Interpretative Guide - The Love Factor Inventory

GUIDE TO USING THE LOVE FACTOR INVENTORY (LFI)

By Ronald L. Mann, Ph.D.
© 2020-2021 Copyright Ronald L. Mann, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved

This material is presented as an overview and it is recommended that each individual read this information upon completion of the test and before reviewing the computer generated scores and interpretations. The material presented in this report is not designed to diagnose anyone. It is to be used for educational and self-development purposes.

The Love Factor Inventory (LFI) is designed to help you learn about yourself by identifying psychological and spiritual strengths and weakness. It is an ideal process to share with a loved one. Taking the Love Factor Inventory together and discussing your responses can be a very enriching experience.

The best use of these results would be to consider how valid they are for you and then reflect on how you might improve yourself. Take some time to think about your results. LFI is about one’s capacity for love. Webster defines capacity as “the ability to hold receive, store…” Thus, LFI is not ad dressing an ability for doing. It is speaking to a state of mind about opening which is available to access and contain love.

Be open and non-judgmental in reviewing your results. If you are sincere and highly motivated, you can improve in the areas where you scored differently than you wished. You can develop a larger capacity to open to life, to receive its fullness, and to share in its joy and beauty. Equally important, recognizing and understanding your strengths can also help to enhance your self-esteem and your trust in the deeper aspects of your Self. The Love Factor Inventory is based upon the belief that life is a process to learn more about love, and that love honors the dignity of each individual. Life is a shared journey that provides us with the opportunity to open to this deeper truth and learn more about our life’s purpose.

The following information will help you interpret your scores and explain the concepts used in the LFI scales. Your scale score shows how you responded on each measure. Most scales have a minimum score of 10 and a maximum score of 50. You can see where you fall within that range. The scale scores are converted into percentile scores which tell you how you compare to others who have taken LFI across the United States. A percentile score of 50 is where most in the normative sample responded. Therefore, if your percentile score is above 50 then you scored above most of the people who took LFI. A percentile score below 50, on the other hand, suggests that you scored below most of those who have taken LFI.

You may find that some of the information presented here seems a little complex. Perhaps some of the ideas or concepts may be unfamiliar. There is a glossary of terms at the end of this manual that explain words that you might not understand. Please refer to the glossary as it will help you work with the material presented. You may need to read all of the material concerning the Love Factor Inventory and your personal interpretation more than once. This discussion is designed to help you think about your life and the ways you respond in your personal relationships. You may find it useful to study this information and reflect over it. It is best not to rush and quickly skim through the information presented.

You have taken a meaningful step in your personal development by participating in LFI. Many changes in your consciousness can occur simply from increased awareness. More will be said later in this section about ways you can improve yourself if you feel motivated to do so. For now, however, let’s take a look at each scale and see what it addresses.

SCALE DEFINITIONS

Compassion

A person high in compassion feels for another person’s situation but does not feel sorry for him/her. Rather, one feels a great understanding for the other’s situation and, therefore, feels available to help him/her if it would be appropriate. One’s wish to help, however, does not come from a need to rescue or save a person from his/her current circumstance. A high level of compassion is also related to wisdom. It takes a wise person to allow another individual the opportunity to struggle with life’s challenges. A high level of maturity is also required to tolerate the pain that a loved one may be experiencing. A highly compassionate person cares about others and also inwardly knows that through the labor of adversity the deeper unfoldment of the Self is born.

Friendship

A person high in friendship develops mature, meaningful, long-standing and dependable relationships. Friendship is a very important aspect in a loving relationship. Too often, people become addicted to the highly charged, exciting sensation of lust and romance. These kinds of connections are overly dramatic and very unstable. Healthy, mature relationships are built upon a foundation of friendship which requires a thoughtful, considerate, respectful attitude. A strong friendship with a loved-one creates a solid foundation and proves security during times of trials and tribulations. Every relationship must go through tests. Relationships are a vehicle for our personal and collective development. If we develop real friendships with those we love, then we can more graciously move through life together as supporting partners in the journey of awakening.

Intimacy

A person high in intimacy is able to sustain close interpersonal contact. Often times, those who like to get close very quickly will suddenly back off from intimacy. We all have our own rhythm for close time and alone time, but it is absolutely crucial for you to be able to sustain a deep, open, and vulnerable contact with another if you want your love relationships to evolve and grow. Intimacy requires an ability to open like a flower to the inner essence of another person. The inner world of feeling and thoughts provide a pathway to the soul.

The deepest exchanges between people, soul to soul communion, occur in an open field of consciousness. One’s ability to share with another individual is highly determined by the depth of connection to the Self. The greater access one has to the psyche, to the inner realms of personal psychological and spiritual material, then, the greater will be one’s ability to fully share with another human being.

Loving relationships touch the deepest parts of the Self. If one is afraid to open and honestly share with another, then he/she will close off the larger possibility for greater intimacy and the deeper experience of love. The more one opens and invites others into the inner being, the more accessible he/she becomes as a vehicle for love’s tender touch.

Masculine/Feminine

This scale addresses the style of expression between the masculine and feminine aspects of the self. We have both aspects within our psyche. The masculine tends to be more concrete, logical, thinking, judging, critical, and controlling. This masculine energy or force within the psyche is more directed at doing rather than being. The feminine aspect of the psyche tends to be more receptive, softer, feeling, intuitive, and embracing. The feminine experiences the unity of all things while the masculine is more proficient at analyzing all of its component parts. The feminine is like a bowl that holds and contains, where the masculine is like an arrow that seeks its mark.

Our research has found that those who embrace greater aspects of the feminine within their psyche are more open to love and the rewards of intimate relationships. A higher score on this scale reflects a stronger identification with the feminine principle.

Primitive Self

The Primitive Self scale is designed to measure the capacity to perceive and accept the darker, more primitive aspects of the Self. The Jungian concept of the shadow is represented in this scale. The shadow holds the darker secrets of the psyche. Envy, greed, fear, lust, jealousy, and hatred are contained in the most primitive aspects of the Self. The human psyche contains both positive, creative forces, and negative, pernicious ones. Often, we find individual who are afraid of the powerful and potentially destructive inner forces. These types of individuals often project aspects of their psyche onto others and, thereby, create enemies to be feared.

When these forces are projected in a more general way, then, vague fears result in the form of phobias. The Light and the Dark are both part of creation. We live in a dualistic reality. If there were no pain, we would not know pleasure. If there were no darkness, we would not know light. It is imperative that we make peace and accept the darker aspects of the psyche if we wish to become whole and complete. A healthy person does not live in fear, attempting to avoid certain inner regions of the psyche. We must master all parts of the Self. The ability to open to the dark side also enhances the capacity to open to love and light. Those who are afraid of the Primitive Self do have trouble with intimacy because they are reluctant to fully reveal all parts of them- selves to another person. A high score on this scale suggests a greater ability to accept and be with the primitive aspects of the self.

Psychological Adjustment

This scale is designed to measure one’s freedom from debilitating psychological problems that develop from fear and anxiety. In other words, how well does one function in everyday life. The Psychological Adjustment scale addresses typical feelings and attitudes that are held by individuals who experience significant psychological and emotional distress. In order to be a fully loving individual who can function most effectively, one needs to be free from fear, open to engage life, and feel a strong sense of Self.

Obviously, if one is not well adjusted psychologically, that person will find it difficult to open his/her heart and take the risks that love requires. A Psychologically healthy individual is free to give and to receive. A well-balanced personality is an important aspect in assessing one’s capacity to love.

Romantic Love

A person high in Romantic Love tends to identify with the cultural myth of “true love.” The romantic myth shared in our culture promises that we will be more complete and fulfilled when we are united with our beloved. The notion of a soul mate is probably the most extreme example of this myth. The soul mate fantasy vows that when we find our perfect mate, our soul reflection, true love will be fulfilled. A more generalized and shared belief, the basis for most Hollywood films, is that true happiness and personal fulfillment results with the great romance filled with passion, sexuality, and desire. The Hollywood image of romantic love also tends to define what many of us come to regard as “true love.” In fact, sometimes in the more mature stages of a relation ship, when the initial romantic magnetism has been worn off by the grinding stone of child rearing, forty- hour work weeks, and general life stress, some individuals begin to doubt if they are still in love. While this initial romantic state is certainly a wonder to behold, and in which to beheld, it does not function as a solid foundation for a healthy, loving relationship over time.

The romantic spell cast by love’s mystery certainly serves to capture our attention and draw us into committed relationships. It even serves nature’s function to perpetuate the species. After all, relationships and child rearing are such hard work and filled with so many risks, nature may need some magic of her own to keep us going. In any event, while the magic of romantic love is wonderful, more ingredients must be brought into the making of love.

Self-Respect

Self-respect is believed to be an important ingredient for a healthy personality and for the ability to truly respect others. If one has self-respect, then one is more likely to treat oneself well, to be kind, loving and nurturing to others as well as oneself. Many have suggested that learning to love must start with oneself. One cannot really love another person if he/she does not possess self-love. When one develops a true respect for the Self, i.e., the essence of one’s being, then a major shift can occur. When the Self is honored, all life becomes sacred.

Respect is another pillar stone of love. Love embraces a respect for life. Respect is an essential thread in the fabric of love. Often, we hear, “I love you, but I do not respect you.” Such a statement usually translates into, “I need you and I want you to take care of my needs, but I really do not have, much regard for you as a separate person in your own right.” True love honors the other. Love without respect is not love!

Sensitivity

The Sensitivity scale is designed to measure a person’s ability to feel and be tuned in to the emotions and needs of others. This scale requests information about one’s ability to perceive very subtle changes and forces in another’s psyche.

The items address areas that are beyond normal psychological levels of awareness to the more conscious recognition of another’s emotional state. This scale is not designed to measure one’s awareness of his/her own feelings and moods. Sensitivity can be a very important quality to have since it allows one to have greater awareness of other’s feelings and moods. It is impossible to respond to the subtle demands of life if one does not perceive them. Love sometimes requests a telepathic skill.

Truly caring for the needs of loved ones requires a clarity in one’s ability to perceive. For example, a mother, somehow, often knows what her baby needs. Her sensitivity is the instrument for her perception. Sensitivity is a non-verbal capacity. Sensitivity requires a connection to the feminine aspects of the self. Sensitivity grows as your inner environment becomes calm, peaceful, and quiet, Sensitivity allows one to obtain information about a situation. Once that information has been obtained, one then has the possibility to make the wisest choice for the most loving action in that moment.

It is possible to be too sensitive in this area. Some people report feeling overwhelmed by their ability to tune into others. These types of individuals actually pick up too much information from their surrounding environment and may become confused between what is their own inner experience and what is coming from their outside environment.

Spirituality

This scale is designed to measure one’s realization of a deeper meaning to life. The great spiritual teachings speak of love, service, and the unity of all life. LFI explores one’s degree of realization of these Great Truths and the extent to which one’s life reflects this wisdom.

It has been said that the test of one’s true spirituality is measured in the true light of day. It is not enough just to believe in some spiritual principles. A truly spiritual life must express those principles in action. Most spiritual traditions would agree that spiritual awareness reveals the unity of all life and ignites a universal love and awakens a desire to reflect that love.

The capacity to love can be enhanced as one finds a way to consciously access and align with the Source of all life. As one nurtures the inner relationship with this Source, love is deepened. This deeper love allows one to rise above personal needs and desires in order to give more selflessly to others. A well-developed spiritual awareness helps one to understand the deeper mystery of life and to be more accepting of its many challenges and difficulties, resulting in wisdom, purity, and an open heart.

Trust

A person high in trust views life as a positive, worthwhile experience. Trust is one of the basic building blocks of personality development. We need to feel a sense of trust in the goodness of life in order to want to venture out and explore its many exciting possibilities. If we feel burned by life, then we tend to withdraw emotionally and close down as a way to protect ourselves. Trust is important in that it allows us to stay open to the uncertainty of life and gives us the inner strength to take the necessary risks to challenge our fears and explore new, unchartered territory.

We need a degree of trust in order to choose to be vulnerable, to explore new relationships, and to explore new areas of our inner life. Choosing to learn more about love is not an easy· process. We must confront our fears, acknowledge our weaknesses and limitations, and bid farewell to old parts of ourselves as we continue to outgrow them. With so much letting go, it takes a strong conviction that something new and good is coming to replace the old and discarded. When we “jump off the cliff,” we must trust that someone will be there to catch us when we land. Learning about love requires many leaps of faith, and our capacity to trust provides us with the capability to make the jump.

Love Capacity

This scale is based upon all the items in LFI. It provides an overall summary statement regarding one’s capacity to love. The Love Capacity scale might be considered as one’s total Love Factor Inventory. When all the pieces of one’s strengths and weakness are viewed together, what is the result? How does one score in relationship to all those who have taken LFI?

Our research has shown that individuals taking LFI such as prison inmates, psychotherapy patients, young mothers with a history of being abused, and abusive parents score significantly lower on the Love Capacity scale than university students and professionals in human services.

In general, then, it seems that those individuals who are struggling with personality difficulties and others who have been emotionally hurt early in life have a more difficult time with their capacity to love.

It is very important, however, to consider each scale with your strengths and weakness for a more in-depth under standing of your particular results.

Persona

The Persona scale measures if an individual is attempting to present a false image or mask. There are two different ways that false impressions can be created. One is through a very conscious attempt to appear good in the eyes of others. This approach is often described as attempting to present a socially desirable response pattern. Another possible way in which overly positive responses can result is by deceiving yourself. Some individuals do not make a realistic self – assessment. These individuals actually believe that they are behaving in ways that are more loving, more kind, etc., than they are. This type of self-deception results from a level of denial about one’s true feelings and functioning. A percentile score above 91 on the Persona scale suggests that some type of false presentation is occurring and the individual responding to LFI should reconsider his/her answers to the various items.

The real challenge is in the interpretation of your scores. Through the magic of computers, we are attempting to share with you twenty years of professional clinical experience. I can assure you, that reading this discussion is not the same as talking to a well-trained, sensitive professional who is familiar with the Love Factor Inventory. But it is a good beginning.

Our research has demonstrated that individuals with different cultural experiences may vary in their scores on LFI. For example, a black person growing up in a white culture will have different experiences of trusting the world and different feelings about how safe it is to express his/her true self than a white person. Thus, one might expect differences in a person’s score because of differing developmental influences.

It would be unfair and inappropriate to label these differences as healthy vs. disturbed or emotionally fit vs. psychopathological. While the results of LFI do describe differences in individual functioning and behavior, the following interpretation is not designed to explain the roots and causes for the observed differences. It is important to consider one’s personal history and cultural experiences. Quite often, we find that differences in a person’s capacity to love is more fully understood as we begin to appreciate the life process that has influenced that individual. It is much more useful to describe and understand aspects of ourselves than to merely label them. Labels create intellectual boxes and limit our growth and potential.

What If My Scores Are Different From What I expected?

It is possible that your self-impression may differ from your LFI results. If you do find a significant difference between your belief about yourself and LFI results:

Consider if you answered the items correctly. Some times individuals do get confused as to the correct direction of their response. Those items that are stated in a negative direction, i.e., “I do not…” sometimes require a response of “Absolutely Disagree” in order to result in a positive statement about you.

Those individuals with left-right discrimination problems have report ed some confusion on various items. If your scores are lower than you think they should be, this may be the problem. If you think you might have answered items incorrectly, you might consider taking LFI again and more carefully respond to each item.

Ask yourself if you really answered the items honestly. LFI will indicate if the answers to the items appear to be similar to those attempting to distort their responses in a positive direction. If you did not answer the items honestly, then, you might want to retake the Love Factor Inventory.

Ask your friends about their impressions of you. Perhaps you view yourself differently than others see you. It might be very helpful to consider the difference between how you see yourself and how others perceive you. It can be very useful to know how others view us. If there is a meaningful difference in perceptions, you might gain some valuable insights about yourself.

GUIDE TO USING THE LOVE FACTOR INVENTORY (LFI)

SCALE DEFINITIONS

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