ABSTRACT
This chapter reports on the use of self-report techniques for measuring interpersonal sensitivity and related constructs. There are two main advantages to using self-report measures to assess interpersonal sensitivity. First and foremost, self-report methods are relatively easy to administer. This is particularly important when researchers have limited access to research participants, as is the case in much applied research (see Riggio, chap. 15, this volume). Second, self-report methods allow assessment of a broad range of sensitivity-related constructs. Although most of this book focuses on interpersonal sensitivity from an “accuracy” perspective (e.g., accuracy of decoding emotions, accuracy of personality judgments), it may be fruitful to broaden the definition of interpersonal sensitivity to include individual differences in sensitivity to emotional messages, such as empathically (vicariously) responding to others’ emotional states. Some of these broader sensitivity constructs may be more amenable to self-report methodology.
