In this study the structure of interpersonal behavior is investigated accor
ding to the principles of the so-called psycholexical approach. As bases fo
r this study, we used the data from a taxonomy of interpersonal behavior ve
rbs and a subset of data from a taxonomy of interpersonal tl-nir verbs. The
interpersonal trait verbs were selected from a set of 543 personality desc
riptive verbs constructed by De Raad, Mulder, Kloosterman, and Hofstee (198
8). Self- and peer-ratings from 200 subjects on a subset of 303 interperson
al trait verbs were subjected to principal components analysis. The interpe
rsonal behavior verbs taxonomy started with a pool of 986 interpersonal beh
avior verbs. Two methods were used to arrive at a description of interperso
nal structure, the semantic interaction method and the synonymity groups me
thod. Judgmental data were subjected to principal components analyses. In a
ll studies, the main results centered around a two-factor solution, approxi
mately reflecting the axis of the traditional interpersonal circumplex, Dom
inance and Nurturance. In addition, other factor solutions were used to ide
ntify clusters of interpersonal meaning, not present in the traditional cir
cumplex. The relationship of the two interpersonal factors with the Big Fiv
e is discussed.