REACH Briefing
REACH in Neuroscience
The REACH Profile and the Four Specific Brain Systems
REACH Consulting Services (RCS) and the OrgDev Institute (ODI) collaborated to study convergent validity as demonstrated with the REACH Profile. The scales (styles and dimensions) reported by the REACH Profile were analyzed for association with temperament traits emerging from research by biological anthropologist, Dr. Helen Fisher.
Findings from Dr. Fisher's research assert that such traits are linked with an expression of specific neurotransmitters (brain chemical systems), namely: dopamine, testosterone, estrogen/oxytocin and serotonin.
- ODI gathered responses from 213 training participants who completed the REACH Profile and the Fisher Temperament Inventory.
- The REACH Profile conveys a psychometric assessment of preferences and tendencies among four distinct profiles: Counselor, Coach, Driver and Advisor.
Correlation Coefficients
| REACH Scale | Dopamine | Testosterone | Estrogen/Oxytocin | Serotonin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Achieving Style | .60** | .40** | -.10 | -.18** |
| Relating Style | .20** | -.26** | .35** | -.01 |
| Intensity | .19** | .28** | -.08 | .22** |
| Assertiveness | .44** | .45** | -.19** | .45** |
| Risk Tolerance | .55** | .35** | .00 | -.19** |
| Adaptability | .52** | .09 | .02 | -.38** |
| Decision-making | .25** | -.18** | .05 | -.42** |
| Affiliation | .18** | -.01 | -.02 | -.09 |
| Openness | .16* | -.21** | .34** | -.05 |
| Consideration | .14* | -.27** | .42** | .03 |
| Status Motivation | -.12 | -.06 | -.13 | -.07 |
| Self-protection | .01 | -.18** | -.13 | -.19** |
*95% Confidence Level **99% Confidence Level
Brain System Tendencies
Dopamine
Aligns with Coach profile
"Exploratory behavior, thrill, experience and adventure seeking, enthusiasm, increased energy and motivation, cognitive flexibility, curiosity, idea generation and creativity."
REACH traits:
Testosterone
Aligns with Driver profile
"Heightened attention to detail, intensified focus, narrow interests, emotional containment, social dominance and aggressiveness, less social sensitivity."
REACH traits:
Estrogen/Oxytocin
Aligns with Counselor profile
"Empathy, nurturing, the drive to make social attachments and other prosocial aptitudes, contextual thinking, imagination, and mental flexibility."
REACH traits:
Serotonin
Aligns with Advisor profile
"Sociability, lower levels of anxiety, conformity, orderliness, conscientiousness, concrete thinking, self-control, sustained attention, low novelty seeking."
REACH traits:
Conclusion
The findings suggest that the primary styles with which participants exercise influence over others may reflect certain temperament traits. These traits may be influenced by specific brain systems, derived from the expression of four neurotransmitters: dopamine, testosterone, estrogen/oxytocin and serotonin.
These findings offer meaningful contributions for our understanding of how styles are formed, how they are applied and how they may be developed intentionally. Styles tend to be consistent and observable because they may be linked to underlying biological factors known to be fairly stable over time.
A participant's tendency toward a certain style of influence may go well beyond a simple preference, with significant implications for coaching, training and leadership development.
Source: Dr. Helen Fisher — "What scientific concept would improve everybody's cognitive toolkit? Temperament Dimensions."