What predicts sociable behavior? While main effects of personality and
situation characteristics on sociability are well established, the
determinants of sociable behavior within real-life social interactions are
understudied. Moreover, although such effects are often hypothesized, there
is to date little evidence of person-situation interaction effects.
Finally, previous research focused on self-reported behavior ratings, and
less is known on the partner’s social perspective, i.e. how partners
perceive and influence an actor’s behavior. In the current research we
investigated predictors of sociable behavior in real-life social
interactions across social perspectives, including person and situation
main effects as well as person-situation interaction effects. In two
experience-sampling studies (Study 1: *N* = 394, US, time-based; Study 2:
*N* = 124, Germany, event-based), we assessed personality traits with self-
and informant reports, self-reported sociable behavior during real-life
social interaction, and corresponding information on the situation
(dimensional ratings of situation characteristics and categorical situation
classifications). In Study 2, we additionally assessed interaction
partner-reported behavior. Multilevel analyses provided consistent evidence
for main effects of personality and situation features, and for
person-situation interaction effects. First, extraverts acted more sociable
in general. Second, individuals behaved more sociable in
hedonic/positive/low-duty situations (vs. eudaimonic/negative/high-duty
situations). Third, the latter was particularly true for extraverts.
Further specific interaction effects were found for the other social
perspectives. These results are discussed regarding the complex interplay
of persons and situations in shaping human behavior.