What applies to P can be applied to E in symmetric fashion.
When E is dissatisfied, E can adjust by getting P to effect changes in
its needs or skills (active adjustment by E) or by E effecting change
in its own needs or skills (reactive adjustment by E).
There is one more—and last—way by which P and E can ad-
just: P can change E (move to a new E) or E can change (expel or
replace) P. In other words, P or E can terminate the interaction
when either one gives up on adjusting or is compelled (by other
forces) to end attempts at adjusting.
Structure Versus Style
Thus far, we have discussed two classes of variables for P and E:
needs and skills. These variables refer to the dispositional (or
“trait”) content of a person’s behavior and collectively contribute
to what is termed structure,implying stability of the needs and skills
for a given P or E. Structureis stable status; hence it can be used in
description and prediction.
When P and E are behaving, whether in maintenance or adjust-
ment mode, they may be described on temporal (time-linked),
process dimensions that are separate from and independent of struc-
ture. These temporal, process variables taken collectively are termed
style.Four general style variables (for either behavior mode) are
1.Celerity,or quickness of responding, from slow to fast
2.Pace,or intensity of responding, from low to high
3.Rhythm,or pattern of responding: steady, cyclical or erratic
4.Endurance,or duration of responding, from short to longThese four general style variables were “borrowed” from four
variables commonly used to characterize behavior in the laboratory:
(1) response latency, (2) response intensity, (3) response pattern,
and (4) response duration. These four “lab” variables correspond
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