Creating consistency among pairs of traits: A bridge from social psychology to trait psychology

Abstract

Five studies are presented that address the application of consistency-theory notions to the problem of within-individual consistency in responding to trait lists. Three central points are necessary to build this bridge from consistency theory to consistency in responding to trait items: (1) First, it was assumed (on the basis of a thesis by Wicklund) that incompetence/insecurity within a given behavioral realm has the effect of bringing the individual to focus on person descriptors that are pertinent to that realm. (2) Second, the extension of that thesis to the present problem simply involves the assumption that an increased concern with traits also implies a concern with the unidirectionality, thus the mutual consistency, of those traits. (3) On the basis of a reliable set of findings within the dissonance theory tradition, it was assumed that consistency striving dwindles once the respondent has brought about consistency among the first few cognitive elements that are made available. Accordingly, it was hypothesized that incompetence/insecurity would engender an increase in rated consistency among traits but primarily at the beginning of the relevant trait list. This hypothesis was supported by the combined results of five studies.