Evolution of the Most Popular Behavioural Model DiSC
Roberta Cava once said, “You can’t control other people’s DiSC behavioural model, but you can control your responses to it.” This philosophy aligns well with the principles of the DiSC assessment tools, which are among the most well-researched and widely recognized psychometric systems globally, used by over 45 million people to enhance leadership, personal effectiveness, and interpersonal success.
Historical Background
The study of human behavior dates back to 400 B.C. with the ancient Greeks, but a significant advancement occurred in the early 1900s when psychologists like Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud, along with their contemporary William Moulton Marston, began focusing on human behavior. Unlike Jung and Freud, who concentrated on abnormal psychology, Marston studied the behavior of normal individuals under various circumstances.
Development of the DiSC Model
In 1928, Harvard psychologist William Moulton Marston discovered that individuals’ behaviors are influenced by their perceptions of their environment. He identified four primary emotions that drive different behavioral responses, leading him to develop the DiSC Behavioural Model. This model categorizes traits into four quadrants: Dominance, Inducement, Submission, and Compliance, as outlined in his book, Emotions of Normal People. Marston’s work laid the groundwork for understanding personal and environmental behavioral interactions.
Further Enhancements and Applications
The DiSC theory was further developed in 1940 by Walter V. Clarke, who created the Activity Vector Analysis, a tool that helps individuals understand their self-perception and how others see them. This was followed by John Cleaver in 1950, who developed a 24 tetrad, forced-choice assessment instrument from Clarke’s tool.
By 1970, Dr. John Geier and Dorothy Downey refined Cleaver’s assessment to identify 15 distinct behavioral patterns. They revamped DiSC’s acronym to Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness, launching the DiSC Personal Profile System through Performax Systems International. This system, later known as DiSC Classic Profile, was the first of its kind.
Technological Advancements and Ownership Changes
The company underwent several ownership changes, with Curt Carlton acquiring it in 1984 and renaming it Carlson Learning Company. Significant technological upgrades followed, including the introduction of software versions and the EPIC online assessment delivery system by Inscape Publishing, which acquired the company in 2000.
In 2010, the Everything DiSC model was introduced, offering personalized feedback to leaders through an online profiling system that rates leadership behaviors. This innovation marked another milestone in the continuous evolution of the DiSC assessments.
Current Status and Impact
Finally, in February 2012, John Wiley & Sons acquired Inscape Publishing, continuing the legacy of DiSC. These assessments have been essential tools for developing leadership and enhancing workforce effectiveness across various levels, making them a staple in many Fortune 500 companies’ training arsenals.
