The interpersonal circle or interpersonal circumplex is a model for conceptualizing, organizing, and assessing interpersonal behavior, traits, and motives. The interpersonal circumplex is defined by two orthogonal axes: a vertical axis (of status, dominance, power, ambitiousness, assertiveness, or control) and a horizontal axis (of agreeableness, compassion, nurturant, solidarity, friendliness, warmth, affiliation or love). In recent years, it has become conventional to identify the vertical and horizontal axes with the broad constructs of agency and communion. Thus, each point in the interpersonal circumplex space can be specified as a weighted combination of agency and communion.
Character traits Placing a person near one of the poles of the axes implies that the person tends to convey clear or strong messages (of warmth, hostility, dominance or submissiveness). Conversely, placing a person at the midpoint of the agentic dimension implies the person conveys neither dominance nor submissiveness (and pulls neither dominance nor submissiveness from others). Likewise, placing a person at the midpoint of the communal dimension implies the person conveys neither warmth nor hostility (and pulls neither warmth nor hostility from others). The interpersonal circumplex can be divided into broad segments (such as fourths) or narrow segments (such as sixteenths), but currently most interpersonal circumplex inventories partition the circle into eight octants. As one moves around the circle, each octant reflects a progressive blend of the two axial dimensions. There exist a variety of psychological tests designed to measure these eight interpersonal circumplex octants. For example, the Interpersonal Adjective Scales (IAS; Wiggins, 1995) is a measure of interpersonal traits associated with each octant of the interpersonal circumplex. The Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP; Horowitz, Alden, Wiggins, & Pincus, 2000) is a measure of problems associated with each octant of the interpersonal circumplex, whereas the Inventory of Interpersonal Strengths (IIS; Hatcher & Rogers, 2009) is a measure of strengths associated with each octant. The Circumplex Scales of Interpersonal Values (CSIV; Locke, 2000) is a 64-item measure of the value individuals place on interpersonal experiences associated with each octant of the interpersonal circumplex. The Person's Relating to Others Questionnaire (PROQ), the latest version being the PROQ3 is a 48-item measure developed by the British doctor John Birtchnell. Finally, the Impact Message Inventory-Circumplex (IMI; Kiesler, Schmidt, & Wagner, 1997) assesses the interpersonal dispositions of a target person, not by asking the target person directly, but by assessing the feelings, thoughts, and behaviors that the target evokes in another person. Since interpersonal dispositions are key features of most personality disorders, interpersonal circumplex measures can be useful tools for identifying or differentiating personality disorders (Kiesler, 1996; Leary, 1957; Locke, 2006).
Applications to rapport Birtchnell argued that each end of the two axes of the interpersonal circumplex can be manifested as either positive and adaptive interpersonal behaviour or as negative and maladaptive interpersonal behaviour. Working in psychotherapy, he explored whether negative/maladaptive behaviour could be reduced over time through therapy. Laurence Alison, Emily Alison and colleagues have applied the same principle to interrogative interviewing and linked it to the notion of rapport. They propose that when interviewing terrorist suspects, interviewers who use positive/adaptive behaviours in a versatile manner will foster greater rapport with their suspects and will in turn be able to elicit enhanced information intelligence and evidence from them. They developed the ORBIT (Observing Rapport-Based Interpersonal Techniques) coding system to measure this. Alison and Alison have also applied the interpersonal circumplex, with its adaptive and maladaptive traits, to building rapport in everyday interaction, such as between parents and children and between work colleagues. They call the circumplex the Animal Circle and use animals to represent the ends of the two axes: Good/bad Lion = High control; Good/bad Mouse = Low control; Good/bad Monkey = High agreeableness; Good/bad T-Rex = Low agreeableness. Again, they argue for the importance of adaptive behaviour and of versatility in moving along and across the two axes in order to build and maintain rapport. Helen Spencer-Oatey and her colleagues have applied the same principles to leadership. They call the interpersonal circumplex the Interaction Compass, arguing that it is helpful for guiding leadership behaviour in contexts of global diversity, where versatility and flexing are crucial for maintaining positive relationships with subordinates. Spencer-Oatey and Lazidou also apply it to a range of workplace relationships and issues in their TRIPS rapport management model. TRIPS is an acronym, with T standing for Triggers – sensitivities that can enhance or undermine rapport. The two axes of the interpersonal circumplex are identified as two of the rapport Triggers.
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