Personality Structure and Interpersonal Problems: A Theoretically-Guided Tem Analysis of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems

Abstract

The Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP) has become increasingly popular as a measure of self-reported interpersonal distress. This article examined the empirical structure of the IIP item set, but did so within a theoretical context provided by two complementary models of personality structure: the interpersonal circumplex and the Big Five. Consistent with earlier findings, the item analysis yielded factors identifiable as Dominance and Love and a factor space congruent with the circumplex model. When rotated, the factors were best interpreted as Aggression and Attachment. The Big Five analysis helped to clarify, confirm, and extend the findings. For example, problems loaded primarily on Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism, but Conscientiousness and Openness also characterized some problems, adding nuance to their meaning. Item positions in the circumplex space could be predicted almost perfectly from a composite of three (rather than only two) of the Big Five factors. A set of internally-homogenous item clusters were proposed that could provide enhanced specificity of problem assessment and further the aims of dimensional models of diagnosis.