The Delusional Type

[tcaudilllg]

In this thread I will describe the delusional type, which is characterized by fixation and exaltation of discordant relationships between belief functions. There are four levels of delusion, one for each of the four individuation stages. The higher the level, the less severe the delusion.

The levels are describing in descending order, so as to better illustrate the descending severity of the conditions. Additionally, I will use the word "discordancy" to differentiate between the modern psychological terminology for the word delusion, which tends to be reserved for superstitious beliefs. Although discordancy is a distinguishing trait of superstitious people, not all discordants are superstitious.

Each level is characterized by a distinct fear. It is the compoundment of these fears which make the lower levels so detrimental to the mental accuracy of the person.


4th Level - Debater

Erickson life stage: late adulthood
Greatest fear - "to be wrong"

4th level discordancy is characterized by ideas extend "to their logical conclusion". This is a tireless debater who argues their position to the point of absurdity, but always with a smile. Adamant about what they believe but always willing to accept that they might be wrong, they are very civil about their disagreements and will defer to a majority on most issues.

4th level discordants oversee the delusionary caste and try to regulate the expression of the by means of appeal to seniority. Indeed, the more established a senior class is in a culture, the more inhibited lower level discordants will feel. The only flash point which this level experiences is on the matter of legacy and providing for the next generation. On this point they will become inflexible, requiring that others work around them or avoid them. They may seek to aggressively sustain their position until a "suitable successor" can be found.

Fox News talk host Bill O'Reilly is an exemplar of this type, as are Sigmund Freud, B.F. Skinner, and other controversial figures. It is possible Augusta herself was one (duality hypothesis), although I am not sure about this. Rand Paul, Ralph Nader, and Fidel Castro also come to mind.


3rd level - Persecutor

Erickson life stage: middle adulthood
Greatest Fear - "failure"

Although not the most severe level of discordancy, this is the most dangerous. This person feels persecuted, and is like to identify parties to blame for this "persecution". In a minority of cases the persecution may be legitimate. In leadership positions this type will exhibit profound cruelty: they will use their position of authority to persecute "subversives" who they judge are "infesting" their preferred area of expertise. For example, Nietzsche persecuted Christians; Napoleon persecuted nobles (and then became one himself); ****** persecuted the Jews; and McCarthy persecuted "communists". In ancient times, this type was like to lead pogroms and inquisitions, seeking out those who they thought personally threatened them. They are characterized by high levels of paranoia.

3rd level discordants are like to be tolerated until they reach positions of influence. At this point, it is probable the fear of them by a majority will grow so great as to necessitate their forced removal. Like the 4th level discordants, they emphasize the importance of a personal legacy. However, they rarely succeed due to the determination of the majority to expunge every trace of their influence. Only with this influence destroyed or at least well contained can the afflicted populace feel free from the fear which characterized relations with the 3rd level discordant. This person is always "on the attack" and will pick a fight if they believe it will gain them the power they need to carry out their crazy missions.


2nd Level Discordancy - Revolutionary

Ericson life stage: young adulthood
Greatest Fear - "to be isolated"

The 2nd Level discordant just cannot get over their hang-up with the belief element opposite to their dominant. Whether a rebel without a cause, the defender of an institution which has lost its claim to legitimacy, the staunch adherent to an outdated ideology, or the hypocrite who votes against legislation to help the poor because they believe it a giveaway to big business, the aim of this person is to misguidedly remake the world in the image of their personal ideals. Others don't see the truth and thus must be "awakened" to the obstacle which stands in the way of the new "utopia". Their nation must be "woken up" so that the "bad guys" can be perceived and exposed. This individual also has the features of the 4th and 3rd levels, and so is ready and willing to "answer the call" of the paranoid madman to lay down their welfare and perhaps even their lives to free society from the clutches of those delusional miscreants on the other side. This type is a true idealist and may spend tremendous energy attempting to achieve their ideal. They may be so consumed by it that they die in combat trying to achieve it. So zealous are they that they are more likely than other people to explode in murderous rage against unnamed innocents who have become "part of the system" -- they are the workplace shooters and the armed gunmen, who chose suicidal standoffs with the police. For all their zeal they lack empathy (a characteristic also of the 3rd level) and are like to find themselves abandoned by the people who they thought they were fighting to help and protect. Their expectations of others are often unrealistic and poor, owing to lack of faith required to see the good in a person's heart regardless of their dominant belief element. For this reason they are distinctly unreceptive to the warnings offered by their socionics duals.


1st Level Discordancy - Alcolyte

Erickson life stage: pre-adulthood
Greatest Fear - "to be justifiably hated"

This type is fearful of the self-awareness that is characteristic of adulthood. They lack sense of self and so cling to their dominant belief element. They believe life to be a struggle of beliefs because no one can know for certain which beliefs are right or wrong. They accept an ideology as offered by adults, and hold to it. They look for others who subscribe to an opposing ideology, and project their insecurities onto them. They are very malleable, and are particularly susceptible to indoctrination. In the Muslim world, extremist organizations has managed to achieve some level of military success by indoctrinating the young and persuading them to commit suicide by explosives, often in crowded settings. This type believes in maintaining its purity, and looks to ideologies which promise rewards for the pure as a means of liberation from the fears associated with the higher levels. Thus they are susceptible to the defense mechanisms created by higher level discordants to liberate themselves from their sense of fear.