Interpersonal Communication Motives – ICM
Measures the motives and reasons why individuals choose to engage in interpersonal communication.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Interpersonal Communication Motives – ICM was developed by Rebecca B. Rubin, Elizabeth M. Perse, & Carole A. Barbato (1988). It is designed to measure Interpersonal Communication Motives. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 28 items organized into 6 factors/subscales: Pleasure, Affection, Inclusion, Escape, Relaxation, Control.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Pleasure | 1,5,6,11,13,16,17,25 | 8 |
| Affection | 3,20,22,24,26 | 5 |
| Inclusion | 2,7,18,23 | 4 |
| Escape | 14,15,19,21 | 4 |
| Relaxation | 8,9,27,28 | 4 |
| Control | 4,10,12 | 3 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Not at all, 2 = Not much, 3 = Somewhat, 4 = A lot, 5 = Exactly.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Pleasure (α = .97), Affection (α = .91), Inclusion (α = .91), Escape (α = .85), Relaxation (α = .96), Control (α = .81).
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 8 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.