Abstract
This chapter reviews structural and process assumptions of the Contemporary Integrative Interpersonal Theory of personality and presents the interpersonal situation as a synthetic and widely applicable framework for integrating the structure and dynamics of persons and situations. It is an interactional-dynamic perspective that is variable-centered and dimensional (agency and communion; valence and arousal), specifies the important characteristics of situations, synthesizes objective and subjective perspectives, and is applicable to multimethod, multi-informant, multi-timescale assessments in situ, juxta situm, or ex situ organized by the interpersonal circumplex. Emphasizing clinical implications, the chapter reviews multimethod, multi-timescale empirical research employing intensive repeated measures designs (event-contingent recording, continuous assessment of interpersonal dynamics) supporting the interpersonal situation and its relevance for studying personality, psychopathology, and psychotherapy. It then elaborates on the utility of the interpersonal situation framework for psychotherapy practice and training. Finally, it identifies future directions for advancing this contemporary interpersonal perspective on psychological situations.
Pincus, Aaron L