MARCH 20TH | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Session Abstract: Understanding dynamic characteristics of personality requires methodology capable of measuring patterns of behavior, affect, and cognitions over time and across situations. Intensive longitudinal designs have been used to model the unfolding of these processes in daily life. This symposium brings together several novel approaches within the intensive longitudinal framework for measuring aspects of personality. First, Chloe Bliton examines perception and personality through the lens of interpersonal theory, using data from multiple time scales. Social interactions were reported on over the course of three, 21-day measurement bursts spaced at 4.5 month intervals, and were used to investigate the effect of interpersonal sensitivity on the average level, variability, and bias in perception of another's behavior. Next, Michael Roche introduces a new instrument for capturing broad domains of personality functioning at the daily level. Multi-level confirmatory factor analyses were used to examine its internal structural validity, and a person-specific application of the instrument is presented. Leveraging a different technique of person-specific modeling, Nicholas Jacobson applies machine learning to predict the strength of autoregressive and cross-regressive dynamics of day-to-day affective changes from trait-based personality data. Finally, Whitney Ringwald shows how passive-sensing data, which unobtrusively collects nearly continuous streams of information using smartphone technology, can provide insight into daily behaviors relevant to personality function and dysfunction. These talks highlight advances in personality measurement and point to exciting opportunities for future research.
Chair Information: Whitney Ringwald, M.S.W., M.S. | University of Pittsburgh
Presentation 1 Title: Examining the Construct Validity of Interpersonal Sensitivities Using Intensive Longitudinal Experience Sampling
Presentation Abstract: The present study investigated the effect of interpersonal sensitivity, how bothered an individual is by the behavior of another, on the perception of another’s behavior according to the dimensions of agency, ranging from dominance to submission, and communion, ranging from friendliness to unfriendliness. Specifically, the present study explored the associations between interpersonal sensitivities and the average level, variability, and instability of perceived agentic and communal behavior. Finally, the present study investigated the impact of interpersonal sensitivities on perceptual bias, tendency to simultaneously perceive similar levels of dominant and friendly behaviors in others. Data for the current analyses were drawn from the Intraindividual Study of Affect, Health, and Interpersonal Behavior (iSAHIB), a multiple time-scale study including 150 participants who completed a series of three 21-day “measurement bursts” spaced at about 4.5 month intervals (t = 426 bursts, t = 8,557 days). Prior to the first burst, participants completed demographic questionnaires and a measure of interpersonal sensitivity. During each measurement burst, participants reported on social interactions as the interactions occurred in real time (t = 64,112).
Presenters:
Chloe Bliton, MS | Pennsylvania State University
Presentation 2 Title: Examining the Trans-Theoretical Personality Model in Daily Life
Presenters:
Michael Roche, PhD | West Chester University
Presentation 3 Title: Using Machine Learning and Personality Traits to Understand the Predictability of Day-to-Day Affective Dynamics
Presenters:
Nicholas Jacobson, PhD | Dartmouth College
Presentation 4 Title: Inferring Maladaptive Personality Traits from Passive Sensing Data
Presenters:
Whitney Ringwald, M.S.W., M.S. | University of Pittsburgh
Whitney Ringwald
Whitney Ringwald is a 3rd year Ph.D. student in the clinical psychology program at the University of Pittsburgh. She received a master's in social work from the University of Pittsburgh in 2018. Whitney is currently part of the Personality Processes and Outcomes Laboratory working with Aidan Wright. Her research leverages dynamic assessment of people's everyday patterns to understand the processes underlying individual differences in social and emotional functioning. Clinically, Whitney has worked in a wide range of settings with diverse patients from drug and alcohol treatment in forensic settings to group therapy for individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She is interested in gaining experience using psychodynamic methods to treat personality pathology. Outside of her research and clinical work, Whitney is an avid consumer and creator of art.
Dr. Michael Roche
Michael Roche, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at West Chester University. Dr. Roche earned his Ph.D. from The Pennsylvania State University, after completing his internship at Massachusetts General Hospital. His research lab, the Psychological Assessment of Temporally-dynamic Traits, Emotions, and Relationships in Naturalistic Settings (PATTERNS) lab, assesses the impact of personality disorder in daily life, using longitudinal methods to capture temporally-dynamic patterns of psychological dysfunction, and creating methods to utilize person-specific assessments to assist clinicians in conceptualizing their clients. He has authored or coauthored over 30 academic journal articles, 10 book chapters, and 65 presentations and posters. He serves as a consulting editor for the journal Assessment, and the Journal of Personality Assessment. Dr. Roche is also the newsletter editor for the Society for Interpersonal Theory and Research, and was recently elected vice president of this society. He teaches assessment and psychotherapy courses in the WCU doctoral program in clinical psychology (PsyD) along with providing therapy and assessment supervision to doctoral students and teaching undergraduate courses. He also maintains a small practice of individual and group (DBT) psychotherapy, and is a statistical consultant for researchers interested in analyzing longitudinal data. His most important and fulfilling position is father to future Dr. Tatum Elaine Roche.