What is DISC? Who Created the DISC Model?

DISC is the four quadrant behavioral model based on the work of William Moulton Marston Ph.D. (1893 - 1947) to examine the behavior of individuals in their environment or within a specific situation. DISC looks at behavioral styles and behavioral preferences. Marston, the father of the DISC, was a graduate of Harvard University. Among his contributions in his profession Marston was a consulting psychologist, researcher and author of five books, which he either wrote or co-authored. He was published in the American Journal of Psychology, The Encyclopedia of Psychology, and The Encyclopedia Britannica.

Ironically Marston is better known in many circles for his work in developing the lie detector. Another interesting factoid is that he also was the creator, writer and producer of “Wonder Woman,” introducing into comic strips the role model of a strong female.

Marston’s 1928 “Emotions of Normal People”, introduced DISC theory to the public. He defined four categories of human behavioral styles, types or temperament, now know as "D" for Dominance-Drive-Direct, "I" for Influence (Marston chose the term inducement, "S" for Steadiness or Stability (Marston used submission) and "C" for Compliant, Conscientious, or Cautious, (Marston used compliance). Interestingly enough Marston never developed his D.I.S.C. theory into the present four quadrant model, yet now a days DISC has become one of the most popular and user friendly four quadrant models for understanding behavioral styles and personality types, with various companies offering models with quadrants, circles, wheels, and diamonds to graphically represent the positioning of these behavioral and personality styles and types.

For just over 40 years DISC has continued to evolve. From Marston's original development of the D.I.S.C. model; to the research conducted by the University of Minnesota's Dr. John Geier's and his creation or the first DISC personality instrument offered through Performax Systems Int'l, which later becoming Carlson Learning Company, who offered the DiSC® Personal Profile System™ and is now Inscape Publishing with the latest incarnation of the original disc profile, called the DiSC Classic™ Profile the continuous development and validation of the DiSC profile remains foremost.

Again irony stalks Marston. For even though he developed the D.I.S.C. model and created the DISC test or assessment to prove his theory of the emotions of people within their environment, he never copyrighted his disc profile test. Yet, today, 75 years after the publication of his work, over 5 million people have taken various forms of the DISC profile internationally. Marston’s original contributions continue to be enhanced by ongoing behavioral research and validation in more than 50 languages and by numerous publishers of the profile, creating numerous versions of the DISC of various quantity and validity. There are numerous people and companies trying to capitalize on the DISC and Marston's original work. At times this pursuit has brought out the best in people, their personalities and behavioral styles and at other times it has brought out the worst in people's behavioral and personality, as they all try to benefit in one way or another from the DISC model and Marston's original work, clearly showing the emotions of "normal" people. Yet the importance and impact of his contribution in identifying a clear and easy to understand model of four distinctive behavioral types and the ability to reliably measurement the intensity of each style in order to explain “normal” human behavior has remained undiminished and continues to be used in corporations, educational institutions, government agencies, and religious institutions as a way to develop and improve the understand of ourselves and others, remaining key to productive interpersonal interactions.

John C Goodman, MSOD, LCSW

President-Center for Internal Change, Inc.

What Is Difference Between Everything DiSC and DiSC Classic?

Inscape Publishing DiSC Families	Everything DiSC Application Library   Recommended model for new users Easier to understand Greater Personized results, feedback, and customization Using latest technology Highest DiSC validity Inlcudes Free Comparision Reports between any two completed Everything DiSC Profiles			DiSC Classic Profile (Personal Profile System 2800 Series)     Traditional graph model Availible in online or paper format
Format	Take online. results are in PDF format.			Take online with PDF results or Paper Booklet Self-scoring version.
DiSC Models	Circular DiSC Model (uses circumplex), available in online version only. Utilizes current technology and research methods, as well as 38 years of research to generated a more detailed, personalized, more in-depth, and easier to understand results then those offered using the traditional graph-based DiSC profile, which has the inherent limites of adapting a 38 year old self-scoring paper- based model for computer and online use.. The circumplex model offers a more precise analysis based on the combination of your D, I, S, and C DiSC style and their relation to each other.			Traditional DiSC Graph Model, available both online or in paper booklet form.       Originally designed as a self-scoring paper booklet and in 1994 adapted to computer and later to online versions. The graph model provides your DiSC classical pattern based on whether your D, I, S or C are over the baseline or neutral zone. There is no emphasis on the relative relationship of the D, I, S, and C in your DiSC profile.
# of Questions	Uses 79 adjectives on a five-point scale indicating how much each adjective describes them.			Uses 28 forced multiple choose word clusters of four adjectives each, requiring the selection of both, which word describes them the most and least.
Time to complete	About 13-17 minutes.			About 12-15 minutes for online versions. Or 25-30 minutes for the paper self-scoring version.
Note: The Everything DiSC model is easier and quick to complete than the traditional graph-base disc classic model. This is because it is easier for people to answer how much a phrase describes them, as opposed to choosing among four words and determining which one is most like them and which is least like them.
Research-based and validated?	Yes, based on the latest and most current research, with the highest validity and reliability of any DiSC profile. Provides the most in-depth, personalized, and detailed results. Everything DiSC Vaidation & Research Report DiSC Classic to Everything DiSC®: How My Graph Became a Dot How Everything DiSC 363® for Leaders Fits into Contemporary Leadership Theory Everything DiSC 363 for Leaders Validation Report			Yes, high reliability and validity using the 38 year old DiSC graph model. It has a proven track record and large following. DiSC Classic Validation Research Report
DiSC-Based Profiles, Reports Assessments and Training Material Click on the names to view free sample reports	Everything DiSC Collection (click below to see samples)	Profiles	Training Materials	DiSC Classic Profiles	Profiles	Training Kit
	Workplace			Paper version
	Work of Leaders (Leadership Profile)			2.0 - Online
	Management			2 Plus -Online (includes everthng in 2.0, plus any or all of six additional catagories for management, sales, and relating to others).
	Sales			PPSS
	360 Degree Feedback Survey - 363 for Leaders
	Comparision Reports			Facilitation Report
	Facilitation Report
	Group Culture Report			Group Culture Report