FIRO-B

Fundamental Interpersonal Relations

Orientation – Behavior

A Theory of Interpersonal
Orientation

A Sample of Personal &

Interpersonal Problems
• Lack of satisfaction in membership
• Feeling demotivated
• Communication Problems
• Indiscriminate Opposition
• Problems in Group Functioning
• Difficulty in reaching decisions
• Inefficient division of labor
• Presence of problem members

1
Three Basic Needs

INCLUSION

CONTROL

AFFECTION

I - Inclusion

General Social Orientation or Social need

• the interpersonal need to belong and to establish
and maintain satisfactory relationships with
people in general, i.e. at the level of association or
acquaintance.
• degree to which one associates with others
• need for interaction or belongingness
Energy on GAINING AND OFFERING MEMBERSHIP

2
 C - Control
Leadership Inclination or Positional need

• level of one’s need for power and influence in

dealing satisfactorily with others.
• tendency to make decisions and take
responsibility while relating with others.
• extent to which one assumes responsibility,
makes decisions, or dominates people
Energy on TASK

A - Affection
Depth Relationships or Personal need

• An individual’s tendency to enter into Depth

Relationships with others, on a one-to one basis.
• A person’s need for love and for close, intimate
relationship with others.
• Degree to which one becomes emotionally
involved with others
Energy on RELATIONSHIPS

3
 Three Basic Needs: Two Dimensions

Expressed = Self to Others behaviour

• Manifest, overt, observable behavior
• The extent to which one takes the initiative

Wanted = Other to Self behaviour

• what the person wants from other people
• Preference for others to take initiative

What a person seeks is less directly observable but it is

valuable information in understanding and predicting
his/her behavior

Range of scores
Score Comment
Extremely
0-1 a somewhat compulsive quality to behaviour
low score

2-3 Low score behaviour is noticeably characteristic

Medium or whether behaviour tends towards that of low or

4–5 borderline high scores is often indicated by other scores
score in the overall profile

6-7 High score behaviour is noticeably characteristic.

Extremely
8-9 a somewhat compulsive quality to behaviour.
high score

4
 INCLUSION
General Social Orientation
0-1 E “LONER”
0-1 W Most comfortable when left alone

4-5 E “THE EXCLUSIVE CLUB”

0-1 W Prefers a select circle of friends

8-9 E Enjoys company of many friends just as

0-1 W long as there is time for him/her

8-9 E Seems driven toward people.

Maybe a defensive behavior to protect
8-9 W against rejection

CONTROL
Leadership, taking or avoiding decision and responsibilities

8-9 E Takes upon oneself many responsibilities.

Drawn towards dependent people. Style is
influenced by stance in the inclusion and
0-1 W affection areas.

0-1 E Dependent, avoids responsibility, wants others

to make decisions
8-9 W

0-1 E “THE LOYAL LIEUTENANT”

Good middle-(wo)man.
6-7 W Needs specific instructions.

5
 CONTROL
Leadership, taking or avoiding decision and responsibilities

0-1 E “THE CHECKER”

Wants reassurance, wants to compare his/her
4-5 W thinking with others; will ascertain support

4-5 E “THE MATCHER”

Prefers not to work alone, but to “match” own
4-5 W effort to others effort

0-1-2 E Likes neither to control, nor be controlled. The

person projects an impression of self-
0-1-2 W sufficiency and independence

AFFECTION
orientation towards one-to-one in depth relationships

0-1 E
Finds it difficult to get close to others
0-1 W

8-9 E No trouble initiating friendships, has strong

need for others to move closer
8-9 W

0-1 E “THE CAUTIOUS LOVER”

Often waits for others to initiate intimacy
8-9 W

8-9 E “The MASK OF INTIMACY”

Seems to be warm and friendly but wants very
0-1 W few friends

6
Selected FIRO-B Profiles

I C A
0-1 0-1 0-1 E
0-1 0-1 0-1 W
“The ROCK”
Quite defensive. Stands alone and aloof. Somehow
managing to protect oneself.

I C A
8-9 8-9 8-9 E
8-9 8-9 8-9 W
“The BALL OF FIRE”
Outgoing, sociable. Has hard time saying no. Capable
of taking large amounts of responsibility

Selected FIRO-B Profiles

I C A
8-9 8-9 8-9 E
0-1 0-1 0-1 W
Sociable, outgoing, seemingly. Tries to manipulate &
control others. Resists others taking initiative.
Relationships are a one-way street - always under one’s
control.

I C A
0-1 0-1 0-1 E
8-9 8-9 8-9 W
Very frustrated. Makes great demands on others
unconsciously

7
 Incongruence between people
I C A I C A
e H e L
w H w L

WIFE HUSBAND
“Why don’t we ask people home?”

I C A I C A
e H e L
w H w H

WIFE HUSBAND
“Do you still care for me?”

Incongruence between people

I C A I C A
e L e L
w H w L

SUBORDINATE SUPERVISOR
“We are ready to go, tell us what you want us to do”
“Look at the situation and do whatever you think is best”

I C A I C A
e H e H
w L w L

SUBORDINATE SUPERVISOR

“Let us do it our way, and we’ll give you excellent results.”

“You will do things the way I tell you to do them.”