# elicitation

Guides conversational profiling and deep user interviews using narrative psychology and the OARS framework. Useful for user research and bots.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · ★ 27
- Author: tasteray
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/tasteray/skills/tree/HEAD/elicitation/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-07-15
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/elicitation

## What it does

The skill structures conversational psychological profiling around three research frameworks: Singer's self-defining memories, McAdams' narrative identity, and Motivational Interviewing. Its core tenet favors patience over probing. Instead of interrogating a respondent, the model crafts space for voluntary self-disclosure.

When auditing interview scripts or conversational flows, the skill scores content on a zero-to-ten scale. It tracks themes of agency, communion, redemption, and contamination. In live interactions, it instructs the assistant to maintain a strict two-to-one ratio of reflections to direct questions.

Direct inquiry often triggers defensive barriers. This skill circumvents resistance by anchoring questions in turning points and recurring memories.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add tasteray/skills --skill elicitation -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/elicitation/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/elicitation/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add tasteray/skills --skill elicitation -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/elicitation/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add tasteray/skills --skill elicitation -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/elicitation/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install tasteray/skills elicitation
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/elicitation/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add tasteray/skills --skill elicitation -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/tasteray/skills --path elicitation
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/elicitation/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add tasteray/skills --skill elicitation -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/tasteray/skills/tree/HEAD/elicitation/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- build user research interview flows without interrogating participants
- audit conversational scripts using a 10-point scoring standard
- detect narrative themes of agency, communion, or contamination in responses
- convert rigid questions into empathetic reflections using the OARS framework

## Example prompts
- Audit this user research script against elicitation principles and score it out of 10.
- Turn these direct interview questions into conversational frames focused on turning points.
- Draft two complex reflections and one open question for this customer response.

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 93469b95713e18b8.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 93469b95713e18b8
```text
---
name: elicitation
description: 'Psychological profiling through natural conversation using narrative identity
  research (McAdams), self-defining memory elicitation (Singer), and Motivational Interviewing
  (OARS framework). Use when you need to: (1) understand someone''s core values and motivations,
  (2) discover formative memories and life-defining experiences, (3) detect emotional schemas
  and belief patterns, (4) build psychological profiles through gradual disclosure,
  (5) conduct user interviews that reveal deep insights, (6) design conversational flows
  for personal discovery, (7) identify identity themes like redemption and contamination narratives,
  (8) elicit authentic self-disclosure without interrogation.'
license: MIT
metadata:
  author: tasteray
  version: "1.0"
---

# Elicitation

Psychological profiling through natural conversation.

## Goal

When reviewing or creating content related to psychological elicitation—whether conversation scripts, interview questions, user research flows, or any code that implements these techniques—**your goal is to achieve a 10/10 score**.

Score all work on a 0-10 scale based on adherence to the principles and techniques in this skill. Provide your assessment as **X/10** with specific feedback on what's working and what needs improvement to reach 10/10.

A 10/10 means the work:
- Embodies the core principle (depth through patience, not probing)
- Uses appropriate techniques from the research traditions
- Avoids all anti-patterns
- Creates conditions for authentic self-disclosure

Iterate until you reach 10/10.

---

## Core Principle

**Depth comes from patience, not probing.**

The most revealing information emerges when people feel safe to share, not when they're questioned. Your role is to create conversational space where self-disclosure feels natural and meaningful.

Key insight: People want to tell their stories. They rarely get the chance.

## Three Research Traditions

This skill synthesizes three complementary approaches:

### 1. Autobiographical Memory Research
How memories shape identity. Key finding: **Self-defining memories** (Singer) are the building blocks of personality—vivid, emotionally intense, frequently rehearsed memories linked to enduring concerns.

### 2. Narrative Identity Theory
How people construct life stories. Key finding: The **narrative themes** people use (redemption vs. contamination, agency vs. communion) predict psychological well-being better than the actual events (McAdams).

### 3. Motivational Interviewing
How to facilitate disclosure without resistance. Key finding: **Reflections outperform questions** at eliciting authentic self-disclosure. Aim for 2:1 reflection-to-question ratio (Miller & Rollnick).

---

## Self-Defining Memories

Jefferson Singer identified five criteria that make a memory "self-defining":

1. **Vivid** - Rich sensory and emotional detail
2. **Emotionally intense** - Strong feeling, positive or negative
```
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 93469b95713e18b8

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First 2979 of 17826 bytes. © tasteray · MIT · https://github.com/tasteray/skills/tree/HEAD/elicitation/SKILL.md

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