Comparative Analysis
Beyond Individual Moments
People don’t communicate in isolation—they’re constantly comparing current experiences to their expectations, past memories, and alternative options. Reasoner reveals these hidden comparison patterns that drive satisfaction, disappointment, and decision-making.
How We Decode Comparison Patterns
Understanding how someone measures their current situation against their expectations, past experiences, or available alternatives reveals their true satisfaction level, decision criteria, and relationship preferences. These patterns show you what really matters to them.
Comparison Patterns
Emotional Stability
Relationship Style
Change Orientation
Resource & Memory
Expectation Comparisons
Reality vs. What They Hoped For
Detects when someone’s experience falls short of, meets, or exceeds their expectations through satisfaction or disappointment signals
What This Reveals: Whether they’re truly satisfied or just being polite about unmet expectations
Historical Comparisons
Present vs. Past Experiences
Identifies how they measure current situations against previous experiences, establishing their personal benchmarks
What This Reveals: Their evaluation framework and what past experiences shape their current judgment
External Comparisons
You vs. Other Options
Reveals how they position you against alternatives, competitors, or other choices they’re considering
What This Reveals: Your competitive position and what criteria they use to evaluate options
Real-World Example
What they say: “This restaurant is pretty good”
What we detect: Language shows disappointment compared to expectations (“pretty good” vs. enthusiasm), positive comparison to their usual places, but neutral comparison to a recent special occasion dinner.
What this means: They’re satisfied for everyday dining but wouldn’t choose this for something important.
The Comparison Advantage
By understanding how someone naturally compares and evaluates, you can address their real concerns, align with their decision criteria, and communicate in ways that match their relationship style and change preferences.
Reading Between the Comparisons
When someone says “this is good,” they’re not just expressing satisfaction—they’re comparing against expectations, past experiences, and alternatives. Understanding these hidden comparisons reveals what truly matters to them and how to engage most effectively.