Harville Hendrix,
in his book, "Keeping the Love You
Find,” identifies six stages of childhood development and their
accompanying wounds or the basic primordial, reptilian, lizard brained, ‘amygdala’
response, trait based fears that stymie them in adulthood. If, you’re
interested in finding the fear that keeps you from intimacy with another, or
holds you back in your communications with others, I suggest you read Harville
Hendrix’s book.
This April 2011 issue of our Toastmasters magazine is all about overcoming our fears of speaking in public. I liked this picture of the cavemen audience on page 16, Stage Fright Blues. However, The Know Thy Fear article intrigued me the most with some new facts on the science of shyness. A relatively small percentage (7%), of ANY population, is clinically shy. The author, Matt Abrahams, goes on to label this fear as "… a internal kind of anxiety, known as"trait based” communication apprehension – better known as shyness or extreme introversion.”
I find that I become
clinically shy the closer I get to my audience whether it is public, or
private. My most fearful encounters, with others, don’t happen on stage, because
I can control how close I get to the audience, or more fearfully speaking, how
close the audience can get to me. Our fears don’t go all the way back to the
stone ages, but they are definitely from our earliest childhood experiences. I found my fear in the ATTACHMENT
Stage of childhood development and that fear is best described as the fear of REJECTION.
Attachment STAGE (0-18 months)
The Avoider: Minimizer,
Rigid Boundaries
Basic Fear (Wound): Contact may lead to emotional and physical rejection, loss of
self through contact with parent (partner).
Internal Message: Don't be
Core Belief: I have no right to exist
Relationship Belief: I will be hurt if I initiate contact with you
Image of Partner: Demanding, all consuming
Relationship to Partner: Detached; avoidant
Core Issue: Too much togetherness; too many feelings; too
much chaos
Typical Frustration: You hate me; you feel too much
Recurrent Feeling: Terror and rage
Conflict Management: Hyper-rational; avoidant;
passive/aggressive withdrawal and coldness
Growth Challenge: Claim right to be; initiate emotional
and physical contact; express feelings; increase body
awareness and sensory contact with environment
The Clinger: Maximizer,
Diffuse Boundaries
Basic Fear (Wound): Separation and abandonment; loss of self through loss of contact
with parent (partner)
Internal Message Don't need me
Core Belief: I can't get my needs met
Relationship Belief: I am safe if I hold on to you
Image of Partner: Unavailable; has no feelings; a rock wall
Relationship to Partner: Clinging; demanding; attempts to fuse
Core Issue: Separateness
Typical Frustration: You are never there
Recurrent Feeling: Voracious rage and terror
Conflict Management: Hyperemotional, uncompromising; demanding, then giving in
Growth Challenge: Let go; do things on your own; negotiate
Exploration STAGE: (18
months to 3 years)
The Isolator:
Minimizer, Rigid Boundaries
Basic Fear (Wound): Being smothered, absorbed, humiliated, loss
of parent (partner)
Internal Message Don't be separate
Core Belief: I can't say no and be loved
Relationship Belief: I will be absorbed if I get close
Image of Partner (IP): Insecure; too dependent; needy
Relationship to Partner: Sets limits on togetherness; passive/aggressive;
acts out absorption fears by distancing
Core Issue CI: Personal freedom; autonomy
Typical Frustration TF: You need too much
Recurrent Feeling Recurrent Feeling RF: Fear and impotent fury
Conflict Management CM:
Oppositional; distancing
Growth Challenge: Initiate closeness; share feelings; increase
time together; integrate positive and negative traits in partner
The Pursuer: Maximizer,
Diffuse Boundaries
Basic Fear (Wound): Unreliability of others, abandonment; loss
of parent (partner)
Internal Message Don't be dependent
Core Belief: I can't count on anyone
Relationship Belief: If I act independent, you will abandon me
Image of Partner: Distant; has no needs
Relationship to Partner: Ambivalent pursuit and withdrawal
Core Issue: Partner reliability; support; standing
Typical Frustration: You are never there when I need you
Recurrent Feeling: Panic and anger
Conflict Management: Blaming, demanding; chasing; complaining; devaluing
Growth Challenge: Initiate separateness; develop outside
interests; internalize partner; integrate positive and negative traits of
partner
Identity STAGE (3 to 4)
The Controller:
Minimizer, Rigid Boundaries
Basic Fear (Wound): Being shamed; loss of control; losing face;
loss of parental (partner) love
Internal Message Don't be what you want to be, be what we want you to be
Core Belief: I can't be me and be accepted and loved
Relationship Belief: I'll be safe if I stay in control
Image of Partner (IP): Unorganized; scatterbrained; over-emotional
Relationship to Partner: Domineering; critical; invasive; withholding
Core Issue CI: Partner's emotional liability, chaos, and passivity
Typical Frustration TF: You want me to be somebody else; you don't know
what you want
Recurrent Feeling RF: Shame and
anger
Conflict Management CM: Rigidly
imposes will; super-rational with occasional angry outbursts; takes charge;
punishes
Growth Challenge: Relax control; mirror partner's thoughts and
feelings; develop flexibility and sensitivity
The Diffuser:
Maximizer, Diffuse Boundaries
Basic Fear (Wound): Being invisible, self-assertion, loss
of parental (partner) love
Internal Message Don't assert yourself
Core Belief: I'll never be seen, valued, and accepted
Relationship Belief: I'll be loved if I go along and please others
Image of Partner (IP): Insensitive; controlling
Relationship to Partner: Submissive; passive-aggressive; manipulative
Core Issue CI: Partner rigidity and dominance
Typical Frustration TF: You never
see me; you want everything your way
Recurrent Feeling RF: Shame and
confusion
Conflict Management CM: Confused;
alternates between compliance and defiance; exaggerates emotions; makes few
suggestions; self-effacing
Growth Challenge: Assert yourself; set boundaries for yourself;
respect boundaries of others
Competence STAGE (4-6)
The Competitor:
Minimizer, Rigid Boundaries
Basic Fear (Wound): Being a failure, guilt and disapproval, fear
of parental (partner) disapproval
Internal Message Don't make mistakes
Core Belief: I have to be perfect
Relationship Belief: I'll be loved if I am the best
Image of Partner (IP): Manipulative; incompetent
Relationship to Partner: Competitive; aggressive; puts partner down
Core Issue CI: Control; battle for who's boss
Typical Frustration TF: You are
never satisfied
Recurrent Feeling RF: Anger and
guilt
Conflict Management CM: Competes
for control
Growth Challenge: Accept competence; become cooperative; mirror
and value partner’s efforts
The Compromiser:
Maximizer, Diffuse Boundaries
Basic Fear (Wound): Being aggressive, successful, competent, and
powerful, losing parental (partner) approval
Internal Message Don't be powerful
Core Belief: I don't know what to do; I can't be aggressive or express
anger
Relationship Belief: I'll be loved if I am good and cooperative
Image of Partner (IP): Never satisfied; has to win
Relationship to Partner: Manipulative; compromising; sabotaging
Core Issue CI: Feeling controlled;
efforts not valued
Typical Frustration TF: You always have to win
Recurrent Feeling RF: Helpless and
resentful
Conflict Management CM:
Compromises; manipulates
Growth Challenge: Be direct; express power; develop competence;
praise partner's success
Concern for Others STAGE
(6-13)
The Loner: Minimizer,
Rigid Boundaries
Basic Fear (Wound): Ostracism by peers; parental (partner)
rejection
Internal Message Don't be close
Core Belief: I am not lovable
Relationship Belief: I'll be hurt if I try to be close
Image of Partner (IP): Gregarious and intrusive
Relationship to Partner: Exclude partner from inner world; make
unilateral plans; counter-dependent
Core Issue CI: Partner
intrusiveness
Typical Frustration TF: You
don't like me; you won't leave me alone
Recurrent Feeling RF: Resentment
and depression
Conflict Management CM: Avoids
conflict; sulks
Growth Challenge: Develop same-sex friends; join partner in
socializing; share feelings and thoughts with partner; become inclusive
The Caretaker:
Maximizer, Diffuse Boundaries
Basic Fear (Wound): Having or expressing needs; being excluded; parental (partner)
rejection
Internal Message Don't have any needs of your own
Core Belief: Others need me
Relationship Belief: I'll be loved if I meet your needs
Image of Partner (IP): Unappreciative
Relationship to Partner: Self-sacrificing; intrusive
Core Issue: Partner's exclusion
Typical Frustration: You don't appreciate me or my efforts
Recurrent Feeling: Resentment; depression
Conflict Management: Tries to be understanding and nice
Growth Challenge: Express needs to partner and others;
self-care; respect partner's privacy; take time alone
Intimacy STAGE
(13-19)
The Rebel: Minimizer,
Rigid Boundaries
Basic Fear (Wound): Being controlled by others (parent/partner)
Internal Message: Don't grow up
Core Belief: I am not trusted
Relationship Belief: I'll be controlled if I give up dissent
Image of Partner: Too nice; counter-controlling; devalues partner
Relationship to Partner: Rebellious;
controlling; devalues partner
Core Issue: Freedom to break the
rules
Typical Frustration: You are never on my side
Recurrent Feeling: Anger and disappointment
Conflict Management: Rebellious; suspicious of motives
Growth Challenge: Maintain self-identity; be responsible to
others; learn to trust others
The Conformist: Maximizer, Diffuse Boundaries
Basic Fear (Wound): Being different from others; disapproval of parent (partner)
Internal Message: Don't make waves
Core Belief: I have to be good
RB: I have to hold things together
Image of Partner (IP): Rebellious child
Relationship to Partner: Condescending; critical; controlling
Core Issue : Stability and cooperation
Typical Frustration: You won't
grow up; you always want to be different
Recurrent Feeling: Angry
self-righteousness
Conflict Management: Tries to impose rules
Growth Challenge: Experiment with being different; take risks,
develop identity
Keeping the Love You
Find by Harville
Hendrix
http://www.harvillehendrix.com/aboutharville.html
My evaluators in Toastmasters, invariably say, that my conclusion was at best short or worse non-existent. I realized that concluding a speech was asking for a judgment from the audience. The sales manager always wants ‘closers,’ for his sales force. I was a lousy salesman, I couldn't ask for the order, I couldn't close, I was the customer would say no, I was afraid of being REJECTED.
REJECTION, that’s
my fear what’s yours?
