Posted by Polly on December 27, 1998 at 17:34:16:
In Reply to: Arrows in the E (Re: So...et al) posted by Tal on December 27, 1998 at 13:53:18:
You know, I just cannot get a handle on this! yes, I'm fairly pragmatic. I'm not sure how much I really care about details and perfection (beyond a certain point), when I really think about it. I'm particular about doing things a certain way -- some of which I consider to be coming from myself and perhaps some from wanting to do things a certain way because that's the way perceived to be best and which produces the best-appearing results. I would say I'm less concerned with actual perfection than I am with things being good enough to get things to where they need to be for a certain purpose. It takes my being truly interested in something really to want to do it "all the way." That said, my standards are high. I just don't seem to have the unquestioning ability to follow through for the sake of following through that seems characteristic of a 1. I've thought I was a 1 in part because it's true, I'm kidded about doing things at a certain level and being fairly critical, but I also get in trouble because I overestimate others' abilities to hear (what I think is constructive) criticism and underestimating the power of the effect on others, both positive and negative. >
I really don't think I have the "dig in" aspect of a 5, and I want approval/admiration from others, to be sure. As uncomfortable as it makes me to realize, I know that a lot of what I do is directed outwardly and at sort of the presentation of things, myself included. Sometimes I've overestimated the power of this and have been caught short because I didn't do the underlying work or follow-through necessary to have the substance as well as the style. None of that sounds like a 1. Despite my tendency and ability to critique things and impose high and often rather proper standards, I know that I don't always pull it off. That's embarrassing, but it also sort of amuses me, which doesn't seem particularly one-ish, either.
All that said, I still respond to and seek out -- to impose and to have imposed -- structure. Which I suppose doesn't sound particularly seven-ish, except insofar as that I insist on which systems and orders I want to use/have.
Hey Polly :)
> My impression of your type based on your posts
would definitely lean more towards 1 than 7.
There's a matter-of-factedness in the way you
address each point in order and tie up all the
loose ends. Could be fiveish too, but seeing as
you said you see yourself more as 1 or 7...
> To be honest I have difficulty conceiving of
a 7/1 person. Not to say they don't exist, just
that it's difficult for me to imagine a person
having both elements at their core... if anything
they're almost polar opposites--1's rigid perfectionism
and 7's unbridled spontaneity. However, I do know a
number of 1's who exhibit what seem to be 7 tendencies
at times. But I think in most cases these aren't 7
tendencies in and of themselves, but simply appear
so much in marked contrast to the usually rigid
behaviour of 1 that it appears as if the individual
is suddenly being relaxed and spontaneous (in essence
allowing the repressed shadow to emerge to some degree).
> This is how I view the 1 --> 7 arrow: not so much in
the sense of integration during moments of relaxation,
but as a phase in development--that of acknowledging
the shadow. Typically, every type represses the behaviour
of the type most opposed to it (e.g. 4's will repress
8's domination urge, 8's will repress 4's vulnerability,
5's will repress 2's need for affection, etc.). We
generally tend to dislike our shadow types more than
others too (the more different you are from me, the less
I like you). Inevitably, however, this repressed behaviour
will emerge--usually under stress, when we experience
lapses in control. That's when 4's will shock you with
their anger, 5's will become clingingly needy, and 1's
will shun all manner of structure and perfection they
held dear up till then and erupt in a blazing display
of energetic spontaneity (which in this context is usually
not a good thing).
> However, this 'eruption' doesn't have to bear negative
connotations--the alternative is the process of self-development
and learning to accept our shadow side and the urges we
(have) repress(ed). When this occurs, we very often find
ourselves acknowledging parts of ourselves that we weren't
aware existed, and effectively 'assimilating' them into our
conscious personalities instead of repressing them as we
did previously. This, naturally, leads to greater balance
of personality and increased self-awareness.
> You say that you always thought of yourself as a 1 until
recently--do you feel you've changed? My general guess
would be that you're possibly in this phase of integrating
your shadow side into your personality and are seeing that
as a part of you that you've overlooked before (and hence
thinking you might be 7ish?). Just conjecture on my part
though; most of the observations I make on this board are
summarily shot down by someone or other almost immediately ;)
> Just as an added note to the movement of arrows--I find
the 1/7 line is the best example of this rift between dominant
type and repressed/shadow type.. but it's true for most of
the other arrows as well. The 4 'integrates' (I would say
balances) with 1 in the E; a line to 8 would be more accurate,
but 1 is close. The 5 goes to 8; again accurate (the 5ish
control), but 2 would be better. Of course the problem with
representing this in terms of a nine-pointed diagram is that
there would essentially be movement along only *one* line
in *both* directions rather than *two* lines in *one*
direction (for each type). This does however make more
sense--the parts of ourselves that we repress both erupt
when we lose control *and* integrate into our personalities
when we develop. For example, 4's supposed integration to 1
and disintegration to 2 is really just two different shades
of going over to 8. Similarly, 1 to 7 and 4--the 'disintegration'
to a self-indulgent, depressive 4 is equally true (and more
accurately described as) a movement to 7.
> A final note is that of course this only applies to 'pure'
types. The moment an individual experiences two basic
obsessions (i.e. has a strong wing) the shadow lines get
crossed up and more confusing (this is a good explanation
for the confusion in the E). A 1/8ish person will probably
have a stronger aversion to 4 than 7, for example (hence
the E considering it a disintegration to 4).
> Just some thoughts...
> ---Tal