Consistencies of psychomotor styles in interpersonal tasks

Abstract

Interpersonal behaviour of individuals in five tasks (individual performance, two dyadic tasks, two small-group tasks) was videotaped and coded on 11 psychomotor categories concerning (a) movements regulating interaction, (b) indications of tension, and (c) temperamental acts. The individual consistencies were examined on the basis of correlational analyses and task similarities. The consistency of individual psychomotor behaviour across all the tasks was highest in the number of selfinitiated acts (psychomotor activeness). Consistency was also found in the total tension score and the utilization of largelnamow space, while the effect of the particular tasks was clearly demonstrated in the other categories of psychomotor style. Both communication and disposition interpretations of psychomotor styles were considered in the explanation of the results, and some methodological factors reflected in the interpretations were presented.

The person and the situation in an international model of behavior

“…The central problem in the PSI-issue has been discussed in terms of personality or behavioral con-sistency (see e.g., Block, 1968;Mischel, 1968;Alker, 1972;Bem, 1972;Takala, 1975). However, the debate on this problem has suffered form the lack of a clear definition of the kind of consistency that is referred to.…”

“…cal studies investigating cross-situational stability of behavior (see e.g., Block, 1%8, 1977;Mischel, 1968Mischel, , 1969Mischel, , 1971Alker, 1972;Bem, 1972;Wallach & Leggett, 1972;Takala, 1975). The problem of personality consistency involves the question of the role of environmental factors in the determination of actual behavior.…”