Riverside Situational Q-sort

Version 2.0

1. Someone is trying to impress someone or convince someone of something.

2. P is counted on to do something.

3. Talking is permitted, invited, or conventionally expected.

4. P is asked for something, or someone is in need.

5. Minor details in a task or situation might be important to some.

6. Situation evokes values concerning lifestyles or politics.

7. Affords an opportunity to demonstrate intellectual capacity (e.g., an intellectual discussion, a problem needs to be solved).

8. Situation is uncertain or complex.

9. Situation is potentially enjoyable.

10. Another person [present or discussed] is under threat.

11. P is being criticized, directly or indirectly.

12. P is being insulted, directly or implicitly.

13. Someone might potentially or is attempting to dominate or “boss” P.

14. Situation is playful.

15. Affords an opportunity for introspection (e.g., reflection upon deeply personal issues).

16. Someone [present or discussed] is unhappy or suffering.

17. Affords an opportunity to seek reassurance (e.g., situation might undermine P’s confidence, or a potentially reassuring other is present).

18. Activities might potentially proceed at a slow or fast pace.

19. P might need or appear to need the support and nurturance of others.

20. P might potentially be blamed for something.

21. A decision might be made on rational or irrational grounds.

22. Self-restraint is desirable but difficult.

23. A job needs to be done.

24. Situation involves competition.

25. Affords an opportunity to do things that might make P liked or accepted.

26. Others are present who might need or desire advice and reassurance.

27. Situation entails frustration and adversity.

28. Physical attractiveness (of P) is salient.

29. P might make a positive or negative impression on others.

30. Context would make some people tense and upset.

31. Situation includes one or more small frustrations or annoyances.

32. Situation might evoke warmth or compassion.

33. A person or activity could be undermined or sabotaged.

34. Affords an opportunity to be honest or deceitful.

35. Situation may cause feelings of hostility.

36. Affords an opportunity to express unusual ideas or points of view.

37. Context is potentially threatening or fear-inducing (to P).

38. Situation raises moral or ethical issues (e.g., a moral dilemma is present; a discussion of morality).

39. The situation calls for a quick resolution or commitment to a particular course of action.

40. Situation allows a free range of emotional expression.

41. Others present might have conflicting or hidden motives.

42. Situation entails or could entail stress or trauma.

43. Affords an opportunity to ruminate, daydream or fantasize.

44. Situation has the potential to arouse guilt (in P).

45. Close personal relationships are present or have the potential to develop.

46. Situation raises issues of trust or mistrust.

47. Context includes intellectual or cognitive stimuli (e.g., books, lectures, intellectual conversation).

48. Assertiveness is required to accomplish a goal.

49. Context includes potential for immediate gratification of desires (e.g., food, shopping, sexual opportunities).

50. Social interaction is possible.

51. Situation is humorous or potentially humorous (if one finds that sort of thing funny).

52. P is the focus of attention.

53. Context includes sensuous stimuli (e.g., touch, taste, smell, physical contact).

54. Context is relevant to P’s bodily health (e.g., possibility of illness; a medical visit).

55. Success in this situation requires self-insight.

56. P controls resources needed by others.

57. Behavior of others presents a wide range of interpersonal cues.

58. Situation includes implicit or explicit behavioral limits (that might or might not be challenged).

59. Context includes aesthetic stimuli (e.g., art, music, drama, beauty).

60. Context is potentially anxiety-inducing.

61. Context includes explicit or implicit demands on P.

62. Affords an opportunity to express or demonstrate ambition.

63. Context raises issues of personal adequacy (e.g., includes demands or expectations that P might not be able to meet).

64. Context includes stimuli that could be construed sexually.

65. Situational demands are rapidly shifting.

66. Context has potential to arouse feelings of victimization or self-pity by P.

67. Members of the opposite sex are present (especially those who are potential romantic partners, at least hypothetically).

68. Context has potential to arouse internal conflicts and related anxiety (e.g., ambivalence, approach-avoidance, competing motivations).

69. Context is basically simple and clear-cut.

70. Affords an opportunity to express one’s charm.

71. Situation involves social comparison.

72. Context raises issues of power (for P or others present).

73. Affords an opportunity to express masculinity or femininity (depending on whether P is male or female, respectively).

74. Others may need or are requesting advice from P.

75. P’s independence and autonomy is questioned or threatened.

76. Context is potentially emotionally arousing.

77. Affords an opportunity for demonstrating verbal fluency (e.g., a debate, a monologue, an active conversation).

78. Others present occupy a variety of social roles or levels of status.

79. P is being pressured to conform to the actions of others.

80. Success requires cooperation.

81. P is being complimented or praised.