Interdependence approaches to the person and the situation

This chapter outlines how the objective and subjective interdependence structure of social situations can, together with personality, influence behavior. We first review the premises of Interdependence Theory which suggests that six dimensions describe objective characteristics of interdependent situations: mutual dependence, power, conflict, coordination, future interdependence, and information certainty. Second, we discuss the role of personality for predicting behavior in interdependent situations. Third, noting that it is ultimately not the objective structure of situations that determines behavior, but individuals’ subjective perception thereof, we summarize recent research showing that individuals only reliably differentiate between five-not six-dimensions of interdependence, and we describe the link between these dimensions and personality traits. Last, we outline directions for future research such as studying personality as a moderator of the link between interdependence perceptions and behavior, investigating the influence of the interaction partner on an actor’s situation perception, and uncovering how the interdependence dimensions may interact to influence the relation between personality and behavior.