The Interpersonal Situation

Abstract

Interpersonal theory assumes that the most important expressions of personality and psychopathology occur in interpersonal situations between a self and an other, and that personality pathology is best understood in terms of patterned affective, behavioral, and self dysregulations as well as perceptual distortions in these interpersonal situations. This chapter presents an evidence-based model of interpersonal situations that is structured by dimensions relevant to the self (agency and communion), interpersonal behavior (dominance and warmth), and affect (valence and arousal). This dimensions in this structure can be assessed as relatively stable traits or as dynamic processes. The ability of the interpersonal situation model to provide a useful heuristic model for testable clinical hypotheses is illustrated through a case study of David.