, few studies have used CIIT and the circumplex in relation to youth. This is surprising given the potential of CIIT to help determine developmental processes that underlie social adjustment and interpersonal functioning early in life. This information could be used to identify youth at greatest risk for social maladjustment and psychopathology. Studies in this symposium highlight the utility of adopting CIIT and the interpersonal circumplex to advance the study of how interpersonal dynamics and style impact youth adjustment.
Study 1 examines how interpersonal profiles in early adolescence may increase risk for alcohol use and alcohol-related sexual assault in late adolescence. Study 2 assesses whether self-esteem and narcissism impact the development of agentic and communal goals across adolescence. Using a Dutch sample, Study 3 uses event-contingent recording to assess bullying victims’ interpersonal behaviors, affect, and perceptions of others’ behaviors. Study 4 reviews data from two meta-analyses examining the relation between parental interpersonal style and parent-child relationship quality.

Sub Unit

• Social, Emotional, Personality

Chairs

• Samuel N. Meisel, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York

• Elisa Trucco, Florida International University

Individual Presentations

• The Development of Social Goals and Risk for Alcohol Use and Alcohol-Related Sexual Assault - Presenting Author: Jennifer Read, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York; Non-Presenting Author: Craig Colder, University at Buffal; Non-Presenting Author: Seth Frndak, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York

• Social Goal Development during Middle School: Normative Changes and Prediction by Self-Esteem and Narcissism - Presenting Author: Tiina Ojanen, University of South Florida; Non-Presenting Author: Danielle Findley-Van Nostrand, Roanoke College

• Using Event-Contingent Recording of Everyday Social Interactions to Assess Interpersonal Style in Victims of Bullying - Presenting Author: Minita Franzen, University of Groningen; Non-Presenting Author: Rene Veenstra, University of Groningen; Non-Presenting Author: Peter de Jong, University of Groningen; Non-Presenting Author: Marije aan het Rot, University of Groningen,

• Parental Interpersonal Style and the Parent-Child Relationship: Implications at Both Normal-Range and Pathological Levels - Presenting Author: Sylia Wilson, University of Minnesota; Non-Presenting Author: Catherine B. Stroud, Williams College; Non-Presenting Author: Emily Durbin, Michigan State University