SPECULATION ON THE STRUCTURE OF INTERPERSONAL INTENTIONS.
Abstract
A model is presented in which dimensions are hypothesized to operate as a simultaneous bundle of distinctive features which mediate the meaning of behavioral events, either perceived or intended. It is suggested that, if the dimensional structure of interpersonal intentions is culturally invariant, manifest differences in behavioral prescription and expression can be economically compared. Assuming the dimensions themselves are culturally common, cultural differences reside in (1) the allocation of interpersonal intentions within the dimensional system, (2) the appropriateness or frequency with which intentions are said to characterize different role-pairs, and (3) the translation of intention into overt behavior or, conversely, the inference of intention from perceived behavior. Here, the concern was to develop a set of a priori features through a rational analysis of the language of interpersonal behavior and to show that a relatively small set of distinctive features can discriminate among a large number of interpersonal verbs. Six features were initially proposed. Index categories of Roget's Thesaurus were then sampled for representative, interpersonal verbs. Two hundred and ten verbs obtained in this manner were judged and coded on each of the six features. Face validity of the features was presented in terms of the resulting word clusters formed and differentiated on the basis of the feature scoring. Characteristics of the six features, their coding distribution and intercorrelation with other features was also provided. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0643277
Entities
People
- Charles E. Osgood
Organizations
- University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign