Primary control and the consistency of interpersonal behaviour across different situations

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

Recent findings from person–situation studies suggest that primary control is a major factor underlying cross-situational consistency of individual behaviour. To provide evidence, we studied behaviour reflecting primary control in two modes: self-reports and observations of overt behaviour. Study I examined self-reports of 147 Ss in 15 interpersonal situations. In study II, 25 Ss were observed during role playing in five situations. The analysis focused on the degree to which Ss maintain consistent patterns of behaviour across different situations. Both studies revealed considerable degrees of consistency, thus confirming our conjecture. In the discussion attention is paid to the dispositional nature of primary control and the connections with secondary control. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.