Perspective Taking and Communication Satisfaction in Coworker Dyads

Abstract

This study addressed whether or not self-rated and other-rated perspective taking would converge and questioned the relationship between perspective taking and communication satisfaction among coworkers. A sample of 114 participants, all coworkers at 27 kindergartens in Korea, provided data to form 350 dyads. The participants rated their own perspective-taking tendency, their coworkers’ perspective-taking tendency, and how satisfied they were when communicating with each coworker. No significant correlation between self-rated and other-rated perspective-taking tendencies was observed, and self-rated perspective taking was not significantly correlated with other-rated communication satisfaction. In contrast, other-rated perspective taking positively correlated with other-rated communication satisfaction. The extent to which self-rated perspective taking exceeded other-rated perspective taking was negatively related to other-rated communication satisfaction. An individual tends to report higher communication satisfaction when she/he feels that her/his coworker takes her/his perspective and understands her/him. Conversely, self-ratings of perspective taking ability can have little relevance to coworker evaluations of perspective taking behavior; thus, individuals might not be the best judges of their ability to take the perspective of others. Self-ratings also appear to have little impact on the communication satisfaction that others report with their communication with an individual. This study tested the utility of self-rated perspective taking by taking a sample of coworkers who had worked closely in small group settings for substantial time. The close working relationships helped us to make more accurate comparisons of one’s own viewpoint versus the viewpoint of others.