About this assessment

FIRO-B Interpersonal Needs Assessment

36 questions5 min

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What Is the FIRO-B test?

FIRO-B (Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation, Behavior) was developed by psychologist Will Schutz in 1958 and remains one of the most widely used interpersonal assessments in organizations and counseling. It measures how you behave toward others and what you want from them across three core dimensions: inclusion, control, and affection.

Each dimension has two scores: Expressed (how much you initiate that behavior toward others) and Wanted (how much you want others to direct that behavior toward you). This 6-score profile reveals your interpersonal style at a level of nuance that most personality tests cannot capture.

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JobCannon's 36-question FIRO-B assessment produces your full six-score interpersonal profile and translates it into concrete insights about your team dynamics, leadership style, communication preferences, and relationship patterns in professional settings.

What You'll Discover

Your six FIRO-B scores across expressed and wanted inclusion, control, and affection

How much social involvement you initiate and desire from others

Your natural approach to authority, decision-making, and being led

Your openness to close personal connection and emotional warmth

How your interpersonal needs shape your team and leadership behavior

Where mismatches between expressed and wanted needs create friction

What a Question Looks Like

Question 1 of 36

I invite colleagues to join meetings and conversations, even when it is not required.

35 more after this · 5 min totalAnswer this one

How It Works

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36 questions, 5 min. Auto-advance — no manual Next.
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Frequently Asked Questions

What does FIRO-B measure?

FIRO-B measures three interpersonal needs, Inclusion (belonging and significance), Control (influence and structure), and Affection (closeness and personal connection), each split into Expressed (what you give) and Wanted (what you seek). The result is six scores that map your interpersonal behavior pattern.

How is FIRO-B used in organizations?

Organizations use FIRO-B for team building, leadership development, and conflict resolution. It helps team members understand why certain dynamics create tension and how to adapt communication and collaboration styles to meet each other's core interpersonal needs.

What is the difference between Expressed and Wanted scores?

Expressed scores show how much you actively initiate a behavior toward others. Wanted scores show how much you want others to direct that behavior toward you. A high Expressed-Control, low Wanted-Control profile, for example, describes someone who likes leading but dislikes being closely managed.

Is FIRO-B scientifically validated?

Yes. FIRO-B has been studied since the 1950s and shows acceptable reliability and validity for measuring interpersonal behavior in workplace settings. It is used alongside the MBTI by many organizational psychologists and executive coaches.

Is this the official FIRO-B instrument?

No. JobCannon's assessment is an educational tool built on Will Schutz's three-dimensional inclusion-control-affection framework, not the licensed, professionally administered FIRO-B published by The Myers-Briggs Company. We use the same well-documented model to give you a structured self-reflection on your interpersonal needs — but for a certified report or a hiring decision you'd want the official instrument administered by a qualified practitioner.

Can my FIRO-B scores change over time?

Your underlying interpersonal tendencies are fairly stable, but the Expressed and Wanted scores reflect how you currently behave and what you currently want — both of which can shift with life stage, role, and the relationships around you. Someone who wanted little control early in a career may want far more after moving into leadership. Treat your profile as a current snapshot, not a permanent label.

How does FIRO-B compare to DISC or MBTI?

They answer different questions. DISC describes your observable behavioral style; MBTI describes how you prefer to take in information and decide. FIRO-B focuses specifically on interpersonal needs — what you give and want in terms of inclusion, control, and affection. Many people find FIRO-B explains relationship friction that a style or type framework leaves unexplained.

FIRO-B