The Theory Behind Thomas PPA
Personal Profile Analysis (PPA) has its original impetus from the writings of Marston (1928, 1931) who postulated a theory of human behavior as a function of two bipolar dimensions, one external and the other internal.
These two dimensions provided a matrix from which the individual’s typical pattern of interaction could be described through four characteristics: Dominance, Inducement, Submission and Compliance (DISC). Marston’s theory assumed that most people are capable of showing all four of these patterns at different times. However, individuals develop, through learning and reinforcement, a style of life which places particular emphasis on certain aspects of behaviour and less on others. Further research by others in the 1950s confirmed this proposal that behaviour can be measured along the two axis/four dimensions as suggested by Marston.
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