The Prediction of Preferences for Triadic Interpersonal Relations

Summary

Four theoretical models (Heider's, Newcomb's, Rodrigues' balance-dominant and Rodrigues' agreement-dominant models) were tested by means of a paired-comparison methodology. In Condition I, Ss indicated which situation in each of 50 pairs (28 possible combinations of Heider's eight triads, two at a time plus 22 filler items) they considered as being the most coherent and harmonious; in Condition II, Ss indicated the situation in each pair that seemed more pleasant. The data were analyzed in terms of correspondence between the predictions made by each model and the actual performance of the Ss. In addition, the rank-order of triads most preferred was correlated with the rank-order predicted by each model. Rodrigues' balance-dominant model and Heider's model were good predictors in Condition I. In Condition II, no model functioned very well, although Rodrigues' agreement-dominant model showed better predictive power than the others.