The e*f*a has learned to manage his autistic susceptibilities and succor dependency needs and has developed a strong sense of values or conscience. Unlike the
e*ra [IcRuAu] who is, essentially, a self-seeking and self-involved person, the e*f*a has learned the need to control his self-involvement and self-interest and, in most instances, has learned the appropriate techniques. Moral concepts, principles of behavior, and ideas of social responsibility are the rules and regulations by which the e*f*a forms his life pattern.
The primary psychological problem of the
e*f*a* [IcRcUc] is his susceptibility to internal, or highly personal, events and his tendencies toward self-sufficiency and insulation from intimacy. His control is directed toward the disciplining of these tendencies so that he may be a rational, productive person. In contrast, the primary problem of the
i*f*a [EcRcAu] is his susceptibility to external events and his tendency toward involvement and emotional reciprocity. He must learn to discipline these. The
i*f*a [EcRcAu] uses his mental processes as a buffer against his over-reactivity and uses moral concepts and principles to structure his life. In doing so, he becomes somewhat contemplative and ideational in order to slow his activity and control his temptation to give in to sensory and sensual stimulation. The e*f*a uses his mental processes as a buffer against the chaos of his inner ideational experience; in doing so, he speeds his responsiveness to external stimuli and increases his activity. He uses his "mind" to sharpen his extremal perceptions; the
i*f*a [EcRcAu] uses his "mind" to slow his external perceptions so that he can give them meaning and form.
The e*f*a is an active, alert individual who is eager to discover more ways to be responsive and reality oriented. Since, as a primitive R, he is an imitative person, he is very dependent upon external guidance and support of his behavior, reactions, and responses. As a primitive A, he learns the conventional social behavior of his environment quickly, without pressure or practice. As a primitive I, he is passive and internalized; it is here that the most external pressure for change is likely to occur. Given extremal pressure and punishment for internalizing, the e*f*a learns to repress or overcome his primitive I tendencies. The
if*a [IuRcAu] has more difficulty repressing, so usually has more conscious guilt about his autism; he will often become extremely involved in externalized activities in order to control his internalizing. The
if*a [IuRcAu] adjustment, then, is a function of the extent to which the environment provides firm discipline. The e*f*a adjustment, on the other hand, has the quality of self-discipline since the individual, himself, provides the control of his internalizing tendencies. For the primitive IRA, the means by which this is accomplished is very much a function of the training and guidance he has received. In this sense, the e*f*a is a faithful and loyal "carbon copy" of the milieu from which he emerges. He does not have the external distractibility and seductivity of the externalized; he can be very effective socially and interpersonally, because his primary psychological energy is directed toward defending against his own inner pressures. Both the
i*f*a [EcRcAu] and e*f*a are characterized by their marked self-concern, but the qualitative aspects of this concern are almost opposite: One is concerned that he will over withdraw, while the other is concerned that he will over-relate.
Generally speaking, the e*f*a is a humanitarian, compassionate person with a strong sense of social responsibility. However, these traits are somewhat mitigated by being more abstract than concrete. This can result in some logic-tight compartments that may appear to be paradoxical. The e*f*a, for example, can be an excellent minister, dedicated to the needs of his parish and tireless in his exercise of social responsibilities and, at the same time, emotionally distant and lacking in understanding of his own children. It is the e*f*a who can be dedicated to his country and community, an efficient and productive public servant, who denies even basic rights to minority groups because, by definition, they are not entitled to them. The
i*f*a [EcRcAu] will often be unduly cruel to that which tempts him in order to control his tendencies; the e*f*a, not affected in this way, will be more objective and consistent in his behavior. The e*f*a cluster produces individuals who are conventional and well-behaved, who are, to a large extent, the backbone of an efficient society. Such persons study, and understand, the religious and moral ethics of their milieu. They then conscientiously attempt to live up to the expectations of their credo. They do not question the rituals and catechisms of their society, for they have firmly established ideas of right and wrong, ranging all the way from the proper tie to wear, to the moral obligations of motherhood. Traditions, convention, and precedent are their bell, book, and candle. A primary problem of the e*f*a is that he frequently is the victim of others expectations. His initial role-playing skill, plus the effective way he learns to be active and apparently relating, lead others to overestimate and over-value him. In childhood and adolescence, he has little experience with rejection and is constantly included in the activities of his peer group. At the same time, he has little experience with intimate relationships with anyone other than members of his immediate family. At adolescence, then, intimate relationships are likely to be immature and idealistic. Early marriage, thus, is a real possibility, but there is almost no chance for maintaining such a relationship. The pseudo maturity of the e*f*a can result in failure experiences adolescence that may be very damaging. Guilt about his own inadequacy, and his bewilderment about the intensity of the expectations others have for him, can result in maladjustment. This is a particularly difficult adjustment for women; marriage and childbirth can be very traumatic. Apathies, which is really internalized depression, and inhibited behavior are the characteristic maladjustments of this pattern.
) it actually described me well. No real slam-downs, I guess I just gotta work at avoiding a Nick Rekieta mid-life crisis...
