FIRO-B

Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation Behavior

History
1958 Will Schutz, Ph.D.
Submarine Personnel

1978

Consulting Psychologists Press Revised Self-Scorable

1996

Self-Awareness = Key
Personal/Professional Development Employee/Management Relations Career Development Team Building Leadership Development Emotional Intelligence

Goodness of Fit
The FIRO-B can help to determine how good one fits in various situations and work environments and with various people

Theory
Beyond our survival needs (food, safety, warmth, shelter) we have unique interpersonal needs that motivate us We become uncomfortable and anxious when our set point is not being met Schutz identified three needs (inclusion, control, and affection), and two levels (expressed and wanted) The Six-Cell Model

The Six-Cell Model

Three Interpersonal Needs
INCLUSION (I) CONTROL (C) AFFECTION (A)

Expresse d Needs

Expressed Inclusion (eI) Wanted Inclusion (wI)

Expressed Expressed Control (eC) Affection (eA) Wanted Control (wC) Wanted Affection (wA)

Wanted Needs

Interpersonal Need One: Inclusion

Relates to forming new relations and associating with others in your life How much attention, recognition, and contact you seek from others Your relationships with groups, both small and large

Interpersonal Need Two: Control

Relates to decision-making, influence and responsibility, and persuasion The extent of power or dominance a person seeks How much you want to lead others or want others to lead and influence you Refers to one-on-one relationships and your behavior in groups

Interpersonal Need Three: Affection

Relates to emotional ties and warm connections between people The extent of closeness that a person seeks Your need to establish comfortable, warm one-on-one relationships with others

Characteristics Associated with the Three Needs

Inclusion Association Interaction Distinction Prominence Attention Participation Involvement Contact Belonging Power Authority Influence Responsibility Leadership Consistency Decisiveness Dominance Competitiveness Control Affection Being personal Closeness Openness Supportiveness Being Affirmed Warmth Empathy Encouragement Appreciativeness

Two dimensions Measured for Each Need

Expressed
Preference for initiating behavior What you actually do Can be observed by others

Wanted
Preference for having others initiate What you really want May not be shown openly

Your FIRO-B Results: How to Score the Self-Scorable

Inclusion
recognition belonging participation

Control
influence leading responsibility

Affection
closeness warmth sensitivity

Expressed Behavior
what I prefer to do how much I initiate observable action

eI wI
TOTAL INCLUSION

eC wC
TOTAL CONTROL

eA wA
TOTAL AFFECTION

TOTAL EXPRESSED

eI+eC+eA
TOTAL WANTED

Wanted Behavior
how much I want others to initiate how much I prefer to be the recipient

wI+wC+wA
OVERALL

eI+wI

eC+wC

eA+wA

expressed + wanted

How Others May See You

Inclusion High Wanted Inclusion 1. May take rejection as devastating. 2. May think being away is missing the action. 3. May take lack of acknowledgment as negative

How Others May See You

Inclusion Low Wanted Inclusion 1. May feel invitations are obligations. 2. May not want to be singled out. 3. May consider group time wasteful.

How Others May See You

Affection High Wanted Affection 1. May find a lack of concern as insensitive 2. May need continuous feedback. 3. May find distance from others a personal loss.

How Others May See You

Affection Low Wanted Affection 1. May find reassurances as superficial 2. May become offended by personal questions. 3. May find emotions as distracting even your own.

How Others May See You

Control High Wanted Control 1. May perceive any structuring as inadequate 2. May consider standard procedures as important 3. May take sole responsibility as burdensome

How Others May See You

Control Low Wanted Control 1. May not want any control. 2. May feel pressured by plans and stressed by structure. 3. May find competitive behavior annoying.

The FIRO B Analysis:

Low (Range 0-3) Average (Range 4-6)
Flexible, Comfortable Flexible, Comfortable Democrat Democrat Genuinely affectionate Genuinely affectionate

High (Range 7-9)

Over social Over social Dominant, Compulsive Over dependent Over social, Emotional

Expressed Inclusion Wanted Expressed Control Wanted Expressed Affection Wanted

Exclusive, Select Lonely, Under social Abdicate, Non-assertive Inflexible, Rigid Impersonal, Under social Keeps distance, Under personal

Over personal