Abstract

Côté and Moskowitz model dynamic covariation — how neuroticism, extraversion, and agreeableness predict how interpersonal behaviour and affect move together across moments.

Côté, S., & Moskowitz, D. S. (1998). Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75(4), 1032–1046. DOI

Key findings

  • Trait-affect coupling — Traits forecast how behaviour and mood co-move in social episodes, not only average mood.
  • Extraversion warmth — Extraversion predicts warmer, more assertive interpersonal strokes alongside affect.
  • Agreeableness niceness — Agreeableness ties to compliant, pleasing behaviour-affect patterns.
  • Neuroticism volatility — Neuroticism amplifies negative affect covariation with interpersonal stress.

Limits

Correlational diary-style evidence — traits are population patterns, not individual fate.

Application

When people-pleasing drains you — agreeableness may co-vary with affect in ways that reward compliance over honesty. See People-pleasing.