Comparing the Mentalities

Using a Typology-Essences Table

The TET permits us to look simultaneously at all seven approaches to ethical choice in an arrangement that reflects the basic mechanics of choice.

Step 1: Determine the TET Axes

In relation to the Interacting-for-Benefitframework:

Quadrants in the interacting-for-benefit TET in terms of the relative significance of societal contribution and self-development.

X-Axis: The social outcome is about contribution to society

Y-Axis: The psychological requirement relates to self-development

Step 2: Position the Mentalities

  • how much importance is allocated to the Societal contribution—X-axis),

    &

  • how much importance is being given to Self-development—Y-axis.

We will consider and plot approaches one by one on the blank TET with

Understanding why the mentalities are positioned as they are is important for further applications. So …

We start with the extreme mentalities:

We place Kinship-centredness in the lower left corner of the lower left quadrant

X-Axis: Societal contribution. This approach values learning for its own sake, welcomes diversity irrespective of its social impact and upholds a relativism that rejects the inherent superiority of those values and absolutes on which any society depends. This means it is very low on the X-axis.

Y-Axis: Self development. At the same time, a great deal is demanded of the self, because genuine appreciation and acceptance of new ideas and customs is personally challenging. It involves hard work in emotional, intellectual and social terms. So it is very high on the Y-Axis.

We place Perspective-centredness in the upper left corner of the upper left quadrant

The position taken is that self-development and contributing to society are inextricably interlinked.

Y-Axis: Self development. Seeing dangers to society clearly, recognizing social potential, and communicating effectively, all depend on imagination that requires the most disciplined cultivation of the self. Spiritual awareness and its conscious use without arrogance also requires personal effort. So it is very high on the Y-axis.

X-Axis: Societal contribution.. The mentality also accepts responsibility for others and for wider society more generally. Indeed, the whole of humanity is considered, but there is also an overt recognition of the need to conform to the established order and work from where people are. The most socially beneficial contributions probably stem from reducing hostility through unification of conflicting forces and harmonization of disparate ideas. So it is very high on the X-axis.

We place Reality-centredness in the upper right corner of the upper right quadrant

We now turn to the central mentalities:

X-Axis: Societal contribution. From politicians, investment bankers and many bureaucrats, we note that the orientation is more about manipulating the social system for personal gain than serving it. A rather limited concern for society goes along with a contempt for those being dominated and exploited. Nevertheless, to gain that status, respect, control, salary and numerous perks, some quantum of benefit to society must always be provided. We therefore rate it low on the X-Axis, but not extremely so.

Y-Axis: Self development. To use power, some self-knowledge is required—both to find one’s position in the pecking order and to avoid being harmed. However, the self is not immune from being exploited and harmed by its own mentality (e.g. via heroism, drinking, sexuality, impulsive acts, vendettas, &c.) In addition, the lack of principles, preparedness to alter attitudes to get on the winning side, and rejection of rational thought, imply identity diffusion. Altogether, this means Power-centredness must be rated low on the Y-Axis, even if not at the extreme.

We place Power-centredness in the upper right part of the lower left quadrant.

We place Cause-centredness in the lower right part of the upper left quadrant.

X-Axis: Societal contribution. This approach is built around the generation of social improvements. However, it is limited by a concern for communal integration, for fairness, for tolerance and for democracy. This makes it worthy and places it high on the X-Axis, but not at the extreme.

Y-Axis: Self development. Self-development is required to sense social needs, to handle people and to enable cooperation. Appreciation of the feelings, interests and intentions essential to find a consensus puts demands on the self that can only be met by a positive focus on self-awareness and self-development. This places it high on the Y-Axis, and in the upper-right quadrant with Reality-centredness but, again, not at the extreme.

We place Community-centredness in the lower left part of the upper right quadrant.

There is one last mentality to consider:

This differs from the others in that it exists in both more and less extreme forms, extending diffusely through the lower-right quadrant (as shown by the shaded diagonal ellipse in the diagram).

X-Axis: Societal contribution. Market-based activity—business enterprise—is intrinsic to social development because production, competition and consumption are the cornerstones of the prosperous society that all desire. So such a mentality is intrinsically high to very high on the X-Axis.

Y-Axis: Self development. However, competition to make money in markets is a hard taskmaster. It depends far more on character than personal growth. Inherent talent, persistent effort, social support and opportunity are the main factors in success: so the mentality varies from very low to low on the Y-Axis.

There is an «extreme» and a «central» version of the market-centred mentality.

We can label this version of market-centredness as enterprise-focused and locate it at the extreme lower right of the lower right quadrant.

. We can label this version of market-centredness as job-focused, and it must be positioned more centrally in the upper left of the lower right quadrant.

We show the Market-centred approach covering a diffuse elliptical area in the lower right quadrant.

Finally: The Mentality that Isn’t

Confused?

If you are puzzled by the positioning of any mentality, then you should either:

  • Think it through with me in the next section.
  • Post queries.
  • Discuss with other users.

Originally posted: July 2009