PREVIOUS : Autonomy Worshipers, #1

SITE : ” Pathological Demand Avoidance IS Pervasive Desire for Autonomy”

AW = Autonomy Worshipers
LB = Love Dealers (in 6/07)
SC = Security Collectors
PG = Power Grabbers

1. Autonomy Worshipers (cont)
a. Freedom Buyers

b. Freedom Fighters – this group sees money as an unnecessary evil – understanding that the hunger for greed & power is why some people actively manipulate & dominate others, restricting their freedom. Some AW turn their back on money & give-the-finger to the economic system – refusing to compete, while others actively rebel & try to destroy the system. Some express their aggression passively – by defying convention, with a lifestyle that scorns everything that money represents.

Others refuse to be in the rat-race from religious convictions, or feel guilty about their family’s affluence, or because they’re deeply satisfied  with the work they’ve chosen. Yet others are frustrate by family hypocrisy – the discrepancy between the high ideals touted by idealistic careers (doctors, clergy, lawyers, college profs….) vs. the selfish &/or immoral life their parents’ actually lead.

◆ Underlying issue – Their great fear is dependency but repress & deny an unconscious desire to dominate. EXP : Some entertainers who’ve made their fortunes appealing to the counter-culture – built an empire with their own ‘assistant / slaves’.

Even more than Buyers, Fighters feel alienated from mainstream society. They see the”establishment” in-group as enslaving & money-worshiping, & don’t feel it’s worth participating or being accepted. This can be a rationalization to hide feeling inadequate to qualify or compete

◆ Payoff – Dedication to a cause can provide alienated (young) people an identity & give their life meaning. They may feel shy & socially awkward, & sharing a common enemy could provide emotional reassurance & support. So rather than money & social acceptability, rewards could be camaraderie & companionship.

◆ Cost – Freedom fighting is mainly for the young & rarely a life-long passion. They’ve confused intense emotions with idealism – which ironically is a defense against feelings. Most become more cynical & conservative with age – deeply disillusioned by the impossibility of changing the world. They often end up angry, frustrated & bitter, because money was never the root of their problems.

♥︎ Families of FF also pay a high price, sometimes involved with expensive drawn-out legal battles to get their children out of cults which enslaved rather than provided real freedom from mainstream society.

In this category –  technocrats (believe in the elimination of $), freedom fighters, revolutionary activists, communal living advocates, members of the drug culture….

❇️ UNDERSTANDING Autonomy Worshipers
One consistent theme in their background is that dependency on others people & the world in early life was experienced as threatening rather than comforting or a safe way to connect.

Like love, security & power, freedom – in proper perspective – is a virtue.  It’s naturally expected that young people go thru a phase of “separation & individuation” –  a kind of rebellion to find their own identity.
In the best scenario – over ones lifetime – a person can go from needing to be independent (of family & established culture) to developing the ability to be inter-dependent without losing that hard won identity.

However, for those who insist with Frank that “I did it MY WAY” there are signs that the compulsion to demand freedom at any cost is an expression of emotional & social anarchy.
EXPs : 🔸 FL generally have a positive attitude
🔹Anarchists are angry with a chip on their shoulder

🔸 Freedom lovers (FL) resent any justice to themself or others 🔹Anarchists rebel just for the sake of it (thumbing their nose)

🔸 FL accept a limited amount of obligation good-naturedly if they can’t avoid it
🔹Anarchists rebel against any interference with their complete autonomy (elements of narcissism!)

More than anything, freedom represents the American ideal. But Autonomy Worshipers are out of touch with basis of their obsession – the inner child’s terror of being trapped . This personal blindness corrupts the concept by confusing freedom with license (selfishness), while ignoring the rights & freedoms of others.

NEXT : Security Collectors, #1