Ybarra, Chan, Park, Burnstein, Monin, and Stanik's 2008
article in the European Journal of Social Psychology (volume 38, pg 1083-1092),
delineates "two psychological dimensions, one relevant to relationships
and group life (communion . . .) and the other to skill acquisition, talent,
and accomplishment (agency . . .)" (1083). They further argue that
judgments of the communion dimension are stable relative to the agency
dimensions. (1083).
For Ybarra et al., the communion dimension is comprised of
those traits that effect success in “connecting with others and being accepted”
(1083). These include “behavioral tendencies such as honesty and kindness
and those relevant to group living and a sense of right and wrong in
interpersonal relationships” (1083). The agency dimension is composed of
traits that effect success in “acquiring skills, talent, and status” (1084).
These traits include “intelligence, competence, and diligence.”
The agentic traits, they argue, may be expressed less
frequently and will be tied more closely to specific situations (1084).
In contrast, people are always pressured to conform to group norms and are
actively monitor for any failure to conform to group norms. Further,
communion-related traits convey commitment to the group, wheras agency-related
traits are silent on the subject (1084). Laboratory research
performed by Ybarra et al in 2001 indicated that research participants could
more easily access traits related to communion than to agency, as measured by a
lexical decision task. Willis and Todorov, in 2006, found that their
research participants made “more reliable [Communion] than [Agency] judgments”
after short exposure periods. Wojciszke, Bazinska and Jaworksi’s 1998
research participants demonstrated greater interested in communion than in
agency “in interpersonal judgment. Research subjects in studes by De
Bruin and Van Lange in 1999, Lingle and Ostrom in 1979, Martijn, Spears, Van
Der Pligt and Jakobs in 1992, Wojciske et al in 1998, and Ybarra in 2001 all
have weighed information related to communion more than information related to
agency (1084).
The categories of traits were:
|
Communion (Positive)
|
Communion (Negative)
|
Agency (Positive)
|
Agency (Negative)
|
|
Trusting
|
Rude
|
Astute
|
Inept
|
|
Harmonious
|
Malevolent
|
Inventive
|
Hasty
|
|
Sympathetic
|
Crooked
|
Skillful
|
Sluggish
|
|
Trustworthy
|
Withdrawn
|
Knowledgeable
|
Ignorant
|
|
Sincere
|
Hypocritical
|
Talented
|
Irresponsible
|
|
Righteous
|
Injurious
|
Methodical
|
Lazy
|
|
Jocular
|
Resentful
|
Diligent
|
Mediocre
|
|
Polite
|
Tyrannical
|
Witty
|
Disorganized
|
|
Obedient
|
Snobbish
|
Attentive
|
Idiotic
|
|
Benevolent
|
Rebellious
|
Purposeful
|
Haphazard
|
