Towards Understanding the Dynamic Interplay of Personality, Social Interactions, and Well-Being in Daily Life

• Applicant: Dr. Eva Bleckmann
• Subject Area: Personality Psychology, Clinical and Medical Psychology, Methodology
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 571928805

Having fulfilling social interactions is fundamental to the people’s well-being. However, although social needs are universal, people differ considerably in how much well-being they derive from social interactions, how different types of social interactions influence their well-being in everyday life, and how these patterns vary both between individuals and within the same person across time and situations. In recent decades, studies using the Experience Sampling Method (ESM) have emphasized the importance of the dynamic interplay between personality and social interaction traits in everyday life and have provided insights into how individuals navigate daily social interactions and derive well-being from them. Despite significant progress through ESM studies, critical gaps in the understanding of these dynamic relationships remain. Empirical challenges arise, for example, from different conceptualizations of dynamics and different time frames used to study them. Methodological challenges include the measurement of momentary personality and social interaction characteristics as well as the modeling of complex dynamics over time. Overall, despite the availability of extensive ESM datasets, there is a lack of both conceptual and methodological consistency in research on the dynamic interplay of personality, social interactions, and well-being.To address these challenges, our network brings together 10 early-career experts in personality processes, social dynamics, well-being, and statistical modeling for ESM data, focusing on two main objectives: First, the network aims to systematically integrate existing ESM data to test, refine, and advance knowledge on within-person dynamics of personality and social interactions and their impact on well-being. Second, our goal is to develop a comprehensive methodological toolbox for studying the dynamic interplay of personality and social interactions and their effect on well-being. By pursuing these two overarching goals, the network aims to deliver three main outcomes: (1) scientific publications in the form of systematic reviews and empirical work to integrate and extend the current state of knowledge on personality-context interactions, dynamic personality processes, and well-being; (2) methodological recommendations for item selection in ESM studies and reproducible statistical code provided in publications and workshops; and (3) the empowerment of young researchers by fostering exchange and collaboration, resulting in the joint preparation of ensuing research proposals.

• DFG Programme: Scientific Networks
• Co-Investigator: Dr. Lara Kröncke