The Regulation of Social Interaction in Everyday Life: A Replication and Extension of O’Connor and Rosenblood (1996)

Abstract

The present investigation replicates O’Connor and Rosenblood’s (1996) experience sampling study of the homeostatic regulation of social interaction, and addresses the statistical limitations of the original study. Using community (N = 62) and student (N = 54) samples, multilevel model results indicated that desire to be alone reduces future likelihood of social interaction (n = 2,747), which replicates the original study’s findings. Results suggest that social interaction is regulated within each day; yesterday’s desire for contact is unassociated with today’s interaction frequency. Individuals’ optimal social interaction state changed from no-contact desired to contact desired over the day, but results did not support the original study’s claim regarding social satiation. Future directions for the study of social interaction regulation are discussed.