Human Behavior Laboratory

RELATION BETWEEN SELF-ESTEEM, PERSONALITY DIMENSIONS OF EXTRAVERSION AND

REAL-TIME PATTERNING OF SOCIAL INTERACTION

Poster presented at Measuring Behavior 2000

3rd International Conference on Methods and Techniques

in Behavioral Research, Nijmegen, The Netherlands, 15-18 August 2000

Abstract

A pilot study is presented where the real-time structure and synchronization of verbal and non-verbal behavior is analyzed and related to self-esteem and personality dimensions of extraversion. Twenty-four dyadic interactions between male students were analyzed. A special software, THEME, was used to detect real-time patterns in real-time behavior records (Jonsson, 1998; Magnusson, e.g., 1983, 1988, 1996, 2000).

An earlier study suggests a strong relationship between level of subject's self-esteem and number of behavioral patterns produced in dyadic interaction situations (Jonsson, 1997).

No research exists on the relation between real-time behavior organization and personality. It is unknown whether such behavior analysis would reveal a difference in real-time patterns produced by persons with different scores on Eysenck Personality Questionnaire.

Initial results indicate that these interactions are highly synchronized and structured. A strong correlation was found between subjects' self-esteem and complexity and frequency of behavioral patterns detected. Positive correlation was also found between subject's personality and complexity and frequency of patterns.

Certain pattern types were found exclusively to be produced by extraverts and other by introverts. High and low self-esteem subjects' were also found to produce different types of behavioral patterns. The type and amount of behavior emitted by extraverts and subjects with high self-esteem also differed from behavior emitted by introverts and subjects' with a low self-esteem.

Keywords: Self-Esteem, Personality, Pattern Detection, Verbal and Non-verbal Communication

INTRODUCTION

Research has shown a strong relationship between verbal and non-verbal communication and cognition and social adaptation (Ghiglione, 1986).

Little research exists on the relation between real-time behavior organization and self-esteem and personality. An earlier study suggests a strong relationship between level of subject’s self-esteem and number of real-time behavioral patterns produced in dyadic interaction situations (Jonsson, 1997). It is unknown whether such behavioral analysis would reveal a difference in real-time patterns produced by persons with different scores on the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire.

Self-esteem is generally described as a personal evaluation that an individual makes of her or himself, their sense of their own worth, value, importance, or capabilities (Myers & Myers, 1992; Rosenberg & Rosenberg, 1978). Though descriptions of different levels of self-esteem might sound a little general most would probably agree on that self-esteem could be regarded as a filter mechanism. As such, it plays a significant part in how we generally perceive the world and hence how we behave.

Studies on differences in communication style between extraverts and introverts, suggest that people who are extraverts speak more rapidly, using higher pitch, and give more feedback than introverts (Argyle, 1992; Thorne, 1987). Introverts have also been found to be more likely to take the role of the “interviewer” in dyadic situations (Thorne, 1987). According to Argyle (1976) several studies have confirmed that extraverts gaze more frequently, with longer glances, especially while talking, than introverts.

The object of this research is to search for a particular type of repeated behavior patterns, both intra- and inter- individual, and relate the patterns to self-esteem and personality types. The search was based on a method developed by Magnusson (e.g., 1983, 1988, 1996, 2000) to detect real-time behavior patterns using a system of computer software, called THEME.

Underlying the THEME method is a structural model that is concerned with the temporal organization of verbal- and non-verbal behavior. THEME detects regular, hierarchical real-time behavior patterns, where large patterns are composed of smaller ones, somewhat like phrases in language are made out of words that again are patterns of phonemes, etc.

The research combines two different approaches “structural” and “external” (Duncan & Fiske, 1977). While the structural approach attempts to discover the sequential structure of social systems, the external variable approach is concerned with individual and group differences in behavior as a function of external variables, here self-esteem and personality.

METHOD

Twenty-four pairs of male students at the University of Iceland, aged 20-26 (mean 22,5 years), participated in the study. The students were informed that they would participate in a filmed interview about the major qualities and faults of the Icelandic Educational System. They were given 10 min to prepare for the interview. The 10 min long preparation time was recorded with a video camera.

The Rosenberg (1978) Self-Esteem Scale (RSE) and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (Eysenck, 1991) were demonstrated to all subjects prior to the video-recorded sessions. A self-esteem score between 10-20 indicates low self-esteem, 21-30 indicates moderate self-esteem, and a score between 31-40 indicates high self-esteem. EPQ scores on the extraversion dimension can range from 0-12 where high scores indicate extraversion and low scores introversion.

Verbal behavior was coded according to a system designed by Bromberg and Landré (1993), and non-verbal behavior was coded using the same category system used in Jonsson 1997 study on self-esteem, friendship and verbal and non-verbal interaction.

A multi-media module of the THEME computer software was used to code behavior events. Following the coding, THEME was used to detect and analyze behavior patterns.

RESULTS

The proportion of different behavior patterns subjects participated in, relative to all patterns, correlated positively with self-esteem (r = .66; p < .05). The proportion of pattern occurrences subjects participated in, relative to all patterns, also correlated positively with self-esteem (r = .67; p < .05) (see figure 1).

This indicates that behavior emitted by subjects with high self-esteem was more patterned than the behavior of those with moderate self-esteem (none of the participants scored low on the self-esteem scale).

Figure 1. Correlation between Self-Esteem and Proportion of Pattern Occurrences

The type, frequency and duration of behavioral events emitted differed between the high and moderate self-esteem subjects. High self-esteem subjects emitted more verbal events and feedback and hesitated less during their speech. They looked more frequently at their partner, with longer glances, and talked for a greater percentage of the time than subjects with moderate self-esteem.

No difference was detected in number of different types of behavior emitted by high and moderate self-esteem subjects, but the frequency of events emitted was higher for high self-esteem subjects.

Scores on the EPQ were positively correlated with proportion of pattern occurrences that each individual participated in (r = .60; p < .05) (see figure 2). These findings indicate that individuals who scored high on EPQ (extraverts) participated more frequently in detected patterns than those who scored low on the EPQ (introverts). Introverts on the other hand seemed to participate in a larger variety of pattern types.

Figure 2. Correlation between EPQ scores and Proportion of Pattern Occurrences

Extraverts produced longer patterns and more patterns including gesticulation than introverts, even though extraverts did not gesture more in general. Introverts, on the other hand, produced more patterns including adaptations (adjusting cloths, hair, etc.) and certain types of verbal patterns (ask & answer) than extraverts.

Introverts, on average, looked less at their partner than extraverts and with shorter glances, and also talked for a lesser percentage of the time. Extraverts hesitated less and provided more verbal feedback.

Overall there was no difference detected in number of different types of behavior emitted by intro- and extraverts, but the frequency of events emitted was higher for extraverts.

Introverts with high self-esteem (EPQ scores ≤ 6, RSE scores 31-40) participated in a higher proportion of detected patterns than introverts with moderate self-esteem (EPQ scores ≤ 6, RSE scores 21-30) (t = -9.8; df = 9; p < .001) (see figure 3).

Figure 3. Pattern participation of introverts with high and moderate self-esteem

Extraverts with high self-esteem (EPQ scores ≥ 7, RSE scores 31-40) participated in a higher proportion of detected patterns than extraverts with moderate self-esteem (EPQ scores ≥ 7, RSE scores 21-30) (t = -4.9; df = 35; p < .001) (see figure 4.).

Figure 4. Pattern participation of extraverts with high and moderate self-esteem

On average 418 (min=46, max=1139, S.d.=309) different pattern types were detected in the 24 dyads (mean occurrence=2208, min=262, max=5356, S.d.=1535). The maximum length of patterns was on average 14,5 (min=4, max=34, S.d.=6.3) (mean maximum level=6.6, min=3, max=9, S.d.=1.6).

Subject participated, on average, in 72.4% of detected pattern types (min=40, max=94, S.d.=14) and in 74.1% of pattern occurrences (min=35, max=95, S.d.=14.4).

Pattern occurrences were higher in dyads were both individuals scored high on the self-esteem scale than in mixed dyads (high vs. mod. self-esteem). Both “high self-esteem” and “extravert” dyads produced on average longer patterns than mixed dyads.

Certain pattern types were found exclusively to be produced by extraverts and others by introverts. High and moderate self-esteem subjects were also found to produce different types of behavioral patterns (see examples in figures 5, 6 and 7).

Figure 5. Two introverts (X & Y) with high self-esteem. Events - (01) Y, end (e), expressing opinion; (02) Y,e, look forward; (03) Y,e, look partner; (04) Y, begin (b), look forw; (05) Y,e, look forw; (06) Y,e, look partn; (07) Y,b, look forw; (08) X,e, look forw; (09) X,b, look forw; (10) Y,b, oral feedback; (11) Y,e, look partn; (12) Y,b, look forw; (13) X,e, look partn; (14) X,b, look forw; (15) Y,e, look forw; (16) X,e, expressing opinion; (17) Y,e, look partn; (18) Y,b, oral feedback; (19) X,b, referring to himself; (20) Y,e, look forw; (21) Y,e, look partn - (p<.001).

Figure 6. Extrovert (Y) with high self-esteem. Events - (01) Y, begin (b), look forward; (02) Y, end (e), look forw; (03) Y,b, look down; (04) Y,e, look down; (05) Y,b, look partner; (06) Y,e, look partn; (07) Y,b look down; (08) Y,b, arm open; (09) Y,e, look down; (10) Y,b, look partn; (11) Y,e, look partn; (12) Y,b, look forw; (13) Y,e, look forw; (14) Y,b, look down; (15) Y,e, look down; (16) Y,b, look partn; (17) Y,e, look partn; (18) Y,b, look forw; (19) Y,b, look forw; (20) Y,b, look partn; (21) Y,e, look partn; (22) Y,b, look forw; (23) Y,e, look forw; (24) Y,b, look down; (25) Y,e, look down - (p<.001).

Figure 7. Two extroverts (X & Y) with high self-esteem. Events - (01) X, begin (b), ask for information; (02) X, ends (e), ask for information; (03) Y,b, answer; (04) Y,e, answer; (05) X,b, ask for information; (06) X,b, referring to partn; (07) X,e, ask for information; (08) Y,b, answer; (09) X,b, referring to partn; (10) Y,b, give information; (11) X,b, oral feedback; (12) X,b, look forw; (13) Y,b, look partn - (p<.001).

DISCUSSION

The number, frequency and complexity of detected patterns, indicates that behavior is even more synchronized than the human eye can detect. This synchrony was found to exist on different levels, with highly complex time structures that extended over considerable time spans where many of the patterns occurred in a cyclical fashion.

The results indicate a strong relation between self-esteem, personality and complexity and frequency of behavioral patterns. Certain patterns were found exclusively to be produced by extraverts and introverts, and others by high and moderate self-esteem subjects.

How can the difference between introverts and extraverts, and high and moderate self-esteem subjects, described in the results, be explained? Self-esteem is a concept that describes a general feeling of own worth. As such it might affect both social skills and the desire to communicate. The type and amount of behavior emitted by extraverts and subjects with high self-esteem differed from behavior emitted by introverts and subjects with a moderate self-esteem. This could explain different types of patterns produced, as well as differences in pattern frequency.

Extraverts and high self-esteem individuals might also be the “time giver”, that is, the external stimulus the other person has to synchronize his behavior with. Extraverts and high self-esteem individuals could then, to some extent, control pattern production.

Possible functions of synchronization might be found in mutual understanding; the higher the degree of synchronization, the higher the degree of mutual understanding. Synchronization might also serve as an indicator of compatibility in interactions. The amount of synchronization that can be achieved would thus be the indicator of compatibility by interactants (Grammer et al., 1998).

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