The History Of The DiSC®
29th May 2019
The ideas behind the four quadrants of the DiSC® assessment can be traced all the back to 444 BC to Empedocles who declared behavior was based on four external “root” elements: Water, Air, Fire, Earth. This eventually turned into the “Four Temperaments” by Hippocrates and then “The Four Humors” by Galen.
A Big Leap Forward: History of the DiSC®
Fast forwarding up to 1921, Carl Jung, the esteemed psychologist, published a book describing four internal ways in which we experience the world which included Sensation, Feeling, Intuition, and Thinking. These are still often found in the Myers-Briggs Personality Test.
It was in 1928 when William Moulton Marston published his book, Emotion of Normal People, that the beginning of the DiSC® as we know it today began to take shape. His book described personality styles as being internal, natural, and often affected by the environment. The original four quadrants included Dominance, Influence Steadiness and Compliance.
From Book To DiSC® Personality Reports
It wasn’t until 1940 that Walter Clark utilized Marston’s theories to create a DiSC® personality profile. Though updated to fit modern standards, Clark’s DiSC® personality profile is still the basis of the assessments given today.
Modern Assessments and the Future of DiSC®
The DiSC® has evolved with time and now there are multiple versions available with many translated into over 50 languages. Versions of the DiSC® have been used by over five million people and it is still studied to this day. The Everything DiSC® suite was created in 2007 to provide a more comprehensive and customized report for participants. This included the circular graph which is easier to visualize.
One of the latest products is the Everything DiSC® Productive Conflict assessment. Released in 2017, it helps users discover productive ways to handle conflict in the workplace. This includes reasons why conflict exists, strategies for reframing, and how to properly manage confrontation.
Which DiSC® is Right For You?
DiSC® Classic and Everything DiSC® are very popular assessments here at DiscValueProfiles.com. However, choosing which assessment is right for you is easiest with a one on one phone call at 610-368-8881 or click here to fill out our contact form.
To Learn More about the DiSC®:
What are the DiSC® Personality Types? A Deeper Look at 12 Styles