Contemporary research shows how personality can be understood by examining interactions between persons and the contexts in which they live

Contemporary research shows how personality can be understood by examining interactions between persons and the contexts in which they live. The fi rst example of this general point involved interpersonal relations, which in the context of romantic relationships was seen to elicit negative, pessimistic, and ultimately selfdefeating thoughts among a group of people with the personality characteristic of rejection sensitivity. Other research showed how people may transfer thoughts and feelings from a past relationship onto a new relationship partner.