Session 9

Interpersonal
Relationship
FIRO-B by William Schutz, 1960, USA
 Interpersonal Relationship
“Interpersonal Relationships” are;
• Social Associations,
• Connections, or
• Affiliations between two or more people

Our relationship with our;

• Friend, Colleague Supervisor, Manager, or Customer

We like to either;
• Establish, Maintain and/or Renew
“A close/distant, cool/formal, affectionate/cold relationship”
 FIRO-B
 Fundamental Interpersonal Relationship Orientation –
Behavior.
 FIRO-B can be defined as the way in which an
individual behaviorally relates to other people.
 The interpersonal behaviour (interaction) happens for;
 Inclusion (I)
 Control (C)
 Affection (A)

 FIRO-B analyses the above on the below dimensions;

 The behaviour which is expressed to others (E)
 The behaviour which is wanted from others (W)
Inclusion (I)
 Behaviour directed to satisfy
interpersonal need of inclusion.
 e.g., Talking to people, Being attentive,
Giving importance, Showing interest.

Control (C)
 Behaviour directed to satisfy the
need of control such as power /
authority.
 e.g., Deciding, Dominating, Directing,
Influencing, Leading.

Affection (A)
 Behaviour directed to satisfy
interpersonal need for affection
and love.
 e.g., Sharing one’s inner anxieties,
love, care, wishes and feelings.
 (I) Inclusion is concerned with – IN or OUT
 (C) Control is concerned with – UP or DOWN
 (A) Affection is concerned with – CLOSE or FAR

 Expressed Behaviour (E)

 (Actions taken by a person towards others)
 Wanted Behaviour (W)
 (Required behaviour from other people that a person
feels will satisfy an interpersonal need.

Instrument follows…
 Scoring
0-1 are very low scores; the behavior described will be
hardly ever noticed.

2-3 are low scores; the behavior described will not be

noticeable characteristic of the person.

4-5 are borderline scores; although not extreme, the

person may display a tendency toward the behavior
described for the lower (4) or higher (5) scores.

6-7 are high scores; the behavior will be noticeable

characteristic of the person.

8-9 are very high scores; the behavior will be strongly

characteristic of the person.
Build and Maintain Effective Relationships
A Person with matches with a person with
High Expressed In High Wanted In
Low Expressed In Low Wanted In
High Expressed Co High Wanted Co
Low Expressed Co Low Wanted Co
High Expressed Aff High Wanted Aff
Low Expressed Aff Low Wanted Aff

Rarely Relationships Match in these cases;

A Person with matched with a person with
High Expressed In Low Wanted In
Low Expressed In High Wanted In
High Expressed Co Low Wanted Co
Low Expressed Co High Wanted Co
High Expressed Aff Low Wanted Aff
Low Expressed Aff High Wanted Aff
 Implications in
Interpersonal Relationship Needs
Inclusion Control Affection

Expressed Expressed Expressed Expressed

Inclusion Control Affection

Wanted Wanted Wanted Wanted

Inclusion Control Affection

Too Much of I, C, A

Too Little of I, C, & A

Ideal or Moderate of I, C, & A

Implications in Interpersonal Relationship Needs

The DILEMMA The ANXIETY

Am I In or Out? I may not be important
Am I Up or Down? I may not be competent
Am I Close or Far? I may not be likable

The SOLUTION
Work on ARENA
Look for the right FIT (“In” & “Out” Mapping)
Once you know, BALANCE I, C, & A