This article is intended for licensed IDI Qualified Administrators. If you are not a licensed IDI Qualified Administrator and are interested in being licensed to use the Intercultural Development Inventory, visit this article: Should I become an IDI Qualified Administrator (QA)?
Sometimes QAs use the term "aspirational" when referring to the Perceived Orientation (PO) because it can be helpful for respondents to understand why their PO is higher than their Developmental Orientation (DO). The PO is an indication of how the respondent feels like they are engaging with cultural differences.
For example, a person with a PO in Acceptance may feel like they are operating from an Acceptance mindset, and that it is likely also how they want others to see them, or how they hope they are engaging with others.
At times, respondents can be confused or disappointed when they learn their PO is higher than their DO. Addressing the PO as an aspiration may help the respondent better understand the difference in PO and DO scores.