Factors of Interpersonal Behavior and Judgment in Social Groups

Abstract

This study explored dimensions which are used to describe persons within closely-knit social groups. Ss in the group were similar in socio-economic status and used two independent dimensions in describing one another: another's positive and negative reinforcing quality. The sociometric questionnaire which yielded these two factors is a potentially useful device for characterizing an individual within any social organization according to a four-fold classification: positively and negatively reinforcing to others, positively but not negatively reinforcing to others, negatively but not positively reinforcing, and neither positively nor negatively reinforcing. Correlations among the sociometric measures, personality measures, and sex showed that males were less affiliative and were judged as more negatively reinforcing than females.

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