Interpersonal behaviors and friendship in a Chinese culture

Abstract

This research is designed to assess the links between interpersonal behaviors and relationship development. A measure of friendship, labeled 'communion', was developed that focused exclusively on the characteristics of the relationship itself. It was hypothesized that greater use by both parties of behaviors promoting the interests of the other, 'beneficence', and of behaviors respecting the rights of the other, 'restraint', would result in greater communion between the roommates by the end of their first 6 months together. Both dimensions of behavior proved to be related to communion, although beneficence by both parties was relatively stronger than restraint. These findings were discussed in terms of other types of relationships where there is less freedom of involvement and greater hierarchy.

Perceiving communion in the dyadic relationship of others

“…Perceived friendship strength. The Communion Scale (CS) developed by Tam and Bond (2002) was used to tap relationship depth, strength, and integrity (for items, see Table 1). It was composed of eight items, each measured by a 7‐point Likert scale focusing on the qualities of the relationship itself.…”

“…Based on the four content areas of friendship behaviour identified by Hays (1984), we integrated the interpersonal behaviour studied by Tam and Bond (2002), and grouped dyadic behavioural exchange into four subtypes: (i) sharing: doing things together, sharing activities and experiences; (ii) support: providing material or emotional support, helping the other at difficult times; (iii) disclosure: exchanging ideas and information about personal or non‐personal matters, and discussing thoughts and opinions on various topics, whether sensitive or not; and (iv) caring: expressing feelings toward each other, whether positive or negative, and concern about the other’s well‐being or showing liking of the other.…”

“…Recent research attempts to identify those personal and interpersonal variables affecting a relationship’s formation, development, maintenance or deterioration. In the present study, we aim to investigate the relationships of others, and thus choose to examine perceived personal and interpersonal characteristics, particularly the perceived similarity in personality of dyad members, and their interpersonal behavioural exchanges as factors affecting judgements of the dyad’s closeness or communion (Tam & Bond, 2002).…”

“…By tracking the dyadic behaviours across a 3‐month interval plus a 3‐month follow up, these studies showed that dyadic behavioural exchange was a significant predictor of friendship intensity. In the Chinese context, Tam and Bond (2002) found that both dimensions of interpersonal behaviour, beneficence and restraint, were associated with communion, a measure of friendship strength, with the impact of beneficence relatively stronger than that of restraint. As before, respondents in these studies were evaluating relationships of which they were one member.…”

From Emic to Etic: Exporting Indigenous Constructs

“…The SAPPS assesses eight dimensions of personality, with some dimensions overlapping with the Big Five but others distinctive, namely Emotional Stability, Extraversion, Application, Openness to Experience, Assertiveness, Restraint, Helpfulness, and Intellect. It has been well validated as a comprehensive measure of personality perceptions with Chinese populations (Bond & Shiu, 1997; Chen, Bond, & Fung, 2006a; Chen, Fok, Bond, & Matsumoto, 2006d; Cheng, Bond, & Chan, 1995; Lee & Bond, 1998; Tam & Bond, 2002; Wong & Bond, 1999).…”