Diachronic Universals in Interpersonal Structures: Evidence from Literary Sources

Factor analyses of frequencies of social interaction in literary material from different historical periods were used to explore the possibility that affiliation, dominance, and intimacy are universal dimensions of interpersonal relations. The findings suggest that the first two dimensions have not undergone any major changes over the past 3,000 years. However, it is likely that the intimacy formality continuum has developed substantially through this period of time. Results are discussed in the context of a theoretical framework that views the fundamental features of social behavior as emerging over time in a systematic fashion.