DiSC is a personal assessment tool that evaluates various angles of a person’s personality. It’s important to note that DiSC does not assess intelligence, skills, mental health, or personal values. Instead, DiSC profiles offer insights into individuals’ behavioral patterns across different scenarios, such as reaction to challenges, influence on others, pacing preferences, and adherence to rules and procedures.

The model measures behavioral tendencies and inclinations with no judgment regarding value or alignment with a particular skill set or job role. DiSC serves as a platform for dialogue rather than a diagnostic tool.

Every DiSC profile provides reliable scores and tailored feedback for the individual. Each instrument is designed to provide accurate interpretations or feedback based on individual scores.

The DISC Model

The DISC model’s origins trace back to William Moulton Marston’s theories, which have been the subject of over 40 years of research and analysis by Wiley. Notably, the DiSC Classic paper profile stands as the inaugural DISC assessment. 

Marston’s 1928 work, “Emotions of Normal People,” laid the groundwork for DISC by identifying four core emotions and their corresponding behaviors, now recognized as Dominance (D), Influence (i), Steadiness (S), and Conscientiousness (C). Since then, numerous tools have been developed to quantify these traits. The Everything DiSC uses a circular, or circumplex, representation for an intuitive grasp of the model.

DiSC Scales

The Everything DiSC assessment evaluates eight distinct scales:

D captures a direct, dominant character with descriptors like ambitious, determined, and forceful.

Di or iD reflects a vibrant, energetic nature with descriptors like spirited, adventurous, and bold.

i portrays an engaging, persuasive character with descriptors like outgoing, animated, and conversational.

iS or Si embodies a friendly, warm-hearted nature with descriptors like trusting, optimistic, and nurturing.

S represents a supportive, reliable character with descriptors like thoughtful, patient, and gentle.

SC or CS depicts a deliberate, prudent nature with descriptors like careful, discreet, and soft-spoken.

C illustrates a private, methodical character with descriptors like analytical, reserved, and detached.

CD or DC conveys a questioning, analytical nature with descriptors like cautious, disciplined, and critical.

Everyone is a blend of DiSC styles

It’s essential to recognize that people aren’t just one single style. For instance, someone may predominantly exhibit a D style but approach tasks like financial reporting with a methodical S-style precision. This means DiSC is more about description than prescription.

Priorities

Everything DiSC also evaluates priorities, which are measured independently from the DiSC style, though some overlap exists. This differentiation is made to highlight that some results may vary from others who share the same style. For example, an individual might identify as a C style but have a pronounced priority for Enthusiasm, a trait typically linked with an i style. Priorities also mirror the specific focus of the DiSC test, meaning his/her priority might be Competency in sales contexts but Challenge in managerial roles.