Hi, I have been doing much research on various touchy subjects such as Religion, Politics, Economics, Psychology, Philosophy, Culture and race. Believe me, you come across several personalities when you study these types of subjects. Now I'm not trying to label anyone, but over the course of years, I have come across two main personality types.
Type A Personality:
Base all their opinions and thoughts on an established ideology. Be it a religious Denomination, Political Party, Corporate ideology, Cultural group, ect.
Usually cling to the opinions and thoughts of the leader of the establishment. They are most often thought of as being rigid, over Dogmatic, or close minded.
They often lead an ethical life, nice to others, do not lie, steal, cheat, hurt or kill. In religion, they often take religious texts as laid out clear and blunt(Fundamentalism). They are found in all religions, be it Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, ect. They are known for seeing religion as Black and White. Usually these are found in Pentecostal, Evangelical, Baptist and Fundamentalist Denominations of Christianity. Not all of them, but very common in these denominations. To a lesser extent, they can be found in mainstream Christianity, such as Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, Methodists, Eastern Orthodox, and Presbyterians. Typically they have a high focus on everything based on either Heaven=being with them, and Hell=Not in their group. Often shows rigidity towards bible standards, and the leaders of that particular Church. I have found them also with Politics, where people show full obedience towards the government, no matter what injustices they commit, along with showing strong loyalty and support of the government, no matter what they do. Also seen in ideologies based on other controversial subjects etiquette, feminism, Culture, Race, economics, business, certain aspects of zoology, ect. I have noticed them to perform social behaviors such as criticising others personal lives, on stuff that is really not their concern, such as what religion they follow, their political offiliation, their parenting style, their cultural habits, the way they dress, what they eat, what they read, what sports they play, and morally neutral behaviors. Just so you know, the religious and political examples were just examples of beliefs someone with this personality would carry. Sorry for the extremely vast description.
Type B Personality:
Base their opinions and thought on their own experience, and more based on Independent thought, than established ideologies. They are often passionate about their beliefs, and other times laid back about their opinions. They however do not claim that they know everything, and have an open mind towards those who think differently than them. In religion, they look at their religious texts for deeper meaning, and if they disagree with a religious leader, no problem, they are entitled to an opinion, just as I am, and I am not obliged to except their opinion. Often see value in other religions, and are not necessarily interested in converting them. Some even participate and interact with other religions. They usually live a moral life, not lieing, cheating or stealing, killing or hurting others. They are the type who in politics do not support the government if they do not agree with their actions, usually for making decisions that do not benefit everyone. Typically do not interfere with other peoples personal lives, such as religion, political offliation, culture, parenting style, how they dress, what they eat, ect. The only time they interfere is if someone is performing a serious injustice, such as child abuse, opression of the poor, unfair laws, discrimination, vandalism, ect.
Claims Personality A vs. others who do not agree with them, including personality B
-They are under the influence of the Devil
-They have no idea what they are talking about
-They are no different than saying that 2+2=5
-They are just plain out rude
-They are disgusting
-They are uneducated and Stupid
Claims Personality B agianst Personality A
-Close Minded
-Arrogant
-Biggoted
-Nosy
-Pushy
-Uneducated
Okay. So, to the Psychological aspect, I have seen claims made agianst both People, with psychological explainations that could possibly support both sides.
Personality A vs. Personality B.
1. People cannot handle the truth. So, instead of accepting the truth, they make up their own truth.
2. Deep down, these people know the truth, and what group holds the truth. However, they are stuck in their own mindset and cannot or do not want to break away from their beliefs, but know their belief is wrong. So, they are really jealous of the ones that hold the truth, and instead call the people who hold the truth as arrogant, and close minded for claiming they know the truth.
Personality B vs. Personality A
1. Some people have High ego's, and feel the need to be superior to others, so they are drawn to any established ideologies that cater to them personally, by making them feel like they know the whole truth.
2. These kinds of people have trouble thinking and reasoning, so they have someone who does all the reasoning for them. During this time, the leader of the established organization,(Church, workplace, Government, school,) rewards those who show full loyalty to them. (Getting a raise for not taking time off, being praised for excepting established thought of a religious cult, getting perfect attendance for no sick absense from school), and see those who do not go by rigid ideologies being punished.(ex. Seeing someone getting reprimanded for refusing to accept certain religious beliefs, getting arrested for speaking out agianst the government, getting fired for requesting time off.) They are rewarded for obedience, but see those who are disobedient to their ideologies being punished.
3. In their unconscious mind, they know that their way is not the only way, and that they are not necessarily right. However, they have been conditioned into thinking they are right, and only they alone are right. But are burdened by the responsibility to the so called truth they carry, such as obedience to the leader, and really unpleasant and unreasonable opinions that are hard to choke down. However, unconsciously, they are jealous of those who can make decisions, and reason stuff out on their own, and see them enjoying their life unburdened by the responsibilities of the so called truths they carry. So, unconsciously, they desire making others miserable as them, but consciously, they claim that by pushing their ways on others, they are compelled to inform the others where they are ignorant, even if they have to force their ways on others.(ex. A strict Fundamentalist Christian group tells its members that certain behaviors such as wearing comfortable clothing, playing with other kids outside the church, cinema, rock music, dancing and drinking lead to eternal torment, they are miserable by the restrictions and the fear they carry, however, deep down they know that deep down, their restrictions are irrational, so they become jealous of those who are allowed to do those things. However, deep down, they want everyone else to be as miserable as them, so they try to convert everyone else who is not in their church, or make everyone else miserable who refuses to except their teachings, such as harassing them.)
4. They have anxiety disorder, but never were diagnosed properly. However, when they do become scared, they are put under the impression that their fear is indicating that they have been given grave "knowledge", and unless they except this knowledge, and do as they are demanded, their fears automatically disappear. However, they cannot escape their anxiety, which they are told that they cannot just fluff off their newfound knowledge, and that there is no turning back. People with anxiety Disorder are conditioned to fear when there is no real threat. In someone without anxiety, they would only fear that which is actually a real threat. Ex. You are in a house that is on fire, so the only logical thing to do is to depart the house, or you're screwed. However, with anxiety disorder, they are under the impression that there is a constant threat. However, these victims believe they are under some type of real threat, and the leader who has the power over them has convinced them that they have to be obedient towards the ideologies of that establishment, or they are screwed. However, the truth is that they are anxious, which makes them believe they are under realistic threats, but really are under the idea that there really is a threat. So, they hand over reasoning and logic to the one who supposedly can protect them from the threat.
5. Since they are following under the leadership of some other established ideology, these ideas are not their ideas, so if they are wrong, they are not responsible for inventing these ideologies, and therefore not responsible for being wrong. Like a person who has their thoughts based on their own understanding, they know that they are responsible for their opinions, and if they are wrong, they only have theirselves to blame, so they dont claim their opinion as dogmatic.
Topic: Close Minded or Open Minded, any insight (Read 4702 times)
March 16, 2009, 05:32:27 PM