This study examines the effects that individual personality traits have on technology acceptance. Previous research on technology acceptance focuses primarily on exogenous variables such as trustor’s perceptions, attitudes, computer anxiety, positive or negative affect, age, and experience. This research seeks to improve our understanding of technology acceptance by examining user interpersonal traits as the underpinnings of user perceptions of technology and disposition to trust. A general theory of personality, the interpersonal circumplex (IPC) model, is used here as a framework to explain IT-users’ computer self-efficacy, computer anxiety, and perceptions about- and trust in technology. The interpersonal circumplex model is well established and provides a strong foundation for understanding interaction styles and interpersonal trust. Based on the interpersonal circumplex model, I develop predictions about how various personality types will interact with technology acceptance model (TAM) related variables: that is, I predict how individuals with different interpersonal traits will rate the following: their computer selfefficacy, computer anxiety, and perceptions of an information system’s performance; the system’s trustworthiness, ease of use, usefulness; as well as the user’s behavioral intention to use the system in the future. In general, I hypothesize that a computer user’s blend of the primary interpersonal dimensions of Control and Affiliation influences his or her responses to computer usage related questions. In this study, student-participants completed an on-line assessment of their interpersonal dispositions, using the Circumplex Scales of Interpersonal Values (CSIV; Locke, 2000); subsequently the studentparticipants reported their perceptions of- and trust in a computer-based learning system that they used as part of their class. In particular, this research suggests that the Communality (Affiliation) dimension of personality, as measured by the CSIV, indicates particular and significant correlations to user’s computer anxiety, perceived system performance, perceived usefulness (of the technology), and behavioral intent to use (IT) in the future. The Interpersonal Circumplex demonstrates improved acuity in detecting personality differences that may impact the way users respond to, perceive, and evaluate technology. As a new tool for information systems research, the IPC shows potential to provide further insight into IS theory by building a bridge between interpersonal theory and technology acceptance models.

Although borderline personality is characterized by a variety of interpersonal antecedents and consequences, interpersonal theory has yet to develop an adequate model of the disorder. It was hypothesized that considerations of non-interpersonal features that influence interpersonal behavior can inform the description of the interpersonal process associated with borderline personality. Specifically, it was proposed that borderline personality is not adequately conceptualized as characterized by rigid and extreme traits. Instead identity diffusion, or under-developed personality organization, characterizes the disorder, as do notable problems with perception and behavioral impulsivity. Three samples of dyads interacting in a collaborative task were compared using structural equation models of their traits and situational behavior from the perspectives of multiple raters. Two samples included dyads without a borderline interactant and one dyad had one person with and another without borderline personality features. It was hypothesized that dyads including borderline participants would manifest behavior that deviates from normative interpersonal processes. Results were consistent with hypotheses in suggesting that dyads without an individual who has borderline characteristics demonstrate very similar interpersonal patterns, whereas dyads with a borderline interactant deviate from normative interpersonal process. Specifically, borderline individuals appear to be hyper-perceptive of others’ efforts to control (dominate or submit to) them. With regard to affiliation (warmth vs. coldness), borderline individuals appear to have very different perceptions of their own interpersonal style than do individuals who know them, and unlike nonborderline individuals, these styles exert minimal influence on their behavior in interpersonal situations. These results suggest practical implications that vary across interpersonal dimensions. Data imply that clinicians should take seriously suggestions by borderline patients that they feel controlled. With regard to affiliation, data are consistent with the theory of identity diffusion in suggesting that borderline personality features are associated with a lack of stable interpersonal traits that influence behavior across situations, and the development of such a style is an important therapeutic target.

<p>The study aims to explore the associations between narcissism, interpersonal behaviors, and aggression using situational measurement. Using an experience-sampling approach, the study examined the effect of narcissism and its fine-grained components on daily affective experiences and aggressive behaviors in the context of social interactions. Data was collected from 478 undergraduate students that were instructed to complete four prompts a day for 10 days. Narcissism and negative affect predict higher aggression overall. Grandiose narcissism affects aggression directly, and vulnerable narcissism affects aggression solely through negative affect. Interpersonal antagonism presents as the core element in narcissism that drives its association with aggression. Results are robust across different domains of aggression. In real-life social interactions, narcissism dimensions differentially affect the way individuals experience social interpersonal and process negative affect, and thus in both research and clinical practices, narcissism is the most assessed as a heterogeneous, multidimensional construct.  </p>

abstract: As methods for measuring the relationship between personality and behavior have become more sophisticated, so too has the interest in better explaining the role that environments play in this relationship. Recent efforts have been made to clarify the hypothesized moderating role of environments on this relationship and Cooper and Withey (2009), in particular, have provided evidence for the paucity of empirical research that explains the ways in which strong and weak situations may differentially affect the relationship between personality and behavior. They contend, through a thorough review of the literature, that the intuitive nature of the theory provides promise and that there is likely some substantive basis for the assertion that environmental strength should moderate the relationship between personality and theoretically relevant behaviors. The current study was designed to test the moderating influence of interpersonal environment on the relationship between interpersonal personality and interpersonal behavior, specifically whether the evidence exists for the hypothesis that moderation differentially exists for strong and weak environments. No evidence was provided for the moderating role of environments. Evidence was provided for the predictive utility of traits in all models. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Counseling Psychology 2016

This study aimed at investigating the relationship between Salutogenic constructs (Sense of Coherence, Locus of Control and Self-Efficacy) and Interpersonal Styles. In addition it sets out to examine whether there are any differences between both aforementioned variables and selected individual and organisational variables, specifically, gender, race, age and tenure. A significant positive relationship was found to exist between Salutogenic constructs and Interpersonal Styles classified as Friendly, while significant negative relationships were found between Salutogenic constructs and Interpersonal Styles classified as Hostile and Hostile-Submissive. Salutogenic constructs were found to have no significant relationships with the remaining five Interpersonal Styles namely Dominant, Dominant-Friendly, FriendlySubmissive, Submissive and Hostile-Dominant. Salutogenic constructs showed no significant differences with regards gender and race, but significant differences with regards age and tenure. Interpersonal Style showed significant differences with regard to race, age and tenure, but not with gender with the exception of the Hostile-Submissive, Hostile and Friendly styles / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Traditionnellement, le construit de la phobie sociale a été défini selon une vision intrapersonnelle, en tant que trouble de l’anxiété. Une autre conception se propose de la définir d’un point de vue interpersonnel, comme un pattern global d’autoprotection. L’objectif principal de cette thèse est de tester des hypothèses tirées du modèle interpersonnel de la phobie sociale. Deux études, présentées sous forme d’articles, ont permis d’examiner si des patterns spécifiques d’autoprotection, tels que l’impuissance et la soumission, caractérisent le mode de fonctionnement des phobiques sociaux. Les études ont également évalué si l’autoprotection et l’anxiété sont interreliées. Pour la première étude, les patterns interpersonnels de 132 phobiques sociaux, évalués à l’aide d’une mesure dérivée du Circumplex interpersonnel, ont été comparés à ceux de 85 individus célibataires ayant une dysfonction sexuelle et 105 sujets normaux. La relation entre les patterns d’autoprotection, l’anxiété sociale, la détresse générale et le fonctionnement social a également été examinée chez les phobiques sociaux. La seconde étude a permis d’examiner l’évolution des patterns d’autoprotection ainsi que de l’anxiété sociale, de la détresse générale et du fonctionnement social, chez 85 phobiques sociaux à quatre moments : avant et après un traitement d’approche interpersonnelle, ainsi qu’aux relances de six mois et d’un an. L’étude a également comparé les participants en rémission et ceux satisfaisant les critères de la phobie sociale un an suivant la fin du traitement. Les résultats suggèrent que les patterns d’impuissance et de soumission sont caractéristiques de la phobie sociale. Plus précisément, ces patterns décrivent davantage les comportements des phobiques sociaux plutôt que ceux des groupes de comparaison. De plus, une réduction significative de l’autoprotection a été notée au post-traitement et maintenue jusqu’au suivi d’un an, surtout chez les participants en rémission.En outre, une relation entre l’autoprotection, l’anxiété sociale et la détresse générale a été mise en évidence chez les phobiques sociaux. Une amélioration de l’anxiété, de la détresse subjective et du fonctionnement social cohérente avec la dissolution des patterns d’autoprotection a également été obtenue au post-traitement. En conclusion, les résultats des deux études appuient une conception interpersonnelle de la phobie sociale. / Traditionally, the construct of social phobia has been viewed intra-personally, as a disorder of anxiety. In recent years, an alternative interpersonal account of the concept has been proposed, whereby social phobia is characterized as an overall self-protective pattern of specific fearfully self-protective patterns of interpersonal behaviour. The main objective of this dissertation was to test hypotheses drawn from this interpersonal approach. Two studies, presented in the form of research articles, were devised to examine whether specific self-protective interpersonal patterns of powerlessness and submissiveness are characteristic of the overall socially phobic pattern. The studies also examined whether self-protectiveness is interrelated with anxiousness. The first study compared the interpersonal patterns, assessed using an Interpersonal Circumplex measure, of 132 socially phobic individuals to those of 85 single sexually dysfunctional and 105 normal control participants. The relationship between self-protective patterns and social anxiety, general distress, and social functioning were also examined in the socially phobic group. The second study examined the evolution of self-protectiveness, as well as social anxiety, general distress, and social functioning, in 85 socially phobic individuals at four time-points: Prior to being treated by an interpersonal approach, post-treatment, as well as at a six-month and one-year follow-up. Remitted and non-remitted participants at the one-year follow-up were also compared. Results support the hypothesis that social phobia is characterized by self-protective patterns of powerlessness and submissiveness. Specifically, these interpersonal patterns were found to characterize the socially phobic group to a larger extent than either of the two contrast groups. They were also shown to improve meaningfully after treatment, especially in participants who achieved remission one year later.In addition, a relationship between the self-protective patterns and increased levels of social anxiety and subjective distress was found in the socially phobic group. Results also showed an improvement in anxiety, general distress, and social functioning consistent with the shrinking in self-protectiveness after treatment. In conclusion, the findings are consistent with predictions drawn from an interpersonal approach and provide support for this alternative conceptualization of social phobia.

This study aimed at investigating the relationship between Salutogenic constructs (Sense of Coherence, Locus of Control and Self-Efficacy) and Interpersonal Styles. In addition it sets out to examine whether there are any differences between both aforementioned variables and selected individual and organisational variables, specifically, gender, race, age and tenure. A significant positive relationship was found to exist between Salutogenic constructs and Interpersonal Styles classified as Friendly, while significant negative relationships were found between Salutogenic constructs and Interpersonal Styles classified as Hostile and Hostile-Submissive. Salutogenic constructs were found to have no significant relationships with the remaining five Interpersonal Styles namely Dominant, Dominant-Friendly, FriendlySubmissive, Submissive and Hostile-Dominant. Salutogenic constructs showed no significant differences with regards gender and race, but significant differences with regards age and tenure. Interpersonal Style showed significant differences with regard to race, age and tenure, but not with gender with the exception of the Hostile-Submissive, Hostile and Friendly styles / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)