Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation
Behavior (FIRO-B)
FIRO-B
By Will Schutz
- 1950s to predict how military personnel would work together in
groups
- most widely used instruments in the world to help individuals
understand their interaction approaches
Session4 - Used primarily to look at group dynamics and leadership in
organizations
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FIRO-B FIRO-B
• An instrument for emotional intelligence • What it does:
awareness •Aids in understanding one’s behavior and its
effect on others
• Self-Awareness
•Increases your awareness of your natural
• Communication strengths and weaknesses
•Suggests possibilities for improving the way you
• Building Relationships
relate to others
• Conflict Management
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Individual is Motivated by THREE
Interpersonal Needs
Inclusion: the amount of belonging, attention,
and recognition desired in social settings.
Control: the level of influence, structure, and
responsibility desired.
Affection: the level of rapport, warmth, and
support desired.
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Two dimensions Measured for Each Need
Group Development
Expressed Wanted Inclusion Issues
• Preference for • Preference for
initiating behavior. having others
• What you actually initiate.
do. • What you really Control Issues
• Can be observed want.
by others • May not be shown Affection Issues
openly
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Group Development
What it means
• Expressed
• I make an effort to include others in my activities. I try to participate, join
social groups, be with people
Should I go for Inclusion • Wanted
a boat ride? • I want others to invite me to belong.
• I enjoy it when others notice me
• Expressed
• I try to exert control and influence over things. I enjoy organising things
Control and directing others
• Wanted
• I feel most comfortable working in well defined situations. I need clear
expectations and instructions
Who is running the motor?
• Expressed
What is my relationship • I make an effort to get close to people. I am comfortable expressing
to others on the boat? Affection personal feelings and I try to be supportive of others
• Wanted
Self-Awareness • I want others to act warmly towards me. I enjoy it when people share their
feelings with me and when they encourage my efforts
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Characteristics associated with the 3 needs
Inclusion Control Affection
eI eC eA
Expresse
d
Behavior
• what I prefer to do
• how much I initiate
• observable action
wI wC wA
Wanted
Behavior
•how much I want
others to initiate
• how much I prefer
to be the recipient
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FIRO-B Individual Cell Scores: View Your
Personal Cell Scores
eI eC eA
expressed expressed expressed
inclusion control affection
wI wC wA
wanted wanted wanted
inclusion control affection
• 0, 1, 2 LOW Behaviors are rarely displayed by you
• 3, 4, 5, 6 MEDIUM Behaviors will be a noticeable characteristic
• of you, but only some of the time
• 7, 8, 9 HIGH Behaviors are a noticeable characteristic of
you in most situations
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Strength of Your Interpersonal Needs: Total Behavior: Wanted/Expressed
Total Need Total Need Total Need
for Inclusion for Control for Affection
0 to 7 (Low)
Low = 0 to 5 Medium = 6 to 12 High = 13 to 18
Highest Score
◼ Most comfortable interpersonal area 8 to 19 (Medium)
◼ Need area you will be the least willing to sacrifice in social situations
◼ Situations that satisfy this need will be those you return to often
20 to 27 High
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Strength of Your Interpersonal Needs:
Overall Need Score
Total Behavior
Expressed Needs > Wanted Needs See Bottom Right-Hand Corner
• keep others at a distance to avoid unwanted behaviors
• only accept behaviors from particular people
• mislead people making conclusions based on expressed behavior 0-15 LOW Involvement
with others not primary source of need
Expressed Needs < Wanted Needs satisfaction. Intellectual stimulation or solitary pursuits
• may feel inhibited predominate.
• may be dissatisfied that you are not getting what you want 16-26 MEDIUM-LOW
• could grow attached to people who give you what you want Involvement sometimes a source of satisfaction,
depending on people and context.
Expressed = Wanted 27-38 MEDIUM-HIGH Involvement is
• may be cautious usually source of satisfaction.
39-54 HIGH Involvement
with others enjoyable and satisfying.
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Total Behavior: Expressed
Inclusion Control Affection
Expresse 0 to 7 (Low)
eI eC eA
17
d 7 8 2
Wanted
8 to 19 (Medium)
wI wC wA
15
5 6 4
20 to 27 High
12 14 6 32
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How you may feel
How you may feel How you feel
Inclusion Inclusion
High Wanted Inclusion Low Wanted Inclusion
1. May take rejection as devastating. 1. May feel invitations are obligations.
2. May think being away is missing the 2. May not want to be singled out.
action.
3. May consider group time wasteful.
3. May take lack of acknowledgment as
negative
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How you may feel How you may feel
How Others May See You How Others May See You
Affection Affection
High Wanted Affection Low Wanted Affection
1. May find a lack of concern as 1. May find reassurances as superficial
insensitive
2. May become offended by personal
2. May need continuous feedback. questions.
3. May find distance from others a 3. May find emotions as distracting -
personal loss. even your own.
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How you may feel How you may feel
How Others May See You
Control Control
High Wanted Control Low Wanted Control
1. May perceive any structuring as 1. May not want any control.
inadequate
2. May feel pressured by plans and
2. May consider standard procedures as stressed by structure.
important
3. May find competitive behavior
3. May take sole responsibility as annoying.
burdensome
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Reciprocal Incompatibility Interpersonally compatible groups
Manager’s e- Subordinates w + Subordinates e- Manager’s w
Manager
Inclusion Control Affection • more interpersonal comfort among
Expressed
Wanted
9
8
9
4
1
4
members
Subordinate • more positive group climate, less
Inclusion Control Affection hostility
Expressed
Wanted
3
2
8
2
6
8
• more productivity, fewer errors
• faster problem solving
9 - 2 + 3 - 8 = 12
Any score higher than (6) has been interpreted to imply that there
is a strong possibility of incompatibility between individuals
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