At the same time, there are things which deeply disturb me about Fe. I don't like the judgements it applies to decide if somebody's actions are appropriate or not based on a generally accepted perspective or the feelings of the group. A combination of the arrogance that its perspective is right along with the fact that it tends to reflect a popular view means that it can lead to all sorts of things such as inaction, maintaining the status quo and conformity. A bad situation can continue to exist in the sake of maintaining harmony. Also, there is the particular challenge that when the Fe perspective is voiced, others quickly pile on, because of course it reflects a popular view - even if that perspective is wrong. An extreme negative example of Fe would be the Salem Witch Trials in which the mob was in agreement and yet all collectively wrong. It's like the sheep all running over the cliff together.
I have a really hard time wrapping my head around the idea/understanding the notion that Fe types (appear to) get angry at people for holding unpopular opinions or for going against the grain of the group. I understand (from having read this basic assumption over and over again, from different people) that truly is how it
looks- but I have a really hard time understanding it. It's like assuming an engine works because the spinning tires make it go-
as if the spinning tires are the source of the energy fueling the engine, instead of it actually working in the other direction.*
I think in general, judgments that are typically doled out by FJs
are not fueled by popular view- at least,
no more or less than any other type. They are fueled by actual observations about the world, actual critical observation done on an individual level: where introverted perception is people-oriented, there's a priority to troubleshoot potential interpersonal problems. (Not to mention, where Pi > Pe, there's less tolerance for the external world imposing surprise obstacles.) Metaphorically speaking, there are dominoes we are reluctant to knock over-
not because "it simply isn't done" or because we are lemmings and we're afraid to go against the grain- but because authentic critical assessment has recognized the consequent dominoes that fall along
with it and decides ahead of time that it isn't worth the consequence. No offense, but it seems like (some) FPs and TJs can be completely blind to the consequent dominoes that are actually fueling our (very individual and critical) 'judgment'.
This study about perceptual blindness has been brought up before to explain why some types 'see' something completely invisible to other types:
the invisible gorilla.
Yes, it can be very frustrating when one individual FJ decides for other people that some particular domino isn't worthy of knocking over and acts (indeed, truly believes) as if there's something clearly 'objective' about that decision- that
is arrogant. But a lot of that stems from the assumption others can also see what we're seeing- it doesn't occur to us to explain certain things because it seems like the reasons behind the thinking are *right there* in plain sight, and it could potentially even be offensive to point them out. When an FJ feels a strong emotional charge about the way something is being done in the external world, it's because their internal senses are perceiving
a very real gorilla that's invisible to others. It's not because of "group values" (although the more real that gorilla is, the more likely there will be others in the group who also sense it). Other types do the same damn thing in their own way- TJs getting similarly forceful about their 'invisible gorilla' (because for Js, it can be exceptionally difficult to immediately put into words**) and Ps getting forceful in a more 'calm' way with rampant rationalization. When we, as individuals, become exclusively focused on our own invisible gorilla, and impulsively dismiss the possibility there are gorillas (in others' perceptions) we aren't seeing or that could possibly be as important as our own gorilla, it's the effect we tend to have on the world around us- it's a strong need to feel heard without simultaneous ability to listen, and it is indeed arrogant.
The important thing to take away here is that the judgment
doesn't come from "the group", or from some floating Fe hivemind out there- it's because we see a very real aspect of shared reality that you don't see. While
deindividuation is a real phenomenon that occurs and influences an individual's way of processing information (more specifically, believing certain information is more 'correct' than it actually is), it doesn't happen
more to Fe types. It's a human frailty shared equally across all types. And- I feel like a broken record here, like I've already 'preached' this over and over- I very much believe that if it seems to us like some entire 'type' falls prey to deindividuation more than our own type, there's likely a very real 'gorilla'
we aren't seeing.
*
And before someone points out that you can start a car sometimes by making the wheels spin (battery issue)- you can't if there's no gasoline. In this analogy, the car is not electric and gasoline/fuel = individual, critical thought.
**