Interpersonal lexicon: Structural evidence from two independently constructed verb-based taxonomies

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.