Interactionmeans that P and E act onandreact tothe other
(each is both active and reactive). Both P and E have characteris-
tics that are influential in the interaction. The interaction occurs
in a certain way and has certain results or consequences for each. P-
E theory, therefore, tries to answer three basic questions:
What characteristics of each are important to the
interaction?
How does the interaction take place?
What are the consequences of the interaction for each?The particulars of the answers to these three basic questions are
what differentiate one P-E theory from another.
Person-Environment-Correspondence Theory
Person-environment-correspondence (PEC) theory starts with the
basic P-E-theory assumption of P interacting with E. P and E are
both active and reactive. To start with, E is typically a social E, that
is, an E composed of other Ps. PEC theory can be adapted to deal
with a nonsocial E or a strictly physical E, but the discussion that fol-
lows assumes a social E—the type that P most frequently encounters.
According to PEC theory, the P-E interaction comes about in
the first instance because both P and E have requirementsthat have
to be filled, and each expects the interaction to result in filling at
least some of these requirements. Furthermore, P and E are able to
interact because each has capabilitiesto bring to bear in the inter-
action. Using their capabilities, P and E attempt to fill their own
respective requirements, which they perceive can only happen by
filling the requirements (or at least some requirements) of the other,
which is why the interaction takes place. Success (or failure) in fill-
ing requirements results in satisfaction or dissatisfaction for either
P or E, or for both. Satisfaction brings about maintenancebehavior,
whereas dissatisfaction brings about adjustmentbehavior. Adjustment
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