In the early 1970s, Dr. Kahler, then at Purdue University, made a series of remarkable discoveries.

He observed that there was a process involved in verbal communication - identifiable sequences by which people interacted with one another. These sequences included specific speech patterns that were associated with both positive and negative interactions and that were sequential, measurable and predictable. Dr. Kahler found that by listening for these patterns, interactions could be identified, objectively, literally second-by-second, as being either productive (communication) or non-productive (miscommunication).

Dr. Kahler also discovered that there was a specific series of negative stress behaviors that was associated with each of the negative speech patterns. In other words, by listening to how someone was speaking, he could predict how they would behave under different types and levels of stress. Subsequent research showed that each of the speech and behavior patterns was uniquely correlated to one of six specific personality types.

Dr. Kahler developed these discoveries into a clinical model for rapid psychological diagnosis called the “Miniscript.” Using it, psychiatrists and psychologists could identify their patients' preferred communication styles and predict their negative behaviors simply by listening to their language choices. They found that by using the Miniscript they could improve communication and significantly reduce treatment time.

For this discovery, the International Transactional Analysis Association awarded Dr. Kahler the 1977 Eric Berne Memorial Scientific Award - given for the most significant scientific discovery in this field of psychology.

In 1978, Dr. Terry McGuire, NASA’s lead psychiatrist for manned spaceflight, invited Dr. Kahler to demonstrate the efficacy of his model in connection with the astronaut selection process. After comparing notes on several candidates, Dr. McGuire hired Dr. Kahler, commenting that 10 minutes of using his approach revealed as much or more about a candidate than a standard psychological interview of several hours. This began an extended relationship with NASA, during which Dr. Kahler worked with Dr. McGuire to incorporate the model into the astronaut selection, evaluation, training and management processes and during which Dr. Kahler also translated the concepts underlying his model into behavioral terms.

Further research revealed that while everyone has a “base” personality type that does not change, they also have a personality structure that includes all six of the types, in different orders and amounts. It also showed that each of the personality types:

• perceives the world differently than the others;
• prefers a specific “Channel” or style of communication;
• has unique character strengths;
• prefers a specific management style;
• has defined psychological and motivational needs; and
• has a consistent and predictable pattern of distress behaviors.

Working with NASA, Dr. Kahler also developed the Personality Pattern Inventory, an assessment that identifies an individual's exact personality structure.

As a result of his work with NASA and the Berne award, Dr. Kahler was invited to speak at business and organizational conferences and, at the urging of business leaders, he translated his concepts into what is now the Process Communication Model, a non-clinical model for personality assessment, communication and management for businesses and individuals.

Dr. Kahler's theory has withstood professional scrutiny and been enhanced through continued research for over 30 years. Today, PCM is used by businesses and government agencies throughout the world as, among other things, a management, selection, placement and motivation methodology. The education applications of PCM are used by teachers to maximize their effectiveness and to connect with hard to reach students. Psychiatrists, psychologists and counselors use PCM's clinical sister model – the Process Therapy Model - to treat and counsel their patients and clients.

The model's adherents include Fortune 500 CEOs and executives, national politicians and prominent health care professionals and educators . Dr. Kahler taught PCM techniques to former President Bill Clinton while he was Governor of Arkansas and acted as an advisor to his Presidential campaigns in the field of psychodemographics. President Clinton has used the techniques extensively in all of his political and personal dealings.

If you would like to learn these skills, please contact us. We can arrange for a seminar or a program of seminars designed to meet your needs.