People-Watching as an Art for Authors - Pt.1

As a social being, every man belongs to various groups within which he plays a variety of roles: husband, father, professional, neighbor, host, commuter, etc. Different roles elicit different behavior, in some cases only slightly different and in others, radically different. The stressfulness of the role and the person's adaptive responses to the demands of the role are apt to reveal strengths and weaknesses in his character.

The social situations in which observations are made not only vary, they are also largely uncontrolled by the observer. Except in a limited fashion, the observer is unable to structure the environment in order to elicit and observe particular characteristics of the target personality. Most of his data will be inferential, based on bits and pieces of observation, verbal and non-verbal, derived from situations in which he encounters the target. He must make maximum use, therefore of his opportunities.

In addition to the disadvantages inherent in lack of control over the environment, the observer usually has the additional burden of being an active participant in the situation. He is not privileged to be an outside observer, as a journalist might be, for example, but a participant observer who must interact and yet remain sufficiently detached and objective to make reliable observations. In short, he must feign complete involvement without surrendering his ability to record accurately the actions and reactions of the key personality. This pseudo involvement is likely to become even more difficult to sustain with increased contact between observer and target, especially if a genuinely warm and friendly relationship develops. The observer must be prepared for such an eventuality and must be assured that accurate, objective reporting is possible under these circumstances.

The observer should begin his assessment of a target's behavior by first noting the nature of the social situations in which the target is encountered and the target's roles in various groups. Is he the leader or a follower? Is he rejecting or the rejected? Do others listen when he talks? Does he change his demeanor as he moves from one group to another?

The observer must also be aware of his own impact on a group. Does his presence inhibit or facilitate conversation, or is it essentially neutral? Are people guarded when he enters, or do they seem comfortable and at ease?

Coming in Part Two: First Impressions