Hello Folks.
I think that I will be doing a series of posts about how type is expressed in American (USA) culture. If I were doing this right, I'd start off by explaining why the hypothesis that the USA has an "ESTJ culture" is convincing to me. For now, I'll leave that out, I might bring it up at some later time.
What I'd like to address now is something about the expression of extraverted feeling in the USA. I want to do this to address some of the constant hostility to Fe types on this forum (over all, I would guess that there is a general bias towards the Te-Fi judgement axis here). I think one of the ways to do this, is to point out the following: I think people on this forum need to learn to recognize the difference between extraverted feeling; as expressed by actual Fe types, versus the pathological ways that extraverted feeling is often expressed through the cultural shadow.
For a definition of what I'm talking about, lets refer to a decent definition of the problem:
Dolphin Dive » Blog Archive » Defining Introverted Feeling and Extraverted Feeling
[Vicky Jo, citing John Beebe]
Especially, pay attention to this part of the quote from the Beebe article:
"In its shadow aspect, extraverted feeling tends to discriminate against feelings that are less easy to identify with, and therefore less socially acceptable. The result is that extraverted feeling tends to ignore or harshly judge emotional needs that do not validate collective norms. This kind of response can lead to forms of bullying and prejudice, as majority values are emphasized at the expense of other, more individual values."
And Vicky Jo's thoughts on this are:
"It’s a bit of a shock to consider feeling being used as a form of bullying and prejudice; nevertheless, I can think of times, particularly in my high school days, when I have censured others for not behaving according to collective norms. It’s interesting to reconsider those experiences now, in light of the eight-function model and a [hopefully] more developed consciousness.
While I may have snubbed others for displaying “inappropriate behavior,†my transgressions pale in comparison to the extreme pressure from the Collective to hide our unpleasant emotions. Emotional expression of any kind is “unseemly†and readily discouraged, while pills are dispensed by the millions to keep us from feeling anything “bad.†We have an extremely repressed emotional culture, and it leaves many of us feeling like automotons."
This rings true to me based on my own experience of feeling types. People with well-developed feeling functions (of either attitude) often actually have a pretty high tolerance for depressing content and harder-to-identify-with emotions and needs. This is why I think it is incredibly important that people learn to distinguish between extraverted feeling types and the cultural/shadowy expression of Fe in America.
For an example on that shadowy cultural expression, I'm going to turn it over to Barbara Ehrenreich and her story of "cancerland" and what some people now colorfully call the 'breast cancer cult', and her little 'smile or die' video:
Breast Cancer Action Archive - Welcome to Cancerland: A Mammogram Leads to a Cult of Pink Kitsch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5um8QWWRvo
In the 2nd video, she also points out some things that I might consider childish/immature expressions of extraverted intuition in the american culture (the self-help book racket, the quantum mysticism).
For the article by B. Ehrenreich, pay particular attention to these quotes (relating to the cultural shadow extraverted feeling):
"It is the very blandness of breast cancer, at least in mainstream perceptions, that makes it an attractive object of corporate charity and a way for companies to brand themselves friends of the middle-aged female market. With breast cancer, "there was no concern that you might actually turn off your audience because of the life style or sexual connotations that AIDS has," Amy Langer, director of the National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations, told the New York Times in 1996. 'That gives corporations a certain freedom and a certain relief in supporting the cause." Or as Cindy Pearson, director of the National Women's Health Network, the organizational progeny of the Women's Health Movement, puts it more caustically: "Breast cancer provides a way of doing something for women, without being feminist."
"As an experiment, I post a statement on the Komen.org message board, under the subject line "angry," briefly listing my own heartfelt complaints about debilitating treatments, recalcitrant insurance companies, environmental carcinogens, and, most daringly, "sappy pink ribbons." I receive a few words of encouragement in my fight with the insurance company, which has taken the position that my biopsy was a kind of optional indulgence, but mostly a chorus of rebukes. "Suzy" writes to say, "I really dislike saying you have a bad attitude towards all of this, but you do, and it's not going to help you in the least." "Mary" is a bit more tolerant, writing, "Barb, at this time in your life, it's so important to put all your energies toward a peaceful, if not happy, existence. Cancer is a rotten thing to have happen and there are no answers for any of us as to why. But to live your life, whether you have one more year or 51, in anger and bitterness is such a waste…I hope you can find some peace. You deserve it. We all do. God bless you and keep you in His loving care. Your sister, Mary."
"Kitty," however, thinks I've gone around the bend: "You need to run, not walk, to some counseling…Please, get yourself some help and I ask everyone on this site to pray for you so you can enjoy life to the fullest.""
"To the extent that current methods of detection and treatment fail or fall short, America's breast-cancer cult can be judged as an outbreak of mass delusion, celebrating survivorhood by downplaying mortality and promoting obedience to medical protocols known to have limited efficacy."
Back to cultures: where there's a more developed feeling at the cultural level, you have stuff like people who are hired to cry at a strangers' funeral. That may be weird, but it's a lot saner than the repressed crap that goes on in the US of A.
I think that I will be doing a series of posts about how type is expressed in American (USA) culture. If I were doing this right, I'd start off by explaining why the hypothesis that the USA has an "ESTJ culture" is convincing to me. For now, I'll leave that out, I might bring it up at some later time.
What I'd like to address now is something about the expression of extraverted feeling in the USA. I want to do this to address some of the constant hostility to Fe types on this forum (over all, I would guess that there is a general bias towards the Te-Fi judgement axis here). I think one of the ways to do this, is to point out the following: I think people on this forum need to learn to recognize the difference between extraverted feeling; as expressed by actual Fe types, versus the pathological ways that extraverted feeling is often expressed through the cultural shadow.
For a definition of what I'm talking about, lets refer to a decent definition of the problem:
Dolphin Dive » Blog Archive » Defining Introverted Feeling and Extraverted Feeling
[Vicky Jo, citing John Beebe]
Especially, pay attention to this part of the quote from the Beebe article:
"In its shadow aspect, extraverted feeling tends to discriminate against feelings that are less easy to identify with, and therefore less socially acceptable. The result is that extraverted feeling tends to ignore or harshly judge emotional needs that do not validate collective norms. This kind of response can lead to forms of bullying and prejudice, as majority values are emphasized at the expense of other, more individual values."
And Vicky Jo's thoughts on this are:
"It’s a bit of a shock to consider feeling being used as a form of bullying and prejudice; nevertheless, I can think of times, particularly in my high school days, when I have censured others for not behaving according to collective norms. It’s interesting to reconsider those experiences now, in light of the eight-function model and a [hopefully] more developed consciousness.
While I may have snubbed others for displaying “inappropriate behavior,†my transgressions pale in comparison to the extreme pressure from the Collective to hide our unpleasant emotions. Emotional expression of any kind is “unseemly†and readily discouraged, while pills are dispensed by the millions to keep us from feeling anything “bad.†We have an extremely repressed emotional culture, and it leaves many of us feeling like automotons."
This rings true to me based on my own experience of feeling types. People with well-developed feeling functions (of either attitude) often actually have a pretty high tolerance for depressing content and harder-to-identify-with emotions and needs. This is why I think it is incredibly important that people learn to distinguish between extraverted feeling types and the cultural/shadowy expression of Fe in America.
For an example on that shadowy cultural expression, I'm going to turn it over to Barbara Ehrenreich and her story of "cancerland" and what some people now colorfully call the 'breast cancer cult', and her little 'smile or die' video:
Breast Cancer Action Archive - Welcome to Cancerland: A Mammogram Leads to a Cult of Pink Kitsch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5um8QWWRvo
In the 2nd video, she also points out some things that I might consider childish/immature expressions of extraverted intuition in the american culture (the self-help book racket, the quantum mysticism).
For the article by B. Ehrenreich, pay particular attention to these quotes (relating to the cultural shadow extraverted feeling):
"It is the very blandness of breast cancer, at least in mainstream perceptions, that makes it an attractive object of corporate charity and a way for companies to brand themselves friends of the middle-aged female market. With breast cancer, "there was no concern that you might actually turn off your audience because of the life style or sexual connotations that AIDS has," Amy Langer, director of the National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations, told the New York Times in 1996. 'That gives corporations a certain freedom and a certain relief in supporting the cause." Or as Cindy Pearson, director of the National Women's Health Network, the organizational progeny of the Women's Health Movement, puts it more caustically: "Breast cancer provides a way of doing something for women, without being feminist."
"As an experiment, I post a statement on the Komen.org message board, under the subject line "angry," briefly listing my own heartfelt complaints about debilitating treatments, recalcitrant insurance companies, environmental carcinogens, and, most daringly, "sappy pink ribbons." I receive a few words of encouragement in my fight with the insurance company, which has taken the position that my biopsy was a kind of optional indulgence, but mostly a chorus of rebukes. "Suzy" writes to say, "I really dislike saying you have a bad attitude towards all of this, but you do, and it's not going to help you in the least." "Mary" is a bit more tolerant, writing, "Barb, at this time in your life, it's so important to put all your energies toward a peaceful, if not happy, existence. Cancer is a rotten thing to have happen and there are no answers for any of us as to why. But to live your life, whether you have one more year or 51, in anger and bitterness is such a waste…I hope you can find some peace. You deserve it. We all do. God bless you and keep you in His loving care. Your sister, Mary."
"Kitty," however, thinks I've gone around the bend: "You need to run, not walk, to some counseling…Please, get yourself some help and I ask everyone on this site to pray for you so you can enjoy life to the fullest.""
"To the extent that current methods of detection and treatment fail or fall short, America's breast-cancer cult can be judged as an outbreak of mass delusion, celebrating survivorhood by downplaying mortality and promoting obedience to medical protocols known to have limited efficacy."
Back to cultures: where there's a more developed feeling at the cultural level, you have stuff like people who are hired to cry at a strangers' funeral. That may be weird, but it's a lot saner than the repressed crap that goes on in the US of A.