The PST‑R Personality Structure Test
324 questions in around 1.5 hours, four levels of personality, one differentiated profile. The PST‑R is the heart of our developmental diagnostic work — scientifically grounded, validated several times over and in use for more than 30 years.
Over 30 years of research and practice
From the 16 PF to the PST‑R — a story of holistic developmental diagnostics.
The PST‑R builds on established instruments: the 16 Personality Factor Test (16 PF) after Schneewind, the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI) and the Freiburg Personality Inventory (FPI) — complemented by depth-psychological elements.
Refined over several decades at the Institute of Practical Psychology and scientifically accompanied by Lee University (Cleveland, TN). Normed in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
The PST‑R meets the German DIN 33430 standard for job-related aptitude diagnostics and, with its holistic perspective, goes beyond it.
How the PST‑R came about
It all began with an observation from counselling practice that established test instruments could not explain.
- 01
The initial question
Univ. Prof. Dr Michael Dieterich had been working on diagnostics and assessment since his doctoral thesis. In practice it became clear that the “snapshot” provided by existing test instruments could only ever be one aspect of counselling — and the question kept coming up whether test results could be improved through targeted development programmes.
- 02
The observation
Clients regularly showed contradictory scores: high contact orientation in the 16 PF and, at the same time, strong introversion in the EPI. Similar discrepancies appeared between emotional resilience and stable emotionality.
- 03
The insight
The instruments were measuring different layers: the 16 PF describes outwardly visible character traits that are easier to change — the EPI the hidden, more stable basic structure that is inherited or acquired in early childhood. Not a contradiction, but two levels of one personality.
The case that brought it all into focus
A popular radio journalist suffered from mounting strain, sleep problems and depression. In the studio he delivered lively, well-loved programmes — yet at home his family experienced an exhausted father. In the 16 PF he scored high on contact orientation, while at the same time the EPI showed a strong introversion: outwardly he was living a character trait (sociability) that had no counterpart in his basic structure (introversion). Dieterich’s recommendation to accept this and to consciously rest first after finishing work led to an immediate improvement in his condition.
From this insight — visible character traits and a stable basic structure are different layers of the personality — the PST‑R layer model was born.
The layer model of personality
The PST‑R views a person like the annual rings of a tree — different layers that together form a complete picture.
Character traits
Visible on the outside · changeable
The youngest layer of the personality. It shows how a person presents themselves today — shaped by experience, environment and conscious development.
- 5 global factors
- 16 individual traits
- Changeable through learning models
Basic structure
Since childhood · shapes how you come across
Shows two stable dimensions: introversion ⇄ extraversion (horizontal) and emotional flexibility ⇄ stability (vertical). Four quadrants describe basic temperament types.
- Introverted ↔ Extraverted
- Flexible ↔ Stable
- 4 temperament quadrants
Deep structure
Acquired early · stable
The inner axis of the personality following Adler, Riemann and Berne: factual ⇄ warm-hearted and correct ⇄ unconventional. At work in the background of every interaction.
- Factual ↔ Warm-hearted
- Correct ↔ Unconventional
- Difficult to change
Locus of control
Achievement motivation · after Rotter
Internal: success depends on one's own actions. External: chance (C factor) or powerful others (P factor) determine the outcome. A key factor for sustainable motivation.
- Internal (self-efficacy)
- C factor (chance)
- P factor (powerful others)
Precise results for deep understanding
The PST‑R delivers a differentiated profile. Each global factor bundles several individual traits and makes strengths as well as areas for development visible.
The 5 global factors
Each global factor bundles several individual traits into a meaningful profile. A total of 16 character traits show strengths and areas for development in detail.
- 01Norm orientationAttachment to rules, the tried and tested, and recognised normspurposeful · persevering · dependable
- 02ResilienceStability in the face of psychological demandsdisciplined · ready to trust · purposeful
- 03IndependenceSelf-confidence and self-relianceself-assured · challenging · easily enthused
- 04Readiness for contactOpenness to collaboration and shared decisionscooperative · sociable · persevering in contact
- 05SensitivityAlertness to subtleties and changessensitive · empathetic · aesthetic
Standardisation: Germany, Switzerland, Austria · DIN 33430 compliant
Who the PST‑R is for — and where it is used
From individuals to professional practices to HR departments — the PST‑R is deliberately broad in its application.
Target groups
You want to understand yourself better, make a life or career decision, or engage more consciously with each other as a couple? The PST‑R provides the foundation.
You want to use the PST‑R yourself? Then the path to a licence is your first step — you will find the requirements and the process on the licensee page.
Aptitude diagnostics in line with DIN 33430, personnel development, team constellations, leadership selection — one instrument for valid decisions.
Fields of application
Pastoral care & psychotherapy
- Therapeutic counselling
- Marriage counselling
- Life counselling
- Careers counselling
- Psychotherapy
Coaching & business consulting
- Coaching
- Business consulting
- Team consulting
- Conflict management
- Recruitment
Churches & Bible schools
- Recognising gifts for the five-fold ministry: apostle, evangelist, pastor, teacher or deacon
- Church leadership: recognising potential and differences
- Recruitment
- Bible schools: recognising gifts and calling, developing personality
See “Werkstatt Kirche” by Univ. Prof. Dr Michael Dieterich
Clinics & addiction support organisations
- Successfully used for decades with people affected by mental illness and addiction
Developing personality
The PST‑R was developed by Univ. Prof. Dr Michael Dieterich with the aim of developing the personality. The test is non-judgemental — the method presents a person’s personality in its entirety, just as the person described it themselves (see “Persönlichkeitsdiagnostik” by Prof. Michael Dieterich).
The diversity of our licensees: The IPP has licensees across a wide range of fields — from individual counsellors who use the PST‑R in their practices in pastoral care, life counselling and psychotherapy, to coaches and companies applying it in team building, conflict management and personnel selection, to Christian churches where it helps leaders recognise the right personality for the five-fold ministry and strengthen their teams — as well as clinics and addiction support organisations, where the PST‑R has been used successfully for decades with people affected by mental illness or addiction.
The scientific foundation (ABPS®)
The PST‑R is not just a test — it is the practical application of Allgemeine Beratung, Psychotherapie und Seelsorge (ABPS®) (General Counselling, Psychotherapy and Pastoral Care) after Univ. Prof. Dr Michael Dieterich. This model integrates:
- 1
Meta-studies after Grawe
Effectiveness factors from different schools of therapy are brought together.
- 2
Four-worlds theory (Popper)
Extended by the dimension of transcendence (pneuma) for a complete view of the human being.
- 3
Depth psychology
Adler, Riemann and Berne as the basis of the deep structure — proven models, methodically tested.
The 3-pillar model
How the PST‑R works
Four steps from your first enquiry to the counselling session.
- 01
Contact & clarification
You contact the institute or a licensee. Together we clarify which form of evaluation suits you best.
- 02
Complete the questionnaire
Digitally or on paper — 324 questions, around 1.5 hours to complete. You can pause at any time.
- 03
Evaluation
A detailed report: 5 global factors, 16 character traits, basic structure, deep structure, locus of control.
- 04
Counselling session
You discuss your profile with a licensed professional — including concrete development steps.
Your options with the PST‑R
Want to take the PST‑R yourself? All the details on the process, pricing and your two routes to the test.
For counsellors, coaches, therapists and pastoral carers: use the PST‑R professionally in your practice.
Send us a short message about your request — we will get back to you shortly.