Person-Situation-Behaviour Triad: Exploring Relationships and Behavioural Consistency

Abstract

The present paper, a part of a major work in this field, concentrates on exploring the precise relationship of personality and situational elements with behavior. It was also aimed to examine the behavioral consistency across situations. The study was conducted on 200 XIthand XIIth grade students (100 male, 100 female) drawn from various schools of Karnal and Kurukshetra towns in Haryana (India). Participants received the NEO Five Factor Inventory-Revised. The behavior of the participants was observed through a video recording, with their knowledge and consent, in three dyadic experimental situations and then was rated on Riverside Behavioral Q-sort. Although 64 behavioral characteristics were rated on Riverside Behavioral Q-sort, only 34 of them were retained for further analysis in a view of their psychometric properties in the instant study. Results of correlational analysis revealed that personality traits correlated significantly (p<.01) with most of the trait-congruent behaviors. Neuroticism was found correlated with 6 behaviors, Extraversion with 9, Openness with 3, Agreeableness with 6, and Consciousness with 3. Situational dimensions, measured as 8 DIAMONDS, have shown a relatively lower degree of relationship with behaviors in dyadic situations. The data have provided strong evidence for cross-situational consistency in the majority of observed behaviors. The findings of the study were discussed in light of earlier researches in the field and pertinent theoretical models.