Many models are used to categorise people. I will share with you today the model of perceptional positions. This model distinguishes between people according to what main perceptional channel they use to interact with the world. This has been widely used in learning and teaching and is known as the VAK (V=visual, A=auditory, and K=Kinaesthetic) model.
Being able to identify whether a person is visual, kinaesthetic, auditory, olfactory (sense of smell), or gustatory (sense of taste) goes a long way towards understanding them and towards building rapport and knowing how to address them to get them on board with a project. Identifying the language pattern (VAK) another person operates in and using these language patterns yourself creates almost instant rapport and willingness to co-operate.
The following is a test to find out what representation system is your dominant system. Are you mainly visual, kinaesthetic, or auditory? This is copied from the website: www.brefigroup.co.uk
TEST: What is your representational system?
When you recall a time you were immensely drawn to someone, what was the very first thing that attracted you to them? Was it:
A. The way they looked
B. Something they said to you or that you heard
C. The way they touched you or something you felt
When you recall a particularly wonderful holiday you had, what's
the very first experience you remember? Was it:
A. The way the place looked
B. The different way it sounded to you
C. The feeling you got about holidaying there
When you drive, how do you navigate?
A. I look at road signs or follow a map of the area
B. I listen for familiar sounds that point me in the right
direction
C. I get a gut feeling or sense of where I am
When I play my favourite sport, I particularly enjoy:
A. How I look playing at it
B. The sound of the game, such as the thwack of the ball
C. The feel of the game, the grip of the club or the sense of
motion
When I get a task at work, it is easier to understand and carry
out if:
A. It is written or I have a plan
B. It is explained to me
C. I get a sense of purpose, clarity from it
When my problems get me down, I find it helps to:
A. Write them down so I can see them clearly
B. Talk or listen to another until my problems sound easier to hear
C. Sort them out inside my head until they make sens
I find it easier to be with my friends if:
A. They communicate using 'to the point' statements
B. They interact with me through easy to hear and varying speech
C. I get a feeling that they know where I am coming from
When I make decisions it helps to:
A. Picture the possible choices in my mind's eye
B. Hear both sides of a dialogue within my mind
C. Sense how I would feel if either choice came to pass
Which group do I tend to favour:
A. Photography, painting, reading, drawing, films
B. Music, the sound of the sea, the wind, chimes, concerts
C. Ball games, massage, touching, craft work, reflection
During sex, I like to:
A. Look at what is going on
B. Hear my lover
C. Feel every sensation
When I buy an article of clothing, after first seeing it the
very next thing I do is:
A. Take another look at it or picture myself wearing it
B. Listen closely to the sales assistant or have a conversation with myself giving the pros and cons of buying it
C. Get a feeling about it and/or touch it to know if it's something I'd enjoy wearing
On the occasions when I think of a former lover or special
person, the very first thing I do is:
A. See the person in my mind's eye
B. Hear his or her voice in my mind
C. Get a certain feeling about the person
At a gym, my experience of satisfaction comes first from:
A. Seeing myself in the mirror getting better
B. Hearing myself or others say how good I'm looking
C. Feeling my body get stronger and sensing it's more in shape
When I have occasion to use mathematics, I verify the answer by:
A. Looking at the numbers to see if they look correct
B. Counting the numbers in my head
C. Using my fingers to get a sense of correctness
When I spell, I verify accuracy by:
A. Looking at the word in my mind's eye to see if it looks the way that word should
B. Saying the word out loud or hearing it in my mind
C. Getting a feeling about the way the word is spelt
The subject I enjoyed the most in school came about primarily as
a result of:
A. The way it looked on the board or in books
B. The sound of the subject as it was taught to me
C. My sense of interest as I learned more about it
When I love someone, I get an immediate experience of:
A. The way we look together through the eyes of love
B. The sound of telling him or her or being told, "I love you"
C. A feeling or sense of warmth toward that person
When I take a dislike to someone, I get an immediate experience
of distaste:
A. When I see them approach
B. When they begin talking to me
C. When I sense they're nearby
At the beach, the very first thing that makes me glad to be there is:
A. The look of the sand, the smiling sun, and the ice-blue water
B. The sound of the waves, the laughing wind, and distant whispers
C. The feel of the sand, the salt air on my lips and the joy of serenity
Having a conversation at a party, my whole frame of experience will change if:
A. The lights get brighter or dimmer
B. The music changes pace
C. The room temperature changes
I know my career is taking a turn for the better when:
A. I see myself moving into a more private office
B. I hear the managing director say, "You're really going to go places."
C. I feel satisfaction in getting a promotion.
Before going to sleep at night, it's important that:
A. The room is nearly dark or pleasantly shaded
B. The room is hushed or muted with pleasing background quiet
C. The bed feels very comfortable
In the morning, I especially enjoy awakening to:
A. Either the sun streaming in or an overcast day
B. The sound of a lively wind or rain pelting the windows
C. A warm duvet or flannel sheets
When I experience anxiety, the very first thing that happens is:
A. The world takes on a different appearance in some way
B. Sounds begin to bother me
C. My sense of ease begins to alter
When I'm very happy, my world:
A. Takes on a definite and wonderful shine
B. Resonates with total harmony
C. Fits perfectly within the space of my life
I get along better with people who:
A. Relate to the world through the way it looks
B. Relate to the world through the way it sounds
C. Relate to the world through the way it maes them feel
When I get totally motivated the first thing that happens is:
A. I see things from a new and resourceful perspective
B. I tell myself how this state is going to create new possibilities
C. I can actually feel myself getting psyched up
When someone tells me "I love you" my first experience is:
A. An image of the person loving me, or us together
B. A dialogue within my soul saying, "This is wonderful"
C. A feeling of pleasurable contentment
Death, for me is probably:
A. To see no more, or to see in a totally new way
B. To hear no more, or to hear in a totally new way
C. To feel no more, or to feel in a totally new way
Having rapport with someone is:
A. Seeing him or her in a wonderful and easy-to-be-with way
B. Hearing the person communicate things exactly the way they should
C. Feeling toward the person the way I know he or she feels toward me.
Add up the scores you have in each category:
.............. Answers of A (visual)
............. Answers of B (Auditory)
............ Answers of C (Kineasthetic)
Which of category is most dominant? Everyone usually scores some points in each category, but more often, one category stands out. There is a lot you can do with this new insight about youself. I will blog about it in the coming days/weeks.
Visual is the most dominant category for me
Posted by: G. S. | June 16, 2010 at 10:45 AM