History
- William Marston 1928 |
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The DISC theory was introduced
in the book "Emotions of Normal People" in 1928. Written
by psychologist William Moulton Marston, his ideas have been validated
over and over again by many universities all over the world. It
is still used today by many businesses to profile prospective employees
for specific roles within their organizations. |
Assessment |
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Marston's original questionnaires contained
24 questions, which has not altered much since. The questions will
either make a statement or give adjectives to choose from and then
ask you to select from four possible responses the one that is
most like you and the one that is least like you. There are no
wrong answers to the questionnaire since it is an inventory of
your opinion about your responses to situations. |
Profile |
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The results of the completed questionnaires
are tabulated to determine a number for each of the four personality
traits of dominance, influence, steadiness and complience. You
can use the profile to learn more about how you interact with others
and how others influence you. Higher and lower numbers are not
indications of weakness or strength but rather an indication of
your natural tendencies. Most DISC reports include a narrative
description of the results that can provide insight in why you
do things the way you do. Teams will often compare DISC profiles
with each other so that members learn how best to interact with
each other. Business has found that certain personality traits
are needed to best perform particular functions. Daring leaders
often have a high D rating while great team players often have
a lower D rating. This could be significant when forming a team.
A great team player might not be the best choice for leading the
team. |
Environment |
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The environment that the questions
are asked in may make a difference in the outcome. Some people
are more dominant in a work environment and less so at home. Others
might be strong influencers at home and less so in external groups.
Some modern DISC assessments try to identify the specific environment
by stating the phrases in terms of work, leisure and home life. |
Summary |
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The DISC assessment has been
used for many years and provides a method to examine your personality
and reveal traits that may be hidden from you. By sharing your
DISC profile with others you can help them to better understand
how to interact with you. |