Perceived dimensions of interpersonal relations.

A questionnaire study was conducted to discover the fundamental dimensions underlying people's perceptions of interpersonal relations. In the sections of the questionnaire relevant to this report, 87 subjects rated 20 of their own interpersonal relations (e.g., between you and your spouse) and 25 typical, or role, relations (e.g., between husband and wife) on numerous bipolar scales. A multidimensional scaling analysis of the data revealed four dimensions, which were interpreted as cooperative and friendly versus competitive and hostile, equal versus unequal, intense versus superficial, and socioemotional and informal versus task-oriented and formal. The relative importance of these dimensions varied systematically across various subgroups based on biographical characteristics of the subjects. The four dimensions were compared to those from studies of personality, person perception, and individual behavior in interpersonal situations. The stability of the dimensions suggests that they should provide a valuable framework for future research on interpersonal relations and communication.