Synopsis

This framework deals with how people naturally seek to be successful, safe and satisfied. THEE identifies seven Mentalities (or Approaches) that we use to obtain our preferred form of benefit. The THEE-names and slogans aim to capture the spirit of each way of interacting.

Mentality/ Approach	Core Process & Benefit	Slogan
Market-centred	Competing so as to prosper	Business is business!
Power-centred	Controlling so as to dominate	Might is right!
Cause-centred	Believing so as to find meaning	Fight the good fight!
Community-centred	Cooperating so as to produce social progress	Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!
Kinship-centred	Belonging so as to feel secure	Blood is thicker than water!
Perspective-centred	Learning so as to welcome diversity	There are no absolutes!
Reality-centred	Seeing essences so as to unify	It’s simple: just open your eyes!

How We Live

We each value most highly the process and benefit that is generated by whichever one of the above approaches suits us best. As a result, that particular approach ends up governing much of our life. We want the benefits of other approaches too (just not enough to become unlike ourselves) and may seek them to a greater or lesser degree.

However, our natural approach becomes stamped in our minds as a persistent controlling mentality. We are all inclined to associate with like-minded people, and this principle also applies here. So our social network generates pressures and incentives to maintain and value the common mentality. The end result is that, over time, the approach becomes a defining component of who we are, who we spend time with, and how we think and operate.

Prepare Yourself

Distinguish Approach & Mentality 

Get used to these two somewhat inter-changeable concepts: «Approach» refers to a theory or doctrine which meets a human need; «Mentality» refers to the frame of mind that results when a person assumes, believes and lives that theory (knowingly or unconsciously). They are two sides of the one coin of psychosocial reality. This Typology set is not a theory: it is a map of a discovery based on observations. See the Hub for more.

Get the Value

Each of us is dominated by one or two of these mentalities, even if you protest or assert to the contrary, and even if you use all of them from time to time. If you get to know this list, you may handle yourself more effectively, and you will certainly understand and adjust to others whose choices and actions may affect you. This framework has numerous applications. Most are for everyone. Some are developed in detail for those in business or large organizations.

Applications for Organizations and Business

• Marketing
• Strengthening the Commercial Ethos
• Getting Cooperation
• Developing a Career
• Handling Employees.

Relevance For Government

If you are in government, you will get a clearer idea of what a strong work ethic entails, and how commerce can go wrong. You can think more about government interventions to generate prosperity: the answer may surprise you.

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• See the THEE Path.

Originally posted: July 2009