THE INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF SELF-MONITORING FACTORS, PERSONALITY TRAITS, AND NONVERBAL SOCIAL SKILLS Ronald E. Riggio Howard S. Friedman ABSTRACT: Following recent developments concerning individual dif- ferences in nonverbal social skills, the present study examined the inter- relationships of several standardized measures of nonverbal skills and personality. Particular attention was given to the concept of self- monitoring, thought to be a skill central to social interaction. Based on previous research which suggested that self-monitoring, as measured by the Self-Monitoring Scale (SMS), is a multidimensional construct, it was hypothesized that self-monitoring may actually be comprised of a number of more basic social skills. Correlations between standardized measures of basic social skills and three factors obtained from factor analysis of the SMS [Briggs, Cheek, & Buss, 1980) supported this concep- tion. The elements of self-monitoring appear to be "charisma," "perfor- mance," and "social sensitivity." An important recent shift in research attention has been to the concept of individual differences in nonverbal social skills--the idea that people differ in their abilities to function in social situa- tions (see Friedman, 1979). Success in social interaction usually re- quires that the individual be able to "read" the demands of the particular social situation, monitor, and control (or disguise) inap- propriate information or feelings, and usually express oneself in a positive and socially approved manner. Together, these skills have been termed "self-monitoring" (Snyder, 1974). This research was supported by NIMH Grant #RO3MH31453 and intramural research grants from UC Riverside to the second author [HS.F.). We would like to thank Keith Widaman, Judith A. Hall, and Louise Prince. Requests for reprints should be sent to: Ronald E. Riggio, Department of Psychology, California State University, Fullerton, CA 92634. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior 7(1), Fall, 1982 0191-5886/82/1500-0033502.75 © 1982 Human Sciences Press 33