Emotions Profile Index
Emotions Profile Index
PsycTESTS Citation:
Plutchik, R., & Kellerman, H. (N.D.). Emotions Profile Index [Database record]. Retrieved from PsycTESTS. doi:
https://dx.doi.org/10.1037/t16667-000
Instrument Type:
Index/Indicator
Test Format:
The respondent selects which of two adjectives in each item describes him or her best.
Source:
This historic document is included through collaboration with The University of Akron, The Archives of the History of
American Psychology, University Libraries.
Permissions:
Test content may be reproduced and used for non-commercial research and educational purposes. APA believes
that this content is in the public domain.
EMOTIONS PROFILE INDEX
This index was developed by Dr. Robert Plutchik, Hofstra University, Hempstead,
New York, and Dr. Henry Kellerman, Middletown State Hospital, Middletown,
New York.
Sociable ( ) Shy ( ) Adventurous ( ) Obedient ( )
Affectionate ( ) Cautious ( ) Self-Conscious ( ) Sociable ( )
Sociable ( ) Resentful ( )
Quarrelsome ( ) Shy ( )
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MANUAL FOR
E M0 T I 0 N S P R0 F I L E I NDEX
-.
First edition
June, 1964
ID~OTIONS PROFILE INDEX
Purpose of Index
The Emotion Profile Index is a forced choice personality
test designed to evaluate the relative importance of certain basic
emotions in the life of an individual. The categories of analysis
of the test are based upon a theory of emotion which postulates
that personality traits may be conceptualized as mixtures of two
or more of eight basic emotions. The trait choices are scored in
terms of the underlying emotions, thus producing a profile based
upon eight emotion categories.
Background
A series of ~apers (Plutchik, 1955, 1958, 1960) and a
book (Plutchik, 1962) provide the background for the present test.
A dissertation by Kellerman (1964) gives the details of the
construction of the test, and a paper by Schaefer and Plutchik
(1964) more fully describes the trait and emotion universes used
in the test.
In brief the theory assumes a model in which eight primary
emotions are arranged in a circular order. The introduction of
an intensity variable makes the model three-dimensional. A
detailed rationale for the choice of the eight primaries, as well
as for the sequences of primaries around the circle is given in
Plutchik (1962).
In order to make the theory of maximum generality, each
primary emotion is related to a basic prototype pattern of behavior.
These prototype patterns are briefly defined and illustrated below:
Scoril1,3
Two scoring steucils which are color coded are provided in
order to obtain a score on each of the eight emotion dimensions.
Four dimensions are scored on one stencil and four on the other.
The raw score for each dimension is simply the number of
items checltad which corre.s:po:ad to the <..olor code for each dimension.
These raw scores may range ~rom 0 to 35 depending on the particular
dimension examined. The raw scores may be conveniently converted
into percent scores by use of Table 2. This percentage is simply a
measure of the number of items chosen for a given dimension relative
to the maximum number of items possible for that dimension.
These percentages are then plotted on a standard circular
form (see appended EPI scoring sheet) to provide a profile for each
subject. The center of the circle represents zero percent, and each
succeeding ring in the circle represents a ten percent increment for
ease in plotting the percentages for each dimension.
This emotion profile indicates at a glance the relative
strengths of each primary emotion dimension and the degrees of
conflict bet1·reen various emotions. Very lm·r scores in any sector
would suggest little tendency to show that given pattern of behavior,
while high scores in a given sector would indicate high potential for
exhibiting that pattern of behavior. High percentage scores in
opposite sectors of the circle would suggest strong conflicts between
the two emotions represented.
The profile should be examined both quantitatively and
qualitatively. In the former case, the individual percentage scores
are compared against whatever norms are available. In the latter
case the particular patterns of highs and lows and opposites suggest
certain interrelationships and conflicts which are present.
Bias Score
A third stencil provides an overall 11 bias 11 score which is
based simply on the number of items chosen from t~e pairs where
social desirability was~ matched. The percent score indicates a
tendency to pick the more socially desirable of the two items in a
pair. This score might suggest that the subject was trying to pre-
sent himself in the best light possible, and hence might represent
the operation of a bias. The mean bias score for the normal female
subjects was 77% For the moderately disturbed group it was 55%
and for the severiy disturbed group it was 66!•
-5-
§ample Scored Protocol
Figure 1 sho"t'l'S a :profile based upon the choices obtained
from one of the severeJ.y disturbed :patients. She is a 26 year old
Catholic female who is married and has one child. She was first
admitted to a private hospital because of severe depression, agita-
tion, and suicidal thoughts. Her diagnosis was: Psychoneurosis
Reactive Depression. After 15 months she was released. The director
of the hospital in :private correspondence said he felt her general
behavior and sjrmptomatology warranted a more severe diagnosis in
terms of disturbance. The diagnosis, however, was not altered.
Co~ent 1: It should be noted here, that Reactive Depression
usually represents behavior in which the anxiety is allayed and
relieved by the depression. The onset of the reaction is acute,
and precipitated by a recent deprivation or loss. It is often
associated with past actions and feelings of guilt. The intensity
of the reaction often depends on the intensity of the patient's
ambivalent feelings toward the loss.*
Several months after her release, she was admitted to a state
hospital with the same symptoms, and i-ras released after 10 months of
treatment. The diagnosis of Reactive Depression was also carried
through here. A year later she returned to the state hospital with
the same complaints and symptomatology, and was again diagnosed as:
Reactive Depression.
On the ward she was described in the following way: She
appears withdrawn and preoccupied. She is sad and cries easily.
She is a tense, shaky young woman who presents a very worried,
depressed appearance. She is frightened often and trembles."
Comment 2: There seems to be much too much anxiety for a Reactive
Depression diagnosis to be made. Also, there is notr~ng in the
history to suggest a recent loss or deprivation.
During psychotherapy, the patient revealed that she had tried
suicide a number of times to no avail. She had thoughts which terri-
fied her, of killing her baby. She states that she has always been
a frightened person. Her strong feelings of guilt are related to the
fact that her father and brother had sexually attacked her and had
sexual relations with her a number of times during her adolescence.
She described these experiences as the root of her problem.
Comment 3: Examination of the Emotion Profile Index reveals high
Exploration and Protectiveness which suggests a strong anxiety
picture. This anxiety picture is consistent with her clinical
behavior and contraindicates the diagnosis of Reactive Depression.
NAME: :r.rary s.
RAW
DIM. SCORE SCORE
DATE: AGE: 27 SEX: F
Inc. 20 74
1-u.RIT.AL STATUS: Harried Re • 15 75
EDUCATION Des. 2 6
COl"iPLETED: High school
E 26 81
OCCUPATION: Houselfife Re . 12 44
De . 6 30
Pro. 20 74
~')_0~ J'.l:J.o 4 20
Q.'J.c 0~ Ori.
~e"9~o o~~t:t.
OJ:J. Bias Score: 68
/( ~\
> -~j__,,J,.,,.;..,...~:-+--Ir----1
C0 IvlM b"N TS :
Table 1
Trait Terms as Used in the Emotions Profile Index
Mean percent score for each dimension for three matched groups
of female subjects (mean I.Q.=100, mean age =30 years,
middle income). Group 1 is normal, Group 2 is
reoderately disturbed (hospitalized), Group 3
is severely disturbed (hospitalized).
H = 20 per group.
Emotion Comnonents
Trait 1st 2nd
Sociable Incorporation Reproduction
Affectio~te Incorporation Reproduction
Adventurous Orientation Exploration
Resentful Destruction Rejection
Impulsive Orientation Destruction
Quarrelsome Destruction Rejection
Sullen Destruction Deprivation
Shy Protection Exploration
Gloomy Deprivation Destruction
Cautious Exploration Protection
Self-Conscious Exploration Rejection
Obedient Incorporation Protection
References
COMMENTS:
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I
Impulsive
Adventurous
)
)
Obedient
Adventurous
Impulsive
Sociable (
Impulsive
Gloomy
(
( •
Gloomy
Resentful
) Impulsive
Self-Conscious
Adventurous
Cautious
(
( )
Resentful
Impulsive
(
( r
Impulsive
Cautious
Self-Conscious
Gloomy
Shy
Sullen
)
)
Self-Conscious
Affectionate
(
( •
Sullen ) Sociable Sociable Affectionate (
Cautious ) Gloomy Cautious Sullen )
Affectionate
Impulsive
Sullen
Impulsive
Self-Conscious
Obedient ( •
)
Impulsive
Quarrelsome ••
Adventurous
Gloomy
Cautious
..
( Obedient
Sullen
Sullen
)
)
)
Cautious
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(
(
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Shy
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Affectionate Cautious ( Self-Conscious Sociable
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Affectionate Quarrelsome ( Quarrelsome I Gloomy
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Sociable
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( Impulsive
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Gloomy Impulsive Adventurous ( I Resentful
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Impulsive
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( Shy
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(
(
Cautious
Sociable
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Sociable Cautious
• Gloomy ( Quarrelsome (
•
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Self-Consciou Gloomy Affectionate Sullen (
Self-Conscious
Resentful
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(
(
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