Complementarity of interpersonal circumplex traits

The existence of interpersonal complementarity at a stylistic level using the Interpersonal Adjectives Scales (IAS) and the optimal definition of complementarity were the foci of the study. The IAS ratings made by three samples of college students were used: 265 rated both of their parents, 346 rated themselves and their closest friend, and 136 rated how they expected themselves and the other participant to behave in one of three very different situations. The correlation matrices between the scores of the two interactants in each sample were examined using the randomization test of hypothesized order relations to determine if complementarity existed. Results indicated support for the complementarity of traits in each sample and showed that the optimal orientation of dimensions of the IAS with respect to complementarity is 22.5 degrees greater than the orientation proposed by Leary and adopted by Wiggins.