The system and method of the present invention process clarified emotional response data in order to guide next step adaptive behavior. Emotional responses with predetermined clarified intensities are sorted. The best quality clarified intensity or intensities are then selected as the `heart of the matter`, which is then shown to a user to reveal how the user is most uniquely responding to a particular subject or issue. The user is then given guidance on how to respond to the particular subject or issue thereby guiding the user's behavior in response to such subject or issue.