DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SELF-RATINGS AND PEER-RATINGS OF INTERPERSONAL PROBLEMS

Interpersonal problems are frequently a source of distress for individ uals and the focus of psychotherapeutic interventions. A self-report c ircumplex measure, the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-Circumplex (IIP-C), was modified for this investigation to acquire peer report da ta on interpersonal problems to help assess the validity of self-repor ted problems. The peer report data replicated the circumplex model of the IIP-C and when general interpersonal distress was removed (by ipsa tizing), the data suggested that peers observed more domineering, vind ictive, and emotionally cold types of problems than self-report (ipsat ized) data. Individuals reported more other-pleasing, overly nurturant types of problems than peers observed. The findings both support the validity of the IIP-C and describe discrepancies in self-versus peer r eported interpersonal problems. The results also describe differences in the general interpersonal distress factor accounted for by ipsatizi ng versus removing the general factor from unipsatized data. The resul ts describe implications for clinicians and others assessing interpers onal problems.