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Fe, Social instinct, and Social Pressure

Julius_Van_Der_Beak

Up the Wolves
Joined
Jul 24, 2008
Messages
19,624
MBTI Type
INTP
Enneagram
5w6
Instinctual Variant
sp/so
I don't feel that much guilt about being an asshole back at someone if they are being an asshole at me or others...it's not like they'll respond and act differently if you're nice. I know I'm supposed to be ä "bigger man" because confilct is bad, mkay, but usually the implicit message there is that I be someone's doormat.

Do you relate to that, or are you more diplomatic/even-tempered?
 
G

garbage

Guest
I don't feel that much guilt about being an asshole back at someone if they are being an asshole at me or others...it's not like they'll respond and act differently if you're nice. I know I'm supposed to be ä "bigger man" because confilct is bad, mkay, but usually the implicit message there is that I be someone's doormat.

Do you relate to that, or are you more diplomatic/even-tempered?
It'd be virtuous to say that you ought to be the bigger person, to take it all in stride. But virtues are "rules;" rules are what they are.

And often, practicality trumps the values. It's impractical to be someone's doormat or, worse, punching bag. It's unfair to be those things.

"Being an asshole back" is one way to set an appropriate boundary between you and the other. If that's what it takes, then that's what it takes.

Other means might include a metaphorical shrug of the shoulders to allow their own guilt to sink in, a cough or grimace or somesuch to convey annoyance, a direct statement of that you'd prefer them to stop such-and-such a thing. Sometimes it's worth trying this stuff; sometimes it's not.


Personally? Suppose someone's an asshole to me. If I need to match them pound for pound for some reason, I will. If I don't need to--if they're simply a pest--I might still do it if I feel like it, because if they're being an asshole I've usually lost requisite respect for them anyway.
 

21%

You have a choice!
Joined
May 15, 2009
Messages
3,224
MBTI Type
INFJ
Enneagram
4w5
I think for me Fe pressure works like this:
I'm acutely aware of what the society thinks is good and correct. I may not agree with all of it, but I know the repercussions of not following the 'rules' and I am always weighing them in my mind. Some 'rules' that I think are stupid, I rebel against, but I know that people are going to disagree and perhaps judge me for it. That was already part of the calculation in the first place so whatever I do I am aware of the consequences.

If something is not that important, I will just follow the 'rules' (because they are there for a reason anyways), and if something is really important to me, I will then try to do something to actually change the rules -- discuss it with people, sign petitions, join campaigns, etc.

What bothers me is how some people refuse to follow the rules and then whine about how unfairly they are judged. It's just not helpful for anybody...
 

Southern Kross

Away with the fairies
Joined
Dec 22, 2008
Messages
2,910
MBTI Type
INFP
Enneagram
4w5
Instinctual Variant
so/sp
I've thought of something to contribute. Here's a theory of mine:

I think people focus too much on So instinct bringing a more Fe quality to Fi users, when I think it can bring more Fi to Fe-users as well. The Social instinct is a bit of a leveller; a natural bridging agent. It can cut through the some of the 'extreme' differences between Fe and Fi and creates a happy, middle ground. I think Fi or Fe simply frames the use of the Social instinct and this inadvertently gives rise to qualities that can resemble the other function.

FPs are naturally adaptive people and are interested in universal ways of being, so they connect more with the adaptable elements of So and to it's awareness of collective behaviours. It means they're more keen to shift their behaviour to accommodate another person's personality traits, interests, culture, language, or way of doing things. They still think of this as (the Fi approach of) recognising the individual and as seeing the world from their point of view, but with the Social instinct included, there is more awareness of how this person fits into to various life schemas (ie. the universal) and how this influences them as an individual - as well as increased willingness to shift to that individual's preferences.

FJs are naturally affective people and are interested in shared norms and values, so they connect more with the mediating elements of So, and with the desire for the group to be happy and successful. It means that they are more focussed on individuals (than perhaps other FJs are), and attending to and accommodating what makes them different to the group/norm. They're still more driven by (the Fe approach of) shared aspects and common ground, but with the addition of the Social instinct, there is more willingness to address the exceptions to the common yard-stick, and to perhaps shift the goal posts to include and accommodate the individual exceptions.

So in a sense the Fi and Fe can come to resemble one another when combined with the Social instinct: Fe-users become more understanding of the individual preferences and Fi users are more accommodating towards the social norms. But the interesting thing is both functions are still operating within their own bounds; it's only the application that changes, particularly in regards to the sorts of values they take on.

For example (I've probably told this story before), I met this ENFP Sx/Sp while travelling in the Middle East. She had just come from Egypt and bitched about the expectation that she should change to modest dress (ie. loose clothes covering your chest, shoulders, back, midrift and preferably most of your legs), especially when there was religious significance (she was a hard core atheist). She had flatly refused to do it because she didn't think she should have to change who she was for anyone. She was seemed so threatened by the idea of having to change even one part of herself, even temporarily. And from the way she talked, it sounded like she intentionally wore brief clothing just to piss people off - things like tight singlets and hot pants. I had the complete opposite approach. I made a real effort to dress modestly, even when it was stinking hot, because I saw it as the only right thing to do. These weren't my countries, religions (I'm also an atheist) or cultures but I felt I needed to respect the way they did things as best I could. I didn't want to upset people or make them feel uncomfortable. This is very driven by my personal values and keen interest in others ways of living; and when I did all this, I didn't feel my sense of identity was threatened in the least. It's interesting to me how differently two Fi users (and NFPs as well) could see and approach the situation - to me this has a lot to do with the Social instinct* (and perhaps maturity too! :newwink: ).

*Although as a disclaimer: the Social instinct can certainly lend itself to counter-culture and defiance of norms too.
 
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