IPIP Interpersonal Circumplex

Abstract

The IPIP Interpersonal Circumplex (IPIP-IPC) is a brief, 32-item self-report measure developed by Markey and Markey (2009) to assess core dimensions of interpersonal behavior, traits, and motives. It is derived from the larger International Personality Item Pool (IPIP) and is structured explicitly based on the two-dimensional model of the Interpersonal Circumplex (IPC).

The IPC organizes interpersonal phenomena around two primary, orthogonal axes: Agency (Dominance/Submission) and Communion (Love/Hate or Warmth/Coldness). The IPIP-IPC measures eight distinct octants of interpersonal styles, providing a quick, reliable, and publicly accessible tool for psychological assessment in research contexts.

Keywords

Interpersonal Circumplex, IPIP, Agency, Communion, Personality traits, Dominance, Warmth, Interpersonal Assessment, Psychological scale, Octant scales.

Authors

Markey, P. M., Markey, C. N.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the IPIP-IPC is to provide a highly efficient, yet psychometrically sound, measure of the core dimensions of the Interpersonal Circumplex model. This instrument was specifically designed to be brief (32 items) to minimize participant burden while maintaining adequate reliability and validity for research applications where time constraints or the inclusion of multiple measures are factors.

It allows researchers and practitioners to quickly map an individual’s typical interpersonal style onto the circular structure defined by the dimensions of Agency and Communion, thus facilitating the study of personality in relation to social interactions, relationship dynamics, and psychopathology.

Construct

The scale measures the Interpersonal Circumplex (IPC) model, a fundamental framework in personality psychology initially formalized by Wiggins (2003). The IPC posits that interpersonal behavior can be systematically organized along two orthogonal axes:

• Agency (Dominance vs. Submission): Reflecting the vertical dimension, this axis relates to status, control, power, and influence.

• Communion (Warmth vs. Coldness): Reflecting the horizontal dimension, this axis relates to affiliation, love, nurturance, and cooperation.

The intersection of these two dimensions creates a circular structure divided into eight equally spaced segments, or octants. The IPIP-IPC operationalizes these eight octants using four items per scale, designed to capture specific blends of Agency and Communion, such as Assured-Dominant (high Agency, neutral Communion) or Warm-Agreeable (high Communion, moderate Submission).

Validity

The validity of the IPIP-IPC is primarily established through its adherence to the theoretical structure of the Interpersonal Circumplex model and its convergence with established measures. Studies confirm strong evidence of structural validity, demonstrating that the scale items conform well to the expected circular structure when analyzed using circumplex scaling techniques (e.g., randomization tests for circumplex structure).

Furthermore, strong convergent validity is demonstrated by expected correlations with other established IPC measures, such as the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP) or the Interpersonal Adjective Scales-Revised (IAS-R). Construct validity is also supported by predictable correlations with the Big Five personality traits, particularly strong positive correlations between the Agency dimension and Extraversion, and the Communion dimension and Agreeableness.

Reliability

The IPIP-IPC demonstrates acceptable internal consistency for a brief measure, especially considering that each of the eight octant scales consists of only four items. Research by Markey and Markey (2009) generally reports Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the individual octant scales ranging from adequate (.60) to good (above .70). The two primary dimensions (Agency and Communion), calculated by summing the relevant octants, typically exhibit higher internal consistency.

Test-retest reliability is generally high for personality measures, suggesting that the scores derived from the IPIP-IPC are stable over time, consistent with the view that the scale measures enduring personality traits related to interpersonal style.

Factor Analysis

Standard exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of the IPIP-IPC often reveal two primary orthogonal factors corresponding to the theoretical axes of Agency and Communion. However, the most critical analysis for this instrument is the assessment of its circumplex structure.

The use of specialized circumplex structural analysis techniques confirms that the eight octant scales are ordered sequentially around a circle in two-dimensional space. The scales demonstrate the required pattern of intercorrelations, known as the circumplex pattern: scales adjacent on the circle correlate positively, scales opposite (180 degrees apart) correlate negatively, and scales orthogonal (90 degrees apart) exhibit near-zero correlations. This adherence to the structural model is crucial evidence for the scale’s validity as an IPC measure.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-Report Personality Inventory

Format: 32 items, 5-point Likert scale.

Language Available: Primarily English (as part of the IPIP database).

Population Group: General population, widely used in college student and adult samples.

Age Group: Adolescents (late) and Adults.

Population Details: The scale is non-proprietary and is frequently used in diverse research settings globally due to its public domain status.

Test Methodology: Respondents rate the accuracy of 32 descriptive statements about themselves based on a 5-point scale. The scale is anchored as follows: 1=Very inaccurate, 2= Moderately inaccurate, 3= Neither inaccurate nor accurate, 4= Moderately accurate, 5= Very accurate.

Keywords

IPIP-IPC, Interpersonal behavior, Psychometrics, Assessment, Circumplex model, Dominance, Affiliation, Self-monitoring, Personality research.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: N/A (Information not provided in source)

Affiliation Email addresses: N/A (Information not provided in source)

Correspondence Address: N/A (Information not provided in source)

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The IPIP-IPC is part of the IPIP (International Personality Item Pool), which is a public domain resource. Therefore, the scale is generally free to use for non-commercial research and educational purposes without permission or fee. The scale was formally published and validated in 2009.

The instrument can be accessed online at: http://ipip.ori.org/newIPIP-IPCSurvey.htm.

A related reference, potentially containing the scale or context for its use, is available as a PDF download here: http://www.communicationcache.com/uploads/1/0/8/8/10887248/revision_of_the_self-monitoring_scale.pdf.

Reference’s

Markey, P. M., & Markey, C. N. (2009). A brief assessment of the interpersonal circumplex: The IPIP-IPC. Assessment, 16, 352-361.

Wiggins, J. S. (2003). Paradigms of personality assessment. Guilford Press.

Items of the IPIP Interpersonal Circumplex

The IPIP Interpersonal Circumplex consists of 32 items divided across eight octant scales (four items per octant). The scoring key below indicates which items contribute to which scale:

• PA (Assured-Dominant): items 6, 14, 22, and 30
• BC (Arrogant-Calculating): Items 7, 15, 23, and 31
• DE (Cold-Hearted): items 8, 16, 24, and 32
• FG (Aloof-Introverted): items 1, 9, 17, and 25
• HI (Unassured-Submissive): items 2, 10, 18, and 26
• JK (Unassuming-Ingenuous): items 3, 11, 19, and 27
• LM (Warm-Agreeable): items 4, 12, 20, and 28
• NO (Gregarious-Extraverted): items 5, 13, 21, and 29

The 32 items are:

1. Am quiet around strangers
2. Speak softly
3. Tolerate a lot from others
4. Am interested in people
5. Feel comfortable around people
6. Demand to be the center of interest
7. Cut others to pieces
8. Believe people should fend for themselves
9. Am a very private person
10. Let others finish what they are saying
11. Take things as they come
12. Reassure others
13. Start conversations
14. Do most of the talking
15. Contradict others
16. Don’t fall for sob-stories
17. Don’t talk a lot
18. Seldom toot my own horn
19. Think of others first
20. Inquire about others’ well-being
21. Talk to a lot of different people at parties
22. Speak loudly
23. Snap at people
24. Don’t put a lot of thought into things
25. Have little to say
26. Dislike being the center of attention
27. Seldom stretch the truth
28. Get along well with others
29. Love large parties
30. Demand attention
31. Have a sharp tongue
32. Am not interested in other people’s problems