The DISC is a personality assessment tool that is widely used in various settings to help individuals and groups better understand their behavioral styles and how it relates to their personal and professional lives. Here is a brief history of the DISC, including its origin, development, and how it has been utilized in various industries over the years.
Ancient Beginnings
Hippocrates, an ancient Greek physician and philosopher, identified four temperaments that he believed were related to an individual's physical and emotional characteristics. These temperaments were based on the concept of humors, or bodily fluids, which were thought to affect a person's health and temperament. These temperaments were choleric, sanguine, phlegmatic, and melancholic.
Hippocrates believed that each person had a primary temperament, which would influence their personality and behavior. He also believed that the balance of humors in the body was important for good health, and that an imbalance could lead to physical and emotional problems. While modern science has largely discredited the idea of humors, the four temperaments identified by Hippocrates have had a lasting impact on the study of personality and human behavior. Many contemporary personality models, including the DISC assessment and the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator®, draw on the four temperaments as a basis for understanding individual differences in behavior and temperament.
Hippocrates believed that each person had a primary temperament, which would influence their personality and behavior. He also believed that the balance of humors in the body was important for good health, and that an imbalance could lead to physical and emotional problems. While modern science has largely discredited the idea of humors, the four temperaments identified by Hippocrates have had a lasting impact on the study of personality and human behavior. Many contemporary personality models, including the DISC assessment and the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator®, draw on the four temperaments as a basis for understanding individual differences in behavior and temperament.
The Middle Ages
The four temperaments were later adopted and adapted by various philosophers and theologians, including those in the Catholic Church during the Middle Ages. The Church saw the four temperaments as a way to understand human nature and behavior and to help guide individuals in their spiritual lives. During this time, the Church used the four temperaments to categorize individuals into different personality types. These four temperaments were also used to understand and interpret different aspects of Christian theology.
For example, the melancholic temperament was associated with the passion of Christ, while the choleric temperament was associated with the zeal of the apostles. The phlegmatic temperament was associated with the peace of Christ, while the sanguine temperament was associated with the joy of the Holy Spirit. Overall, the four temperaments were seen as a way to help individuals understand themselves and their place in the world, as well as to guide them in their spiritual lives. The Church used these temperaments as a way to help individuals identify their strengths and weaknesses and to work towards personal and spiritual growth.
For example, the melancholic temperament was associated with the passion of Christ, while the choleric temperament was associated with the zeal of the apostles. The phlegmatic temperament was associated with the peace of Christ, while the sanguine temperament was associated with the joy of the Holy Spirit. Overall, the four temperaments were seen as a way to help individuals understand themselves and their place in the world, as well as to guide them in their spiritual lives. The Church used these temperaments as a way to help individuals identify their strengths and weaknesses and to work towards personal and spiritual growth.
A Comic Book Hero Creator
William Moulton Marston developed the DISC model based on his observations of human behavior and emotions. Marston was a psychologist, lawyer, inventor, and the creator of Wonder Woman. The character of Wonder Woman made her debut in All Star Comics #8 in 1941, and quickly became a popular and enduring superhero. Today, Wonder Woman remains one of the most recognizable and beloved superheroes in popular culture.
As a psychologist, Marston was interested in understanding how people's behavior and emotions influence their actions. The DISC assessment can be seen as an evolution of Hippocrates' four temperaments, with a more detailed and refined framework for understanding human behavior and personality. Marston believed that people's behavioral tendencies could be categorized into four basic styles, which he originally named Dominance (D), Inducement (I), Submission (S), and Compliance (C). Marston's DISC model was not a standardized assessment tool when he first developed it in the 1920s, but it has since been refined and improved upon by other practitioners and organizations to create the DISC assessment.
As a psychologist, Marston was interested in understanding how people's behavior and emotions influence their actions. The DISC assessment can be seen as an evolution of Hippocrates' four temperaments, with a more detailed and refined framework for understanding human behavior and personality. Marston believed that people's behavioral tendencies could be categorized into four basic styles, which he originally named Dominance (D), Inducement (I), Submission (S), and Compliance (C). Marston's DISC model was not a standardized assessment tool when he first developed it in the 1920s, but it has since been refined and improved upon by other practitioners and organizations to create the DISC assessment.
DISC Throughout the Decades
Though the original DISC model was based on Marston's observations of human behavior, and it was not a standardized assessment tool. However, in the 1950s, Walter Clarke, a psychologist and industrial consultant, developed a standardized DISC assessment based on Marston's work. Over time, the DISC assessment has been refined and improved, with new versions developed by different organizations and practitioners. The DISC assessment has a long history of use across various industries and fields. Here are some examples of how the DISC has been used historically:
Military: The DISC assessment was used during World War II to help identify soldiers who were best suited for certain roles based on their personality traits. The assessment helped commanders to match soldiers to the right roles, increasing their chances of success.
Human Resources: The DISC assessment has been used in the HR industry since the 1950s to help managers better understand their employees and improve communication and teamwork. By understanding an employee's behavioral tendencies, managers can adapt their leadership style and communication approach to better motivate and engage their team members.
Sales: The DISC assessment has been used in the sales industry since the 1970s to help sales professionals better understand their customers and adapt their sales approach to meet their needs. By understanding a customer's communication preferences and behavioral style, salespeople can build rapport and trust more effectively.
Leadership Development: The DISC assessment has been used in leadership development programs since the 1980s to help individuals better understand their leadership style and how it impacts their team. Leaders who understand their own behavioral tendencies can better communicate with and motivate their team members.
Education: The DISC assessment has been used in education since the 1990s to help teachers and educators better understand their students and adapt their teaching style to meet their needs. By understanding a student's communication preferences and learning style, teachers can better engage them in the learning process.
Today, there are many different versions of the DISC assessment available, each with its own unique features and strengths. The DISC assessment has become a popular tool for personal and professional development, as well as for team building and organizational development. It is widely used in business, education, and counseling, and it has been translated into many languages to reach a global audience.
Military: The DISC assessment was used during World War II to help identify soldiers who were best suited for certain roles based on their personality traits. The assessment helped commanders to match soldiers to the right roles, increasing their chances of success.
Human Resources: The DISC assessment has been used in the HR industry since the 1950s to help managers better understand their employees and improve communication and teamwork. By understanding an employee's behavioral tendencies, managers can adapt their leadership style and communication approach to better motivate and engage their team members.
Sales: The DISC assessment has been used in the sales industry since the 1970s to help sales professionals better understand their customers and adapt their sales approach to meet their needs. By understanding a customer's communication preferences and behavioral style, salespeople can build rapport and trust more effectively.
Leadership Development: The DISC assessment has been used in leadership development programs since the 1980s to help individuals better understand their leadership style and how it impacts their team. Leaders who understand their own behavioral tendencies can better communicate with and motivate their team members.
Education: The DISC assessment has been used in education since the 1990s to help teachers and educators better understand their students and adapt their teaching style to meet their needs. By understanding a student's communication preferences and learning style, teachers can better engage them in the learning process.
Today, there are many different versions of the DISC assessment available, each with its own unique features and strengths. The DISC assessment has become a popular tool for personal and professional development, as well as for team building and organizational development. It is widely used in business, education, and counseling, and it has been translated into many languages to reach a global audience.
References
- Bennett, L. (n.d.). History of the Four Temperaments. CatholicMatch. https://plus.catholicmatch.com/temperaments/history-of-the-four-temperaments
- Dabney Baum, & Scullard, M. (2015). Everything DiSC Manual (pp. 185–187). John Wiley & Sons Inc.
- Ekstrand, D. W. (2012). The Four Human Temperaments. The Transformed Soul. http://www.thetransformedsoul.com/additional-studies/miscellaneous-studies/the-four-human-temperaments
- Lepore, J. (2014, September 16). The Surprising Origin Story of Wonder Woman. Smithsonian; Smithsonian.com. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/origin-story-wonder-woman-180952710
- Marston, W. M., Osmania University, & Digital Library Of India. (1928). Emotions Of Normal People. In Internet Archive. Kegan Paul Trench Trubner And Company., Limited.
- Merenda, Peter F.; Clarke, Walter V. (January 1965). "Self description and personality measurement". Journal of Clinical Psychology.
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