ABSTRACT
Most theories of interpersonal behavior describe the affiliation-disaffiliation axis as the second important dimension of social behavior (Wiggins, 1980). The kinds of activity that Borgatta (see Table 5.4) and others identified as the behaviors that comprise this dimension range from affiliative acts (e.g., social sensitivity, altruism, warmth, friendliness, love, compassion, loyalty, nurturance, cooperation, generosity, and kindness) at one pole to the other extreme of disaffiliative behavior (e.g., hostility, brutality, aggression, derision, cruelty, refusal to provide assistance, avoidance, and withdrawal from the common task). Our goal in this chapter is to identify which characteristics of the person influence the interpersonal behaviors that make up this dimension of social interaction.
