Two studies examined subjects' estimates of how frequently they experience forms of awareness in dyadic interactions. Awareness forms varied on three dimensions-target (self or other), content (covert experience or overt appearance), and perspective used (that of self or that of other). Subjects indicated that they use the perspective of the other more often than their own only when it provides 'privileged" access to the relevant content of awareness-that is, when they think about the thoughts and feelings of the other or about their own appearance or behavior. People high in nurturance or intimacy strivings tend more to adopt the perspective of another to think about the covert experience of that individual, whereas people high in dominance or power strivings tend more to retain their own. Females, relative to males, show a tendency to use privileged awareness forms when thinking about the other.
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