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Attitude Mapping: A New Assessment Instrument
Dr. Yehia A. Ibrahim,
Professor at Assiut University, NLP Teacher & Rational-Emotive-Behavior-Thinker (REBT)
Summary: The attitude is an inside-out reflection or shadow of the self-image, and the self image is rather dependent on the individual's beliefs about his or her self. Although self-beliefs construct our personal truth, they rarely express our authentic selves, and sometimes our personal truth is an ill-conceived one and faraway from being accurate. However, we present ourselves-whether authentic or fictional-to the outer world through a number of attitudes. Those attitudes can be seen in how people normally think, feel, act, and interact. Along with a new assessment instrument for mapping people's attitude, as individuals or in groups, we also provide, in this article, a short synopsis on the mystery of our attitude, and how it serves as an effective engine actualizing our self-fulfilling prophecy-for better or worse. In analogy, attitude is the player on the theatre of our life; it plays the script that we wrote consciously or unconsciously. Assessing our attitude enables us to read our life script, and edit it for a better future show or replay.
Attitude and Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
The Attitude is the mystery of human life, and life is all about different attitudes reacting and interacting with its events. People's attitudes are like chemical molecules; they have their interpersonal chemistry that ultimately determines the outcome of their reaction. The chemistry of attitude interaction is very sensitive to any attitude change, and minor changes can lead to either success or failure in our communication and progress. I promise you that at this precise moment next year, your life will be better or worse than it is right now. It will not be the same; the choice to improve it or let it decay is entirely and undeniably yours, it all depends on whether or not you assess your attitude and adjust it to preferably and smoothly react in the overall chemistry of your communication process. You can leave your destiny to chance and do nothing but worry. Worrying is like rocking in a chair: it is something you do, but takes you nowhere. It is energy wasted. However you can use self-awareness and attitude assessment and adjustment to better invest your energy. You have all what you need to go from a present state to a desired one; you have 'you'. You are gifted all the resources you need to go from where you are right now to where you want to be in the future. Your attitude is your inseparable companion; it can be your enemy or your friend in the journey of your life.
Upon our creation, we have been gifted everything we will ever need to uniquely, but also successfully, fulfill our role in life. We have within our "self" every skill, capacity, insight, and wisdom necessary to achieve our mission in life. The number one goal for every one of us is -then- to allow this unique creative potential to be actualized and expressed to a meaningful life. Expression and actualization of such uniqueness may be halted by our internal reaction and mental programming in response to three major groups of external factors, i.e. (a) defining moments, (b) critical choices, and (c) pivotal people. Internal reactions-where we put the blame, what we are saying to ourselves about what has happened to us, the labels we accept for ourselves, etc.-to these factors produce a "self image" that constructs our attitude and drive it to fulfill the conceptual foundation of such an image.
Just remember that beliefs and values are the construction blocks or conceptual dots of our self image, and our self image is our personal truth that is being reflected onto our attitude. Our attitude strives to prove our personal truth-whether accurate or inaccurate-and it is therefore the tool of our self-fulfilling prophecy. This indicates how important we need to assess our attitude as part of our journey towards self-awareness and personal development. Following its assessment, we have to address our attitude with four critical questions:
• Is it a true fact?
• Does holding on to this attitude serve my best interests?
• Is my attitude advancing and protecting my health?
• Does this attitude get me more of what I want, need, and deserve?
When our attitude-not measuring up to the rational criteria-is changed, a new way of life can be initiated.
Attitude Assessment
We do not have fixed attitudes, but we approach life through a mix of favorable, preferable or habitual types. This mix is dynamic in nature, but likely to be dominated by one or two types. In this exercise, we present a table containing 10 major attitudes. It is important to note that each attitude is valuable by itself under certain circumstances; so the value of people's attitude is context-dependent. In this respect, we have to accept the presupposition that assumes a positive intent for every attitudinal behavior.
Please read carefully through the tabulated 10 attitudes, and assess yourself by dividing a total of 100 points among these 10 alternative attitudes depending on the extent to which each type is frequently contributing to your life action, interaction and reaction. The end result will bring to your attention your attitude mix, map or mosaic, as well as the most abundant attitude(s) in your life. This piece of self-knowledge can be very instrumental in managing yourself on one hand, and in designing a personal development plan to consciously change your life from the inside out on the other hand.
(1) The Battle Attitude (Win/Lose)
This attitude sees any conversation as a battle between two parties, each of which has a point of view. Because winning the battle, rather than exploring or developing the subject, is the major concern, this attitude withholds information if it supports the other point of view. (6) The Learner Attitude
Learning something new from others is the main intention of entering a discussion. It is not then a matter of proving being right, or convincing others of a point of view. The learner uses good listening skills and asks questions to gain new information, ideas and insights.
(2) The Dominant Attitude
The conversation is an exercise of ego power game. The discussion is there to be dominated. Domination is achieved in an allying mode rather than a battle mode. So long as discussion is dominated, winning the argument is not that important. "Dominance" is a different concept from "winning". (7) The Explorer Attitude
This attitude is interested in reaching the truth, and laying out a full or complete picture through synergy and cooperative exploration of the subject. Although scoring debate points is not the aim of this attitude, information and ideas can be freely and objectively challenged.
(3) The Bully Attitude
This attitude sees conversation as an acceptable means of bullying others. The effect on others, rather than the content of the subject, is the main interest. The bully challenges everything and treats others' information as false or biased. While listening, the bully attitude shows a doubting and unbelieving face. (8) The Constructive Attitude
This attitude is similar to the explorer, but with one big difference. For the constructive attitude examining the subject or laying it out clearly is not enough. It is important to design a way forward, and to do something. Awareness is very important, reflection is worth it, but action is critically needed.
(4) The Critic Attitude
This attitude focuses mainly on disagreement, and attacks the tiniest points. Although seeking to be right and superior is the main purpose, this attitude rarely offers new ideas. This attitude uses arrogance of logic and/or arrogance of values to rationalize putting other people down. (9) The Innovator Attitude
The innovator is bored by conventional opinions and arguments. Like a hawk, this attitude is waiting to bounce with new, creative and unusual ideas when there is a suitable opportunity. This attitude is a useful element, but when the role is overdone, the discussion can turn into a fancy dress parade.
(5) The Who Cares Attitude
For this attitude, it is the appearance and/or interaction with other people-not what is said-that really matters. This attitude cares less about the target subject, or the discussion outcome. Taking a side or presenting a different point of view is not a major concern. (10) The Fun Attitude
This attitude sees conversation as entertainment and discussion as an enjoyable use of the mind. On the whole a conversation is an end in itself. The main purpose of a conversation or discussion is, therefore, to enjoy it and help others share the enjoyment.
Scoring, Evaluation and Attitude Mapping
Attitude Score
(1) The Battle Attitude
(2) The Dominant Attitude
(3) The Bully Attitude
(4) The Critic Attitude
(5) The Who Cares Attitude
(6) The Learner Attitude
(7) The Explorer Attitude
(8) The Constructive Attitude
(9) The Innovator Attitude
(10) The Fun Attitude
Other attitudes (Please indicate)
Total Score 100
Personal Development Plan
Based on the scoring distribution above, please rank your attitudes in a descending order of their abundance, and then answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper or in your personal journal. Keep reading and revising the answers and your action plan, and consciously practice the behaviors that parallel your most wanted attitude(s).
(1) Does your attitude mix or map mostly facilitate your daily life?
(2) What is your predominant or abundant attitude?
(3) Does your abundant attitude help your reach your goals?
(4) Does your abundant attitude bring comfort to your relationships, and happiness to your life?
(5) Do you think that you should change your attitude map?
(6) Do you plan to change your attitude map?
(7) What would be the direction for change?
(8) Where would be your starting point?
(9) Can you draw a plan or road-map for changing your attitude-map?
(10) What would be the major elements in your plan of action?
A Final Remark
As a head of an academic department, the author of this article has been able to categorize the staff and faculty members in a matrix or an attitude map, in a non-prejudice, non-labeling fashion. The team mapping process can be achieved by self assessment or colleague's assessment. People with similar attitudes are grouping in the table containing the 10 attitude headings. This team-attitude mapping has enabled the author to productively run a difficult department in difficult moments and with difficult people. I encourage business people to draw an attitude map of their team to complement team attitudes, resolve their conflicts, and facilitate their synergistic potential. With a high team spirit, trust, and transparency, this team-attitudes map can be used by members to adjust their attitudes when situations require and when time allows.
As a trainer and human-resources developer, the author has achieved some success in helping people acquire an "attitudinal flexibility skill." I here coin this skill as one of the most important tools in human health and personal success. This skill goes further into the deep structure, and can be instrumental in driving behavioral flexibility and emotional resilience.
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