A Dynamics Systems Approach to Interpersonal Behavior as a Function of Interpersonal Values
Year: 2015
Type: dissertation
Abstract: According to the cybernetic theory of self-regulation proposed by Carver and Scheier (1998), a value serves as a reference point toward which an individual’s behavior will gravitate. The current study examined this hypothesis through the recruitment of 140 undergraduate students at a southern Ontario university. Participants self-reported their interpersonal values and were then divided into four-person groups that cooperated to solve the “Lost on the Moon” puzzle. The behaviour of each participant during interaction was videotaped and coded using the joystick technique (Sadler, Ethier, Gunn, Duong, Woody, 2009) and then subjected to attractor analyses using GridWare (Lamey, Hollenstein, Lewis, Granic, 2004). Contrary to our hypothesis, no attractors were identified, although average agentic behavior was significantly associated with agentic values. The failure to identify attractors was perhaps due to a lack of within person variability, as the participants were more strongly influenced by individual differences and group characteristics.
Source: TSpace (University of Toronto)
Author: Mengxi Dong
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2612980326