history of pcm and ptm
In the early 1970s, Dr. Kahler, then at Purdue University, made a series of remarkable discoveries. He observed that there was a process involved in verbal communication – identifiable sequences by which people interacted with one another in both positive and negative ways. These sequences included specific speech patterns that were associated with both positive and negative interactions and that were sequential, measurable and predictable. He found that by listening for these patterns, interactions could be identified, objectively, literally second-by-second, as being either productive (communication) or non-productive (miscommunication).
He also discovered that there was a specific series of negative stress behaviours that was associated with each of the negative speech patterns. In other words, by listening to how someone was speaking, he could predict how they would behave under different types and levels of stress. Subsequent research showed that each of the speech and behaviour patterns was unique to one of six specific personality types.
Dr. Kahler developed these discoveries into a clinical model for rapid psychological diagnosis called the ‘Miniscript.’ Using it, psychiatrists and psychologists could identify their patients’ preferred communication styles and predict their negative behaviours simply by listening to their language choices. They found that by using the Miniscript they could improve communication and significantly reduce treatment time.
For this discovery, the International Transactional Analysis Association awarded Dr. Kahler the 1977 Eric Berne Memorial Scientific Award – given for the most significant scientific discovery in this field of psychology.
In 1978, Dr. Terry McGuire, the consulting psychiatrist at NASA responsible for crew selection and management, invited Dr. Kahler to demonstrate the efficacy of his model in connection with the astronaut selection process. After comparing notes on several candidates, Dr. McGuire hired Dr. Kahler, commenting that a ‘process’ approach of 10 minutes revealed as much or more about a candidate than a ‘content’ interview of several hours. This began an extended relationship with NASA, during which Dr. Kahler worked with Dr. McGuire to incorporate the model into the astronaut selection, evaluation, training and management processes and during which Dr. Kahler also translated the concepts underlying his model into behavioural terms.
Further research revealed that while everyone has a ‘base’ personality type that does not change, they also have a personality structure that includes all six of the types, in different orders and amounts. It also showed that each of the base personality types:
- perceives the world differently than the others
- has unique character strengths
- prefers a specific management style and ‘channel’ or style of communication
- has defined psychological and motivational needs and has a consistent and predictable pattern of distress behaviours
Working with NASA, Dr. Kahler also developed the Personality Pattern Inventory, an assessment that identifies an individual’s exact personality structure.
As a result of his work with NASA and the Berne award, Dr. Kahler was invited to speak at business and organizational conferences and, at the urging of business leaders, he translated his concepts into what is now the Process Communication Model, a non-clinical model for personality assessment, communication and management for businesses and individuals.
Dr. Kahler's theory has withstood professional scrutiny and been enhanced through continued research for over 35 years. Today, PCM is used by businesses and government agencies throughout the world as, among other things, a management, selection, placement and motivation methodology. The education applications of PCM are used by teachers to maximize their effectiveness and to connect with hard to reach students. Psychiatrists, psychologists and counselors use PTM to treat and counsel their patients and clients.
The model's adherents include Fortune 500 CEOs and executives, national politicians and prominent psychiatrists, psychologists and educators. Dr. Kahler taught PCM techniques to former President Bill Clinton while he was Governor of Arkansas and acted as an advisor to his Presidential campaigns in the field of psychodemographics.
Please note, the information on this page has been reproduced with permission from the website of Taibi Kahler Associates Inc (www.taibikahlerassociates.com/background.html) and copyright remains with Taibi Kahler Associates, Inc. website.