The Interpersonal circumplex assessment

The Interpersonal circumplex (IPC) theory is "is a two‐dimensional model in which various interpersonal qualities can be mapped in a circular space" (Mahar & Markey, 2020, p. 141), possibly based in Cartesian dualism with one axis indicating "Dominance-Submission and [the other axis being] Love-Hate" which helps us to define our interpersonal communication (Wiggins, 1996, p. 224).

This theory was originally named the Leary Circle, after an early Timothy Leary sketch of the idea which had springboarded from the work of Harry Sullivan, US psychiatry lecturer (Leary, 1957; Wiggins, 1996, p. 224; see diagram accompanying this post originally from LaForge, 1985, p. 615). The circle originally contained "16 interpersonal variables ordered around [two] primary dimensions of 'dominance‐submission' (i.e. agency) and 'love‐hate' (i.e. communion)" (Mahar & Markey, 2020, p. 143). These two continua are now considered to be a power axis, and a love axis.

What interests me is that the IPC model now seems to be thought of as a model of "extroversion, dominance, trust and warmth" (Williams, 2023), similar to the Big Five or OCEAN assessment (Mahar & Markey, 2020). However, as OCEAN "provides a framework with which to interpret the circumplex and the interpersonal circumplex provides an elaboration of two factors from the Five Factor Model" (Mahar & Markey, 2020, p. 143), it seems that the IPC still only measures the two continua of dominance (as extroversion) and love (as agreeableness), despite trust having crept into William's article (2023).

Regardless, these IPC elements of extroversion and agreeableness are useful when researching connection between humans and dogs. Professor and author Stanley Coren (GoogleScholar publications list here) researches how the human personality interacts with dogs, citing research showing that "couples who owned dogs were less likely to sue for divorce" (Williams, 2023). When we "come home, you’ve had a rotten day, all you want is a little TLC, but your partner has also had a rotten day and also needs a little TLC, that’s [likely] to end in an argument. But if you also have Lassie right here, you don’t put any extra pressure on your spouse" (Williams, 2023). It seems that dogs grow our love continuum. 

Aww!

Sam

References:

LaForge, R. (1985). The early development of the Freedman-Leary-Coffey interpersonal system. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49(6), 613-621. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4906_8

Leary, T. (1957). Interpersonal Diagnosis of Personality: a functional theory and methodology for personality evaluation. The Ronald Press Company.

Wiggins, J. S. (1996). An Informal History of the Interpersonal Circumplex Tradition. Journal of Personality Assessment, 66(2), 217–233. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa6602_2

Williams, Z. (2023, October 4). Competitive, warm and conservative: what exactly makes someone a dog person?. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/oct/04/competitive-warm-and-conservative-what-exactly-makes-someone-a-dog-person