Interpersonal circumplex vector length and interpersonal decision making

Abstract

Interpersonal circumplex scale scores can be combined into a single vector that shows a respondent’s overall dispositions to be communal and agentic. We hypothesized that individuals with longer vectors—reflecting clear but restrictive dispositions with low scores in one region of the interpersonal circle (e.g., hostile dominance) and high scores in the opposite region (e.g., friendly submission)—would more readily resolve interpersonal dilemmas. As predicted, participants (total n=3758) with longer vectors on circumplex measures of values, self-efficacy, and behavioral traits generally made interpersonal decisions more easily and confidently (although the effects were modest in size and were not uniform across the different measures). We suggest that because a long interpersonal vector may reduce flexibility as well as indecision, optimum vector length may depend on the context.