Virtues

This is necessary for one thing because these indicators show how well we progress in our work. For another reason, because we need to treat the person somewhat differently depending on where she is at.

These distinctions are not absolute. However, they are definitely observable and are as close to finite as we can get. A skilled observer should be able to note them.

Each scale can be regarded as a sliding scale. One can have that quality to a higher or lower degree. For our purposes here we will over-simplify things and pretend that people either has it or doesn't have it. I.e. people are either at the top of the scale or the bottom of the scale. That isn't quite true, but it helps us to watch out for the turning point where one moves from the negative side to the positive side of the quality.

A person is not necessarily stably in one state or another. Particularly, one is likely to drop to a less optimum state under stress. The state used for our categorization would be the person's "normal" routine state. Like, not when she is in an argument or the house is burning, but when she is sitting casually talking with somebody.

Always, be very careful with saying that any person IS something. Nobody really IS their behavior or their apparent qualities. They can always change. Never speak about it as something people just inherently ARE.

Presence

Here

A person who is fully here is focusing mainly on what is going on right now, not on the past or the future. Most of her energy goes into the moment. She is not spending energy lamenting over what she should have done, or what she should be doing now instead of what she is doing, or what she has to do in the future. The person might very well be working towards a certain future, but she realizes that her life is going on right now, not later.

There

The There person will when questioned explain that she is doing what she is doing because she HAS to, because something in the past or future, or elsewhere is driving her to do it. The There person is also likely to be bothered by things that are happening elsewhere, or will happen, or has happened.

In processing, a There person would be most partial to finding causes in the past and would respond less well to regarding everything as being created in the moment.

Responsibility

Cause	The person at cause will naturally assume that she is the key to resolving situations she is in. She admits being cause and enjoys being the person who makes things happen. She knows that things are made to happen in the current moment.
Effect	The effect person will generally blame somebody else or something else. For an effect person, the cause is generally 'over there'. That might also take the form of blaming oneself in the past. Like "it is my fault, I should have done so-and-so". That is still the effect viewpoint.

In processing, an Effect person might respond negatively to being addressed at cause. We would need to work over the different other agencies she perceives being effect of. Conversely, a Cause person would respond negatively to being addressed as Effect.

Cognition

Cogniting	The person has the ability to learn things simply by examining the situation. Cognites fluidly as a continuous discovery process. Realizes that learning is something that she does.
Not Cogniting	The person thinks that learning is something that comes from elsewhere. Mostly waits around for something to happen. Tends to not understand things and not be discovering anything on her own.

A person who is not cogniting on her own needs more convincing reasons for changing. A person who discovers things on her own would be less willing to be persuaded by "reasons" but will make her own observations.

Intuition

Intuitive	An intuitive person is able to accept an impulse, even if it is illogical and coming out of "nowhere". Has an auto-answer mechanism that works. She will be responsive to perceptions coming from multiple levels, even if they are sub-conscious or super-conscious and she can't explain them.
Literal	A literal person will only willingly respond to what she is consciously aware of and can explain logically. She will generally deny the validity of hunches and intuitions or anything else not arrived at through analysis. Tends to take words and symbols literally.

In processing, a literal person might have a hard time with incident clearing. She would demand logical techniques that are explained first. And intuitive person would probably rather enjoy surprising processes.

Creativity

Creative	Prefers to do things in a new or different way, adding unique value to whatever she does. Will readily come up with new suggestions or ideas for no particular reason. Regards any activity as a potential opportunity for excitement. Generates her own interest.
Conform	Prefers to do things the same old way. Tries to fit in and do what is expected and accepted. Does not voluntarily come up with new ideas. If pushed she will try to construct creativity with logic. Gets bored if not presented with something to do.

A Conform person might prefer repetitive techniques and would feel insecure about too much fluidity. A Creative person would work the other way around.

Activity

Active	Enjoys activity. Is active, making things happen most of the time. Will maneuver things in the direction of what is desirable or needed. Acts based on intentions. Will be active as the natural state.
Inert	Won't act unless she has to. Will tend to be doing the same things continuously. Will naturally be standing still without seeing any particular enjoyment in activity.

An Inert person will need to get instructions. In session, the facilitator needs to prepare more exactly what will go on. An Active person already has an agenda. She more needs consulting, to help her do what she already is doing.

Emotional Expressiveness

Expressive	Expresses emotions naturally. Uses different emotions appropriate to different circumstances. Responds to situations by feeling something and expressing it. Emotional state will be quite apparent to others. Emotions are a fluid response to life.
Closed Off	Expresses an unchanging emotion, except possibly for occasional outbursts of out-of-context emotion. Emotions are an on/off thing. Suppresses responses to circumstances. It is unclear to others what she feels about the situation.

A Closed Off person would be uncomfortable by being pushed into emotions. She would probably rather want to talk about things and would need to be inched gradually towards feeling more. An Expressive person probably doesn't want to waste time on that.

Effectiveness

Effective	Gets things done in a direct manner. Is fairly relaxed in a state of activity. Deals with the situation at hand and improves it. Will naturally change confusion into order.
Ineffective	Has trouble getting things done. Gets stressed and frustrated about not getting anything done. Will naturally turn order into disorder. Procrastinates.

In processing, that might determine how directly the facilitator takes charge. You can more trust the Effective person to get things done on her own.

Honesty

Honest	Will readily admit to self and others what the perceived truth is. Will naturally search out the most true assessment available. Will move towards clearing up situations that aren't optimum. Tries to create alignment at multiple levels.
Dishonest	Will tend to hide or change the truth. Will naturally seek out the expression that hides the truth. Will move away from clearing up non-optimum situations. Tries to disconnect the outward expression from the inward state or information.

In processing, the Dishonest person needs to be tricked or cajoled into giving things up. You would need to always look for incongruencies and expect something different than what is being said.

Communicativeness

Has fears and hesitations about communicating with others. Finds it stressful to communicate. Prefers not to.

Sociable	Will communicate with anyone about anything in a relaxed and open manner. Enjoys interacting with other people.
Reclusive	Has fears and hesitations about communicating with others. Finds it stressful to communicate. Prefers not to.

With a Sociable person we can just discuss things directly and shock her with unusual ideas. The Reclusive person needs to be approached a lot more gently, showing her that it can be safe to communicate.

Acceptance

Acceptance	Is open to many different viewpoints. Can encompass multiple different perspectives at the same time. Has no need to judge viewpoints that are different from her own.
Judgmental	Will respond to other viewpoints by judging them. Tends to hold on to only one viewpoint at a time. Tries to protect own views.

With a judgmental person you need to be more careful to word things in a way that matches her way of looking at things. You would need to steer around her idiosyncrasies.

There are other possible virtues that can be charted out than the ones described here. This is however a set of important ones that can be used to monitor a client by.

Exercise