Fundamental Interpersonal Relationship Orientation – Behavior (FIRO-B)
Measures interpersonal needs across three dimensions (Inclusion, Control, and Affection) and two behavioral directions (Expressed and Wanted).
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Fundamental Interpersonal Relationship Orientation – Behavior (FIRO-B) was developed by William Schutz (1978). It is designed to measure Interpersonal Needs. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 54 items organized into 6 factors/subscales: Expressed Inclusion, Wanted Inclusion, Expressed Control, Wanted Control, Expressed Affection, Wanted Affection.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Expressed Inclusion | 1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,16 | 9 |
| Wanted Inclusion | 28,31,34,37,39,42,45,48,51 | 9 |
| Expressed Control | 30,33,36,41,44,47,50,53,54 | 9 |
| Wanted Control | 2,6,10,14,18,20,22,24,26 | 9 |
| Expressed Affection | 4,8,12,17,19,21,23,25,27 | 9 |
| Wanted Affection | 29,32,35,38,40,43,46,49,52 | 9 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 (Scale A) = Never (Items 1-16, 41-54), 2 (Scale A) = Rarely (Items 1-16, 41-54), 3 (Scale A) = Occasionally (Items 1-16, 41-54), 4 (Scale A) = Sometimes (Items 1-16, 41-54), 5 (Scale A) = Often (Items 1-16, 41-54), 6 (Scale A) = Usually (Items 1-16, 41-54), 1 (Scale B) = Nobody (Items 17-40), 2 (Scale B) = One or Two People (Items 17-40), 3 (Scale B) = A Few People (Items 17-40), 4 (Scale B) = Some People (Items 17-40), 5 (Scale B) = Many People (Items 17-40), 6 (Scale B) = Most People (Items 17-40).
The scale includes 6 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 9. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Need / Expression: 0 – 2
- Medium Need / Expression: 3 – 6
- High Need / Expression: 7 – 9
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Mean reproducibility coefficient of 0.94.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.