The Emergenetics Profile is a scientifically derived analysis of the way a person thinks and behaves. Based on a left brain/right brain format, the Emergenetics Profile takes 100 tested, proven questions that apply across culture and gender and mathematically convert answers into a clear, color-coded one-page Profile that uniquely measures four Thinking Attributes (Analytical, Structural, Social, and Conceptual) and three Behavioral Attributes (Expressiveness, Assertiveness, and Flexibility).

What does the Emergenetics Profile measure?

The Emergenetics Profile measures four Thinking Attributes—Analytical, Structural, Social, and Conceptual—and three Behavioral Attributes—Expressiveness, Assertiveness and Flexibility. These attributes were developed via doctoral research and on-the-ground testing to ensure accuracy, validity and reliability.

The Emergenetics Profile is a measure of the way that 100 proprietary questions are answered by each person who takes an Emergenetics Profile. A person’s answer is then compared (by gender) to the answers of every other person who has taken the Profile—there are over 300,000 people who have taken the Emergenetics Profile. The 1-page Profile report itself shows both how a person compares to the population-at-large via percentile scores on all seven Emergenetics Thinking and Behavioral Attributes as well as how a person’s answers compare to each other (where a person’s greatest preferences reside).

Is it just a personality assessment?

No, Emergenetics is more robust and scientific than generic personality tests. As personality traits generally measure patterns of behavior, thought and emotion, so too does Emergenetics; however, as a concrete measurement of behaviors and thinking attributes in a distinctive way, the Emergenetics Profile is a clearer measurement of preferences.

Emergenetics does not combine emotional and thought patterns with behavioral preferences, which results in delineation between how a person acts and what their inherent thinking patterns represent. In this way, there are infinite possibilities for Emergenetics results. For example, because each and every response on the Emergenetics questionnaire is compared to the population-at-large, every person has unique and precise results. For example, not every Red/Yellow preferenced thinker will have the same percentile scores in their behavioral attributes. Emergenetics therefore is a nuanced measurement of genetic preferences and how environmental factors play in to make up not just a person’s personality but work, communication and learning preferences as well.

How many people have taken Emergenetics?

Emergenetics has been taken around the world since the Profile was created in 1991. In that time, over 350,000 people have completed their profile. What this number signifies though is a constantly growing database that contributes to the ongoing accuracy of our Profile results. When you take an Emergenetics Profile, your answers are compared to this constantly growing database of Profiles—this ensures continual accuracy and validity and accounts for changes in society.

By having hundreds of thousands of Profiles in our database, we ensure that all answers and new Profiles on an ongoing basis are compared to a number representative of the population-at-large. This is crucial as on an individual level, you can be extremely confident that your answers are accurate and not created in a vacuum.

You say Emergenetics is based on “brain science” – what does that mean?

Emergenetics is rooted in neuroscientific accuracy, as the model itself was developed in a Ph.D. level statistical and psychological setting and based on the groundbreaking split-brain research done by Nobel Prize winning neuropsychologist and neurobiologist. Sperry’s work with the corpus callosum in epileptic patients resulted in the discovery of the split-brain, more commonly referred to in commercial and non-scientific circles as the Left-Brain/Right-Brain dichotomy. In his own research, Sperry quotes: “Indeed a conscious system in its own right, perceiving, thinking, remembering, reasoning, willing, and emoting, all at a characteristically human level, and…both the left and the right hemisphere may be conscious simultaneously in different, even in mutually conflicting, mental experiences that run along in parallel.”

Emergenetics Founder Dr. Geil Browning and co-creator Wendell Williams, Ph.D. built from this foundation to develop the Emergenetics Profile on the same Left/Right hemispheric basis. However, in a difference from every other Profile on the market today, Dr. Browning and Dr. Williams integrated a separate measure of three valid, reliable behavioral elements.

Additionally, the brain science that Emergenetics is based on continues to be reinforced in scientific circles, especially with advanced diagnostic and imaging technology present, such as fMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scans, PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scans and other brain imaging devices, which show actual physiological differences in the way the individuals think and how their brains process stimuli. This kind of scientific imaging and research plays a key role in the way that Emergenetics is presented and taught.

Finally, Emergenetics is scientifically rooted in advanced algorithms that ensure that all responses to the questions within the 100-question survey are converted into Emergenetics’ proprietary thinking and behavioral attributes.

How can I take an Emergenetics Profile?

Taking the Emergenetics Profile is incredibly easy and available here [link to page] on our website. Just go to that page and fill out the form and an Emergenetics International representative will contact you shortly to provide additional information including payment options. So why can’t you simply input a credit card number and take it directly from the site?

Well, the answer is that unlike many other tests on the market, we don’t provide this ability because we want to ensure that every person who takes an Emergenetics Profile has the proper instruction and context to understand what Emergenetics is and how it relates to his or her own unique preferences. Every Profile is unique and perfect, but without proper feedback and analysis, individuals can incorrectly make assumptions that could be damaging. That is why, with every purchase of an Emergenetics Profile, we provide an individualized 8-page Narrative Report as well as a live, over-the-phone debrief with an Emergenetics expert. We think that this level of care, insight and service isn’t just setting us apart…it’s providing you with deepest insight possible into who you are.

If you are part of a group that is going through an Emergenetics workshop, either with your company or in another realm, and you’ve been given a control code, simply click here to register. Fill in your control code in the appropriate box and then click next to actually answer the 100-item questionnaire. Although you will not receive your Profile until the time of your session, we have the results in our database and will keep them completely confidential.

I’ve already done other personality tests…why should I do Emergenetics?

Emergenetics is different than any other personality assessment on the market because we combine thinking and behavior in nuanced specific ways that no other Profile can.

If you’ve taken a Myers-Briggs, you know that on some level, your results place you in a particular category. With Emergenetics, you never get boxed in because the way we measure our attributes against the population-at-large simply shows you exactly where you within the world. The easy-to-understand pie chart showcases how you prefer to think within your own head. With these two elements counterbalancing one another, you get a more complete picture of how you think and a nuanced look at who you are. Emergenetics clearly outlines where your preferences are—based on our years of industry, individual and profile research—but also showcases how you think with every attribute. You’ll never have to characterize yourself as choosing one attribute over another; instead, you’ll see how all your Emergenetics Preferences mesh together to provide you with a full portrait of yourself. Take a look at a sample profile to learn more.

Emergenetics is also different from personality profiles like DISC where behavioral elements are already integrated into a particular category. The Emergenetics Profile was created specifically to highlight thinking and behavior in a distinctive fashion, where any person’s behavioral attributes are measured and showcased separately from the thinking attributes. This provides Emergenetics with a Profile unique in its ability to look inwardly (via Thinking Attributes) and outwardly (how Thinking Attributes are manifested via Behavioral Attributes).

Finally, Emergenetics is an industry leader, as it conforms to the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing (the highest designation in the psychological field) and scores exceptionally in measures of validity and reliability. Check out Our Science to learn more.

Why would I use Emergenetics for my business?

Well, for one thing, because Emergenetics works for businesses. If you want to see exactly how Emergenetics has worked with businesses from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses to government agencies to nonprofits, check out our Results.

The reason Emergenetics works in business though is because Emergenetics is more than a Profile—it’s a self-awareness tool that your employees will truly “get” and it’s a stepping stone for understanding, on a team or organizational level. The value of Emergenetics comes in its ease of use. You don’t need a degree in psychology or organizational development to understand Emergenetics, because it’s a memorable, intuitive picture of who people are and how they act. Check out our Solutions [link] to learn about all the ways that your organization can use Emergenetics.

What’s more…Emergenetics is a model for how to look at significant business issues like Change Management, Strategic Planning, Objective Setting and more. Because Emergenetics puts complex observations about approaches to thinking and work into a simple format, it can easily become a platform for any organization to use throughout their work. Take a look at our Emergenetics Business Applications to learn more.

Does Emergenetics work all over the world?

Yes, Emergenetics has been proven across the world as an instrument that goes beyond culture into the true nature of who people are. In our work in over 30 countries around the world and in our research, we have found Emergenetics thinking and behavior results to be universally applicable.

However, we take the highest safeguards to ensure that all variances are taken into account. We norm our Profile data every two years to create the most up-to-date system of measurement and control for any changes in global reporting of Emergenetics questionnaire data.

Additionally, we work with translators in the ground in any new country that we enter to ensure that the precise meanings behind every word of the Emergenetics questionnaire, Profile and results are done in manner that upholds the meaning and information central to what was originally created by Dr. Browning and Dr. Williams. By maintaining the highest standards both on the front-end translations and in the back-end data norming, we do everything possible to certify that Emergenetics works no matter where it is being administered.

How are Emergenetics and your other assessment (ESP for hiring) different from each other?

Emergenetics and ESP are two very different instruments designed for different purposes. However, because the foundation of our company is built on valid, brain-based science, they have been formulated to be an ideal 1-2 punch for any organization. ESP helps you hire the right people and Emergenetics helps you work with those right-fit hires to enhance their strengths, communication skills and work styles to bring greater results throughout their work.

On a bottom-line level though, ESP and Emergenetics are used in different circumstances and measure different things. ESP is geared for a pre-hire environment and all data that we collect is normed for this population—an applicant pool. That’s because those people who are looking for jobs answer questions very differently than incumbents (those who are already employed).

Additionally, ESP measures both motivational factors and cognitive skills. This is a key difference and one that creates powerful impact in the hiring realm, as ESP helps employers know not only what candidates are willing to do (Motivators) but also what they have the ability to do (Aptitudes). ESP takes pre-hire information to the next level, as it also includes a section that indicates candidates’ willingness to put in the extra mile. This prioritization of work scale can speak volumes about the people you are looking to hire and how they’re going to approach working at your organization. Finally, ESP measures factors that fall outside the bounds of the left-brain/right-brain and behavioral attributes of Emergenetics—factors such as Competitiveness, Desire to Problem-Solve and more. These are critical to know in a hiring context, but don’t necessarily underscore the way people think and behave on the job, like Emergenetics.

Emergenetics is developed to be a measure of thinking and behavioral preferences—it is a snapshot of who a person is, and while it provides incredible insights about the way a person will go about their work and interact with colleagues, managers, clients and direct reports, it is not specifically focused on a work setting. One’s Emergenetics Profile is a powerful depiction of who that person is no matter where they are—at work or at home. It has been proven throughout the 20 years of its existence to be a clear, accurate reflector of preference in a multitude of settings.

Emergenetics also does not measure intellectual capacity or if people have skills in any particular attribute. Just because a person has a strong preference in Analytical Thinking does not mean that they will have the requisite skills to perform analytical tasks. But it does indicate that he/she would approach work in that manner.

Take a look at the chart below for a quick comparison between ESP and Emergenetics:

I want to sell and train Emergenetics, can I do that?

Yes, Emergenetics International has a leading-edge Associate training program which will equip you to understand, train, present and lead Emergenetics-centric activities, workshops, 1-on-1 sessions and large groups. Those are just the most common ways that our over 600 Associates around the world utilize Emergenetics in their work, but we give you the flexibility to use Emergenetics in the way that best suits your unique skills and needs.

We have Emergenetics Associates from large multinational corporations, government, nonprofits, education and small business alike, and although the venues and audiences may be vastly different, one factor remains the same—we consider the Emergenetics Associate program to be family. Family is one of our core values as an organization, and you can be assured that your experience in becoming Certified and in moving forward as a Certified Emergenetics Associate will be one that is built on personal relationships forged by trust and communication. We consider you part of our family and our success is based on yours.

Check out Emergenetics Certification to learn more.

Are my results confidential?

Yes, all responses that you provide in filling out the Emergenetics questionnaire, as well as your Profile itself are completely confidential. Before anyone, including your company or organization, is able to see your results, you must first sign a waiver indicating that this is okay. Without that waiver, we will honor your privacy and confidentiality in all cases.

In the case of ESP, results are released only to the hiring organization and nobody else.

Who can benefit from Emergenetics?

Emergenetics is a tool that anyone can benefit from—no matter if you are an individual looking for increased self-awareness or a company looking to build its workforce’s strengths or a family desiring a greater sense of who they are and how they communicate…Emergenetics works. It’s because we have a tool that is built for flexibility and ease of use. No matter what your Profile is, you can easily understand what it means and how it reflects the way you go about your life and work.

Find out more and take an Emergenetics Profile yourself.