The Personality Studies Laboratory
Principal Investigator: Allan Clifton, Ph.D.
The central theme of my research is that personality may be better understood by assessing its relationship with the interpersonal world. Interpersonal processes provide a window into an individual's perceptions, motivations, and judgment as the person navigates a highly complex situation. Particularly among those with maladaptive personality styles, interpersonal relationships are often emotionally charged and conflictual, providing some of the most interesting and transparent expressions of personality.
My research is organized around three interrelated lines of inquiry:
• Obtaining information from multiple informants about the individual's personality
• Improving models of personality by measuring functional outcomes
• Assessing specific patterns of interpersonal relationships as a way of quantifying personality
In particular, I see social network analysis as a novel methodology to bridge these three areas, while providing unique benefits to assessment and treatment.