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3-D Checklist

This checklist will help you determine if you or your child's cognitive style. It is most accurate for those ages 6 and above.

Check one word/phrase per line that best describes your or your child's most common thought, emotion, or tendency. Be sure to check the answers that most closely reflect who you are, not who you hope to be:

1. __moody	__friendly		__even-keeled
2. __seeking the ideal	__accepting what is		__making things happen
3. __explosive	__controlled and kind		__controlled and blunt
4. __original	__traditional		__tough-minded
5. __reactive	__passive		__authoritarian
6. __loner	__follower		__leader
7. __fears failure	__helps others succeed		__makes success happen
8. __nurtures outsiders	__nurtures the mainstream		__	more productive than nurturing
9. __bombarded by new ideas	__not an idea person		__accomplishes ideas
10.__dramatic	__pleasant		__logical
11.__feels rejected	__hides feelings well		__ignores rejection
12.__relational	__likable		__independent
13.__strikes back when hurt	__rarely wounds others		__rarely feels wounded
14.__feels defeated by own flaws	__	tries to correct all personal faults	__ feels self-confident
15.__loves deep discussion	__loves to chat and visit		__loves to take action
16.__disheveled	__tidy		__organizer
17.__fears being misunderstood	__fears displeasing others		__fears underachievement
18.__affectionate	__gentle		__somewhat stiff
19.__scattered	__focused on details		__	focused on important details only
20.__frequently late	__	frustrated with those who are late	__only late for a good reason
21.__clever	__sensible		__powerful
22.__playful	__self-conscious		__industrious
23.__intriguing	__dependable		__controlling
24.__stays outside the box	__stays inside the box		__builds the box
_____Total A	____Total B		____Total C

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.

Parents:

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.

Counselors:

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 someone 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. In discussions with this type of client, focus on the inner person and inner motivations not outward behavior. Have that person do the checklist again after several counseling sessions to see if a more accurate picture emerges.

Dr. Dana Spears is the co-author of: Spears and Braund, Strong-Willed Child or Dreamer? Thomas Nelson, 1996.