Role Taking, Self-Monitoring, and the Alignment of Conduct with Others

Abstract

Snyder's original theory of self-monitoring implies that high self-monitors use role taking to control their expressive behavior and to align their conduct with others. But the evidence for this is mixed; it is not clear what kind of social cognition is associated with the alignment strategies used by high and low self-monitors. This issue is explored here by examining the relationships between self-monitoring and role-taking accuracy and propensity. High self-monitoring is found to be negatively correlated with role-taking propensity. This relationship is strongest for those who score high on the Other-Directedness factor of the Self Monitoring Scale. Scores on the Public Performing factor are found to be positively correlated with role-taking accuracy, whereas scores on the Other-Directedness factor are not. It is therefore suggested that some high self-monitors rely on imagery or behavioral scripts rather than role taking to align their conduct with others.