Differentiation-Analytic Inventory

Adapted from Positive Psychotherapy by N. Peseschkian; New Delhi, India; New Dawn; 2000

To complete this inventory, think of each capacity as it relates to yourself, your parents, and your partner (if
relevant). For example: because one is impatient, punctuality becomes an issue which evokes emotional
reaction. Punctuality is very important to you, was also very important to your mother, but your father was
not punctual; in your relationship now, you find yourself becoming quickly angered when your partner is
even 5 minutes late. This creates great anxiety in you and conflict for you and your partner.

This is a subjective inventory, and there is no right or wrong response—it is based upon how you feel and
what you think at the time it is completed.

Rate each capacity in the following manner:

+ + + designates the highest subjective evaluation of a capacity and — — — designates the lowest
evaluation; + — means indifference towards the behavioral area; + + , +, — —, —, are further levels of
your subjective evaluation. The second column represents your evaluation of your actual capabilities (you);
the third is your assessment of your mother’s capacities as you remember them; fourth is your assessment of
your father’s capacities; fifth is for your evaluation of your partner’s capacities. Rate how important each
capacity is to you, and how important you think it is to the others. In the last column, place your comments
upon these capacities—as they relate you or a significant other.

EXAMPLE
Secondary Capacities You Mother Father Partner Spontaneous Answer
Punctuality +++ +++ — — — — When I was young, my mother always
had to wait for dad and she became
very angry. I get angry with my
partner for being late, causing conflict.
Cleanliness +— ++ +— +++ It is not that important to me if my
home is very clean, though my partner
thinks I am like a slob.

In completing this inventory, also think of the relationship between you and your parents: which parent was
more patient with you; who was more punctual when they were to do something with you; which spent more
time with you; which parent you looked to as an example/model, etc. Parents are the models we learn these
capacities with and from.

Secondary capacities are an expression of the capacity to know and rest upon the transmission of
knowledge. In them are mirrored the achievement norms of the individual’s social group (family, society).
Upon these learned capacities, we judge other people—often unconsciously. “He is not punctual”; “She just
doesn’t seem reliable”; etc. We may have an emotional reaction to perceived offenses of these capacities
which we have learned in our relationship with significant others. We understand these emotional
disturbances in the light of emotional ties. These are expressed in the primary capacities.
Primary capacities concern the capacity to love. They have to do with the predominantly emotional domain,
and develop, just as the secondary capacities, in interpersonal relationship. They develop initially in relation
to the parents and then become activated in relation with significant others. These are called primary because
they concern the emotional domain, which is closer to the self and are the foundation upon which the
secondary capacities are built. It is on the basis of these that secondary capacities experience their emotional
resonance.

Example: “I don’t trust my husband since he’s had an affair.” (actual capacities: trust and fidelity)
Consideration of capacities: These capacities are modes of behavior that occur in our interpersonal relations.
They are also taken to be dynamic psychological processes within which and from which a person acts in
relation to one self and others. They are basic human capacities (or capabilities) and attitudes that actually
affect our daily lives. Honesty, for example, is a psychological dynamic which is reflected in our behavior
towards ourselves and others; it shows itself as truthfulness and sincerity, having personal integrity and
‘being true to one’s self’. In a marital relationship honesty counts as faithfulness while in our communicating
with others is expressed as candor and uprightness and in business situations as good faith.
They may also be considered as norms of socialization, that is, normal modes of behavior we learn
from the societies and families we grow up in. The capacities are dynamic in that they are modified in our
development by internal and external situations and each capacity acquires an individual meaning. One
person may hold obedience as the most important form of behavior, while another values orderliness,
punctuality, patience or unity. These capacities may become sources of challenge for us and our relationship
with others, causing internal strife and external conflicts.
These capacities may be active or passive: Do you expect others to be punctual while you allow
yourself to be late? Can you tolerate ambiguity (doubt) in yourself but need it in relation with others
(certainty)? In one sense, capacities are expectations we have of others—they are passive; on the other hand
they encompass certain ways of acting and behavior patterns—they are active. They may also be flexible for
us or rigid—we can tolerate others being late, depending upon the situation; we are fixed in our attitude
towards punctuality since as a child it was so critical to our family life.

The following explanations are not given as definitions, but as general ideas to orient your thinking about
these capacities. As seen above, the capacities are very broad categories which influence all domains of
our life. These are included since they may seem more unclear compared to the others.

Brief explanation for some capacities:

Time: It is concerned with our relationship with the present, past and future. How much time did
your parents give to you; how much time do you give to others; how important is it for you that your partner
gives of his/her time for you? Are you anxious about the future? Do you have time alone?
Example/modeling: did either parent give you examples of how to do something; did they
intentionally model ways of acting or interacting for you (much of it may have been unconscious—we
watched them interact with our relatives and learned how to act; but some can be intentional—they showed
us how to cook, to play games, etc.) Do you find yourself being a model for others?
Sexuality-sex: how do you feel about your sexuality or sexual experience (if relevant); how
important is it to you in your relationship, or to your partner; how affectionate or expressive were your
parents when you were around, etc.
Doubt- how important is it that you doubt your evaluation or interpretation of events you experience;
do you often re-evaluate your judgments of events or others; did your parents express their doubts about
issues. Do you doubt your own abilities, your profession, or beliefs?
Unity- the ability to integrate one’s capacities, value system, and experiences as well as one’s body,
environment and time into a coherent and meaningful system; also concerns unity and cooperation with those
around us. Do you feel at one with yourself; is unity and cooperation with others important to you?

Example: A highly successful businessman was always first in school grades and competitions. He was
driven to be first in class by his mother, who constantly gave him subtle and overt pressure. As an adult, he
does not show any love, patience or have time for anyone in his life; in fact, even though he is married and
has children, he seldom spends time with them and is very irritated when they demand anything from him
which takes him away from his work. This has created such a conflict that his wife is ready to divorce him
because there is no time for intimacy as well. He never doubted that what he was doing was right, though
few around him agreed with him. He realized he felt out of balance with others and, as he said, “couldn’t pull
it all together.” These factors led him to seek therapeutic help.
(Capacities: obedience, achievement, exactness, love, patience, time, contact, doubt, unity)
Secondary Capacities You Mother Father Partner Spontaneous Answer
Punctuality

Cleanliness

Orderliness

Obedience

Politeness

Honesty-Sincerity

Fidelity-Faithfulness

Justice

Thrift-Economy

Diligence-Achievement

Reliability-Dependability

Conscientiousness

Exactness

Primary Capacities You Mother Father Partner Spontaneous Answer

Love (Emotionality)

Unity

Patience

Example/ Modeling

Time

Sexuality-Sex

Contact

Trust

Confidence

Hope

Belief-Faith

Doubt

Certainty