Activity Vector Analysis

In 1940, using Marston's model, Walter Clarke developed a tool called the Activity Vector Analysis. It measured how one perceived themself and how one thought others perceived them. Participants took it twice with these two response focuses. The combination from these two focused responses described behavior with these four dimensions: Aggressive, Sociable, Stable, and Avoidant.

In 1950 John Cleaver created a 24-question forced-choice instrument from the Activity Vector Analysis. This instrument required the participant to select two words from four choices -- the word that was the MOST and LEAST like them.

In 1970, two professors from the University of Minnesota -- John Geier and Dorothy Downey -- created the DiSC® Personal Profile System, which took the responses from Cleaver's 24-question forced-choice instrument and identified a total of 15 classical patterns that emerged. They created a company called Performax Systems International to promote this assessment. In 1984, Curt Carlson (also a graduate of the University of Minnesota) purchased Performax Systems International and created Carlson Learning Company.

In 1994 the Personal Profile System was revalidated. Since the meaning of some words had changed over the years, some of the words were changed in the forced-choice instrument, and four more tetrads were added. Today's DiSC® assessment includes a total of 28 tetrads.

After Curt Carlson died, his company sold the DiSC Personal Profile System to The Riverside Company in 2000, which soon thereafter became Inscape Publishing, Inc. (Inscape is a hybrid word created from internal landscape.)

Today, more than 50 million people around the world have benefited from using the DiSC® assessment. Inscape Publishing has trademarked DiSC® with a small "i". The DISC model itself cannot be patented because Marston never developed a product to patent. He created the model and theory behind it, but never created an actual product that could be sold. Therefore, a number of companies have since created profiles based on Marston's model. The original assessment tool is the one created by what is now known as Inscape Publishing, Inc. You can always tell if you have the original assessment by looking for the small "i" in DiSC®.

In addition to DiSC, Inscape Publishing has created a number of other assessments and learning tools. We invite you to spend some time looking over the many samples, which you will find links to on this site.

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What does DiSC Mean? DiSC® is a non-critical tool for understanding behavioral types and styles. It is designed to help people explore personality and behavior types so they can better understand themselves and others. Each person's DiSC® profile is based on the combination of these four primary behavioral dimensions:


Dominance:

Direct, driver & decisive -- D's are strong-minded, aggressive, strong-willed people who enjoy challenges, taking action, and immediate results.

They thrive on power, prestige, authority, and individual accomplishment. They fear being taken advantage of through loss of control. Their focus tends to be on the bottom line. They ask WHAT questions. A good high D slogan: Just do it! (good with RESULTS)
Influence:

Social, optimistic & outgoing -- I's are "people" who prefer participating on teams, sharing ideas, entertaining and energizing others. They like to gain consensus.

They thrive on popularity, recognition, expression, and talking. They fear loss of social approval. They focus on shaping the environment by influencing or persuading others to see things their way. They ask WHO questions.

A good high I slogan: Don't worry, be happy! (good with PEOPLE)
Steadiness:

Stable, sympathetic & cooperative -- S's tend to be helpful team players. They prefer being behind the scenes, working in consistent and predictable ways. They don't like rapid change, and they don't like conflict. They are often good listeners.

They thrive on team work, structure, predictability, and calming down excited people. They fear loss of stability in the environment and abrupt changes. They focus on cooperating with others to carry out the task, being patient and loyal. They ask HOW questions. A good High S slogan: Don't rock the boat! (good with PROCESSES)
Conscientiousness: Concerned, cautious & correct -- C's usually plan ahead, constantly check for accuracy, and use systematic approaches. They thrive on details, proof, critical thinking, analysis, accuracy, and perfection. They fear criticism of their efforts or actions. They focus on quality and accuracy. They ask WHY questions. A good high C slogan: Measure twice, cut once! (good with DETAILS)