I (MahyarMcDonald) can't really think of any better title to call this concept, so I'll put it under where I got it from. (http://www.efpinternational.org) Yes it is incomplete and incoherant. I have to grab a person or a document and try to get them to re-explain the entire model to me again. It would also convey better the insight this model gives.

In my school, for around three days, the YouthPeaceBuildersNetwork kid's carried around with them prominent signs saying "A mode". And these people just acted like absolute asshole's. Many people thought A standed for asshole mode. They were uncomprimising, and unwilling to talk. The backlash from the community was equally severe, people started to make 'anti-a mode signs'.

The second day, instead of A-Mode, they had P-Mode. They didn't really roleplay their roles although, since the reaction to their 'A-Mode' was so severe that they did not want to do these things. But once in a while you saw it manifested. I thought the 'P' standed for pissy.

The third day, they walked around with 'C mode' signs. This was a complete 180. They were kind, and willing to talk. Some were even kinder than they were usually.

After this experiement of theirs, they explained themselves to the school on the fourth day.

• A mode standed for "Authoritarian Mode"
• P mode standed for "Power-Struggle Mode"
• C mode standed for "Consultative Mode"

When they were authoritarian, it was a "my way or the highway" type of attitude. An absolute authority where people dictate their wishes and are uncomprimising. People submissive to this were also part of the A-Mode. They related this to the stage of a child.

When power-struggle mode comes into play is when two authoritarians clash against eachother. They said the anti-A-modes were an example of that. Think machievillain-type power-struggles and you kind of get the point. They related this to the stage of a teenager.

Consultative mode is when people were not so attached to what ever they have, and try to consult about the situation. They compared this to the stage of an adult.

I asked them during the questions period "how do you get a person who is in in A mode or P mode into C mode?". Their reply was that they really don't know.

And I don't really know either. The only thing I can think of is AssumeGoodFaith and that people are good natured at heart and reciprocal by nature. That people would eventually and prefferably go into that kind of Consultative mode. If blindness block's them, then you need a whole lot of patience, kindness and generosity and hope for the best. Using the P-Mode and A-Mode with people who are in a A/P-mode just get's you nowhere to the goal of getting to C-mode many times.

Another good example is how you can get people to comply with the law better if your nice about it. Cops on an authoritarian power-trip when giving a speeding ticket ("Dont say another word or I'll give you another ticket (para:for something I just made up)" generate far more resentment than some cop acting calm about it.