Guided Imagery

In the ALMT an individual views 110 slides with 8 of them depicting selected occupational activity in each of 14 different areas of life. While each picture is displayed on the computer screen for 10 seconds of time, the individual rates the activity on a 10 point scale in secret on how well it appeals to him/ her for personal involvement. By use of this kind of guided imagery psychological states are created. If the subject likes the activity, he/she gives it a rating of 8,9, or 10. If he/she dislikes the activity, a rating of 1, 2, or 3. Mediocre liking ratings receive a 4, 5, 6, or 7. As the individual completes his/her rating, the changes in neural functions are depicted on the computer screen. A "G" is used to depict emotions,’ an "E" showing tension of muscles, a "T" displaying the "fight or flight" pattern, and a "P" showing the presently perceived stress load. These same 14 career areas are used in The Australian Career Interest Inventory (ACII), and for use with career interest by the conscious brain (Cassel, 1987, and 1991b):

1. Machine & Mechanical
2. Scientific & Assessment
3. Education & Social Science
4. Medical & Health Services
5. Clerical & Business
6. Management & Supervision
7. Agriculture & Life Science
8. Performing Arts & Aesthetics
9. Crafts & Trades
10. Law Enforcement & Military
11. Marketing & Sales
13. Engineering & Physical Science
14. Communication & Transportation

Discovering Clusters

The Australian Life Mission Test (ALMT) has been carefully standardized and validated, based solidly on the principles described in the Code of Fair Testing Practices (1988). Fifteen different and independently organized neural functioning clusters were identified, and are used to help people find the kind of activity that gives them most satisfaction in life. Based on principal component factor loadings, 2 of the factors depicted negative loadings showing a disdain or dislike of the subject for such activity. For the other 13 factors the loadings were positive, depicting a general liking of such activity by the subjects involved. For 14 of the 15 factors, the principal loadings were discrete, with no other loadings being statistically significant. For 8 of the 15 factors, a single loading depicted the neural functioning involved, and with no "noise" (other significant loadings) evident (Cassel and Costello, 1989 and 1990):

Cluster I - Muscle Tension - Pleasure derives largely from use of striated muscles, and kinesthesia—movement of muscles—in five career areas: Medical, Management, Performing arts, Clerical, and Agriculture.

Cluster II - Sympathetic Pattern - Pleasure derives largely from peak performance with extensive use of emergency state, and in five different career areas: Legal and military, Performing arts, Clerical, Crafts, and Management.

Cluster III - Perceived Stress - Personal satisfaction derives largely from accepting heavy responsibility and a perceived heavy load, real or imagined, in five career areas: Management, Performing arts, Law and military, Crafts, and Agriculture.

Cluster IV - General Emotionality - Pleasure derives largely from high emotional feelings by serving others in four different career areas: Education, Medicine, Management, and Science.

Cluster V- Technical Emotionality - Pleasure derives largely from work with machines and mechanical activity, and is restricted to this kind of involvement.

Cluster VI - Communication Stress Pleasure derives largely from use and involvement in communication skills, either directly, or through education and management.

Cluster VII - Basic Emotionality - This is one of the two negative factor loading, suggesting an experience of "pain" in connection with the anticipation of events; as opposed to participation.

Cluster VIII - Clerical Emotionality Pleasure derives largely from participation or management in connection with clerical and business activity.

Cluster IX - Labor Emotionality - Pleasure derives largely from labor and elemental work, where little skill is involved, and where personal responsibility is minimum.

Cluster X - Engineering Emotionality Pleasure derives from activity of a highly scientific nature, where careful scientific planning is involved, and where math and science are basics utilized.

Cluster XI - Undefined Emotionality Pleasure here derives from a wide diversity of activity, and where not only emotions are derived from the activity, but also tension of muscles, perceived stress load, and use of sympathetic pattern.

Cluster XII - Communication Emotionality - Pleasure derives from high emotional feelings in connection with activity in two different career areas: Communication and transportation, and Medical and health services.

Cluster XIII- law Emotionality - Pleasure derives largely from work involving authority like roles in law and the legal practice, and/or the military.

Cluster XV - Technology Emotionality Pleasure in this cluster derives from accepting heavy responsibility in connection with management and supervision, and/or science and assessment activity.

Conscious Interest Areas

The Australian Career Interest Inventory (ACII) is designed for use in identifying career interest areas from the vantage of the dominant brain. It is intended for use in guidance related to discovering one's mission in life, and as a companion to the ALMT. Here 20 items describing activities in relation to each of the same 14 career areas are asked, and the subject rates them on a Likert type scale ranging from "A" Likes much, through "C" neutral, to "E" dislikes. For each of the 14 areas, a maximum score is always 100; so that if a person receives a raw score of 50, it represents only half of the possible interest. In addition, two separate norm profiles are provided: (1) adult norm, and (2) youth norm (21 and under). A profile depicts how one’s scores compare to corresponding other individuals.

Brain Laterality

Feelings of personal satisfaction from discovering one's mission are significantly related to brain dominance, i.e., dominant and non-dominant side of brain. The cognitive side of the brain is where the satisfaction comes from logical and cognitive activity, and as depicted by the ACII; while the nondominant side has to do with feelings, visual input, emotional involvements, etc., and as depicted by the ALMT. Always the most satisfying missions are those that provide input from both sides of the brain. That is why the ACII and ALMT are considered as companion tests for helping individuals discover their life mission.

Self Understanding

The profiles from the ACVII and ALMT when used jointly serve to complement each other in relation to brain laterality serve as a scientific means for helping individuals discover their own life mission through self understanding. By definition, one's mission in life is associated with feelings of wellbeing, and the biofeedback instruments provide realistic assessments of these conditions. The guidance for individuals seeks to help them understand the significance of high and low ratings on each of the assessment instruments, ACII and ALMT. It should be remembered that the conscious interest from the ACII is likely to be the more pragmatic in terms of financial security and survival; while the ALMT clusters are the more important to the personal feelings of the individual. Always, there is a trade-off where the two reactions must be weighed, and the individual alone makes the choices.

References

Cassel, R.N. (1954). Psychological aspects of happiness. Peabody Journal of Education, 50(1), 73-82.

Cassel, R.N. (1985). Systematic self regulation of neural system essential for peak performance wellbeing. Psychology, 22(3/4), 51-56.

Cassel, R.N. (1986). Forging an ego-ideal as an extension of one's ego-status. Psychology, 21 (1), 30 -35

Cassel, R.N. (1987). The use of guided image create a neural dissonance profile (DISPROF). College Student Journal,21 (3), 206-213.

Cassel, R.N. (1990). Transpersonal psychology as basis for health care. Psychology, 27(1), 33-38.

Cassel, R.N. (1991a). School dropout odyssey.. a tragic health crisis. Chesterfield, Missouri: Psychologists, & Educators.

Cassel, R.N. (1991b). Tracing the evolution of guided imagery theory in relation to health care. Education, 112(2),300-309.

br> Cassel, R.N. (in press). Health care in the 21^st cent based on state of art in present health care revolution. Holistic Medicine.

Cassel, R.N., and Costello, B.R. (1990). Neural dissonance profile based on guided imagery and biofeedback that serves as focus for change. Education, 110(4), 490-496.

Code of fair testing practices (1988). Joint Committee on Testing Practices, Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.

Costello, B.R. (1990). The Australian Computerized Vocational Interest Inventory. Education, 140(4), 457-462.

Cowen, E.L. (1991). In pursuit of wellness. American Psychologist, 46(4), 404-408.