An analyzer/classifier tool (100) for data comprises use of an energy minimization process (120) with data transformed by an input process (110) into one or more input matrices. The data to be analyzed/classified is processed by an energy minimization technique such as individual differences multidimensional scaling (IDMDS) to produce at least a rate of change of stress/energy. Using the rate of change of stress/energy and possibly other IDMDS output, a back end process (130) analyzes and classifies data through patterns recognized within the data.