Why do the Picture Cards look like they do?
Did you know that when we were in the initial research, development and design phases for Personality Dimensions® we purposely looked to provide images on each of the Picture Cards that would be reflective of our cultural mosaic?
Years prior to our work on Personality Dimensions® I met a gentleman who taught in the largest school board in Canada. He was taking an introductory workshop to another temperament tool that used cards as part of its methodology. He seemed to be truly enjoying himself and contributed greatly to the discussions and learning so I was very surprised (and I don’t think I was alone in this) when, at the end of the workshop, he said that he enjoyed the workshop but could not use the tool with his students. His students were from a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds and he felt that they would not be able to relate to the images on the cards. I carried that memory for a long time and, while I’ve lost touch with that gentleman, it is thanks to his insightful comments, and those of others along the way, that the images on the Personality Dimensions picture cards are as reflective of as many different cultures as possible.
Keep in touch; you never know when you might offer a thought or observation that will affect positive change in the future.
Yours, from the back office … Denise
Denise Hughes is the Director and owner of 
Career/LifeSkills Resources Inc. and general editor of Personality Dimensions® materials and products. She just noticed the calendar and realized that not only is this the first day of Autumn, but it also is just past the 41st anniversary of her introduction to career and type and temperament materials. Those experiences and the expertise she gained through her years with the Guidance Centre, University of Toronto, and now with CLSR, continue to shape the direction that both Career/LifeSkills Resources and Personality Dimensions® take.
4 Responses
During the development of PD, the picture cards were changed several times to reflect the input of focus groups across the country who also made wonderful suggestions. We were also careful about each and every symbol that went on each card to try to ensure that they were positive or neutral to different cultures.
During the development of PD, the picture cards were changed several times to reflect the input of focus groups across the country who also made wonderful suggestions. We were also careful about each and every symbol that went on each card to try to ensure that they were positive or neutral to different cultures.
Now, more than ever, as we live in a global village with incidents of racial tension all around us, we need to not only address, but promote diversity. The posters do this well, and presenters would be advised to make a comment about this fact, if it does not come out in the normal course of a workshop. As a former principal in one of the most racially and socially diverse boards in Canada, racial cooperation is critical to success. It is great to see the cross-culture applications of Personality Dimensions and related PD tools.
Now, more than ever, as we live in a global village with incidents of racial tension all around us, we need to not only address, but promote diversity. The posters do this well, and presenters would be advised to make a comment about this fact, if it does not come out in the normal course of a workshop. As a former principal in one of the most racially and socially diverse boards in Canada, racial cooperation is critical to success. It is great to see the cross-culture applications of Personality Dimensions and related PD tools.