Individual Differences
Ps differ. On any given PEC variable—need, skill, or satisfaction—
different Ps will differ in their status (score) on the variable being
assessed. Being high on one variable does not necessarily mean
being high on another. One P may be high on a few needs, another
P on many needs, yet another on all needs; and this variation will
be true of skills and satisfactions as well. Because of individual dif-
ferences, each P has to be viewed individually, with its own pattern
of highs, lows, and mediums, as well as on needs, skills, and satis-
factions. Each P’s pattern will be different from those of other Ps. To
paraphrase an old saying, some Ps may be the same on many vari-
ables, and many Ps may be the same on some variables, but no Ps
are the same on all variables.
Environmental Differences
Just as Ps differ, so do Es. Any P will experience many Es in its life-
time—even several Es simultaneously (depending on the definition
of E). P’s satisfaction will differ with different Es. P’s satisfaction with
a particular E may change over time. P’s overall satisfaction at one
time will depend on the accumulation of satisfactions from the sev-
eral Es with which P is interacting at that time. Some Es may be more
salient for P’s satisfaction than other Es. Different Es may be salient
for P’s satisfaction at different times. There may even be times when
one particular E is the only salient E for P.
Correspondence
Correspondoriginally meant “mutual response” (co-respond). Cor-
respondence is used in PEC theory to denote the mutual respon-
siveness of P and E. This mutual responding is what goes on in P-E
interaction. Both P and E have certain needs they expect the other
to fill, and both “respond” (do something to fill the other’s needs)
PERSON-ENVIRONMENT-CORRESPONDENCE THEORY 435