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This checklist may
be copied for educational or counseling use only. All rights reserved: Dr.
Dana Spears, Dreamer Resources.
Scoring the 3-D Checklist (Spears Checklist for
Assessing Cognitive Style):
Total the A, B, and C
columns. Scores of 18-24 indicate a strong tendency toward that
cognitive style.
A: Dreamers - Dreamers are both the most original and emotional
of all styles. They fear failure and are apt to quit before they start.
Dreamers are idealists who, when bitter, can become cynics. They will never
be realists. The deepest need of a dreamer is to be understood.
Unfortunately, being rarer than the other two styles, dreamers are actually
the most misunderstood. Dreamers hold onto pain and absorb the pain of
others. They can be prone to depression, but can also be fun-loving and
playful. Dreamers love drama in life and art. They are constantly inventing
and creating. Dreamers do not think in a step-by step, linear manner. They
generally see the big picture before they see the details. Easily bored,
dreamers love new challenges and experiences. Dreamers have so many ideas,
they tackle too many projects at once and often finish none of them.
B:
Diplomats - Diplomats are popular and likable.
Being followers by nature, they are unlikely to confront others. The
deepest need of a diplomat is to have peace. Diplomats either help behind
the scenes or lead a group by polling the group for opinions in order to
reach consensus. They seek approval and praise by determining what others
want and doing it. Diplomats are hard on themselves and can be
perfectionistic toward others (especially their children). Traditionalists,
they are sometimes rigid. When facing a challenge, diplomats push
themselves until they can do the details well. They have more difficulty
pushing others and prefer that someone else assume positions of authority.
Diplomats are sensitive, but usually control their emotions and put on a
"good face"
C: Drivers - Drivers
enjoy being the boss. Decisive leaders, they become frustrated with others
who won't make decisions. Adept at accomplishing goals, they can be
over-achievers. The deepest need of a driver is for control over his/her
own life and environment. Drivers are naturally confident and enjoy blunt
conversation and sarcasm. They are not easily wounded and may wound others
without any awareness that someone has been hurt. Drivers get the most
accomplished of all cognitive styles and are often thrust into positions of
authority. They can be suspicious of praise, seeing it as manipulative. As
managers, spouses, or parents, drivers may forget to praise others. Being
even-keeled except when angry, drivers do not always know how to respond to
the emotionality of others who are more sensitive and moody.
When all scores are less than 18, look for the two top
scores to see if one of the following combinations is indicated:
Dreamer-Diplomat combinations are called Relaters.
They are the best at listening to people, and their true opposite is the
Driver.
Dreamer-Driver combinations are called Creators. They
are the most risk-taking of all types, and their true opposite is the
Diplomat.
Driver-Diplomat combinations are called Doers. They
are the "busy bees," always on task, and their true opposite is
the Dreamer.
Combination types are less predictable, but more adaptable
than the 3 classic cognitive styles. Most people have a dominant style and
a secondary style. If an adult scores almost evenly on all three styles,
that person is often uncomfortable with his or her God-given cognitive
style and is trying to be all things to all people. That adult should ask
someone else to complete the checklist for him/her to get another opinion.
If a parent completes a checklist for a child and the child
scores evenly on all three types, it may be that the child is hiding
his/her style due to family dynamics and is
difficult to assess. Or it may be that the parent needs to ask friends,
teachers, and extended family members to fill out the checklist for the
child to see if others who aren't as close to the child can come to a
consensus. Sometimes kind-hearted parents are reluctant to check terms they
think are negative when describing a child.
All rights reserved. Dr. Dana
Spears, Dreamer Resources.
Dr. Dana Spears
is the co-author of: Spears and Braund, Strong-Willed Child or Dreamer?
Thomas Nelson, 1996.
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