The Power of Difference Model (PDM)

Three unconscious patterns — within each of us.

Three unconscious patterns of thinking, belief and worldview shape how we meet our differences: religion, race, class, culture, gender, disability, sexual orientation and politics. These create conflict and limitations in our lives and organizations — and awareness and integration of their assets within each of us holds the key to unlocking our purpose, connection, effectiveness, and empowerment.

Power of Difference Assessment Read the model in-depth
The three patterns

How do you meet difference?

Each pattern has both assets and liabilities. The goal is to know your primary pattern — and learn to integrate the assets of all three.

Sensitivity archetype — the Scarecrow
S

Sensitivity · "Scarecrow"

Mind · Understanding · Brain

I value differences, intelligence, open-mindedness and understanding. I experience the world and myself primarily through the brain. I treat others the way they would like to be treated.

Limitations:

I don't want to offend so I can feel stuck or confused. I can be patronizing as I try to get others to "get it," to "understand like me." I can also get exhausted as this struggle seems hopeless.

  • Fear response: freeze
  • Politics: tends liberal
  • Archetype: Magician
Oneness archetype — the Tin Person
O

Oneness · "Tin Person"

Heart · Connection · Unity

I devalue differences in favor of our common humanity, unity, and collaboration. I experience the world and myself primarily through the heart. I treat others the way I would like to be treated. I see myself as a bridge builder.

Limitations:

I can over-value sameness and fail to impact in alignment with my intentions. I tend to avoid conflict.

  • Fear response: flight
  • Politics: tends moderate
  • Archetype: Lover
Strength archetype — the Lion
Str

Strength · "Lion"

Gut · Courage · Power

I evaluate differences and value courage, loyalty, decisiveness, clarity, protection, self-sacrifice, and winning at all cost. I believe in the "survival of the fittest." I experience myself and the world primarily through my gut.

Limitations:

I seek dominance over others, and can create enemies. I can be overly combative.

  • Fear response: fight
  • Politics: tends conservative
  • Archetype: Warrior
Integration · Leveraging

Glinda the Good Witch — The Sovereign.

The more we come to know our primary pattern (its assets and liabilities) and how to integrate or leverage the assets of all three patterns, the more we unleash our effectiveness: always within us first. From here, we increasingly become a catalyst for solidarity and meaningful change across differences in our family, organization, community, and world.

01

Location

The crown of the head.

02

Archetype

The Sovereign — turning away from identity toward engagement.

03

The result

Joyful empowerment, abundance, connection, and clarity.

Integration — Hybrid archetype Glinda the Good Witch
"These patterns were not 'created' by The Sum. Through over two decades of doing experiential workshops in the area of diversity, the statements and patterns described were expressed repeatedly by the participants themselves. The Sum would often just type the comments and ask people to categorize them and even name the categories. In this sense, this model was not 'created' by The Sum but by those with whom we have worked."
— The Sum · On the origin of the model
Go deeper

Learn more & measure your patterns.

Read the full model in-depth, review the North Carolina State validation study, or take the assessment to map your own patterns.

Read the model in-depth Take the Assessment (PDA)
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