I ALWAYS KEEP THINGS LIGHT
so nobody can be upset with me!
PREVIOUS: BLAMER Role
SITE: Communication Styles & Roles
4. DISTRACTERS (Twisted form of Spontaneity)
STYLE: 0.5% of people will typically use this defense
• at first they seem like a lot of fun, but gradually one notices that everything they do is not quite relevant, not quite to the point
• can come across with a ‘who cares’ attitude, are hungry for attention & deflect responsibility from themselves, other people & situations
• can be silly to talk to, funny or confusing, the way young kids act or when people flirt, so are not taken seriously
• distract themselves & others from painful emotions & events by getting attention, being amusing &/or a pain in the butt (EXP: pick fluff off a jacket, make ‘deep’ statements, throw objects, tap pencils….)
• use a range of emotions from anger to guilt to avoid an issue OR manipulate how others feel
• when talking they use generalizations, leave out important facts, shift focus unpredictably from present to past, reality to fantasy, physical to mental issues
• become easily confused when stressed, don’t know what to do, so grasp at straws instead of doing something positive
• react to any kind of threat by going off on a tangent, investing all their energy in side-tracking, hoping it’ll go away if they tap-dance long enough
• under pressure, they cycle thru the other 3 Roles to look for some relief – one minute Blaming someone for being rude, next Placate, then to Computer mode & shut off
• often unfocused, what they say or do is un-related to what’s actually going on, they ignore Qs, respond by changing the subject or ask a Q that’s off-topic
— Others may react by saying: “What has that got to do with what I’ve just said?”.
Energetic Description (by Dr. Bulbrook)
• not grounded, block out Self, others & current context, so the flow of energy is irrational & the circuitry can’t get wired up properly. Not connect spiritually
• Potential harm to receiver: they give up trying to relate, unable to have a stable or a positive exchange of energy in the relationship.
OR get tapped into trying to make it ‘all better’
Statements: “If I break up their concentration, I’ll be safe , If I ignore it, it’ll go away , Why don’t we just put that aside now and look at something else , Du-du, du-du, du-du….. the Martians are coming!” (Earth to Mary?!)
Stance: They use kinesthetic cues
• asymmetrical position, one hand up, one down, head cocked, maybe standing on one leg or leaning against the wall
• body in motion, tilting a little at various angles, uneven ‘balance’
• smiling wryly, one eyebrow raised, implying “see if you can top this!”
★ takes on body posture of the other 3 Roles when switching modes
Gain Power: by successfully diverting everyone’s attention from unpleasantness
Aim: to evoke a longing for fun, so theyll be tolerated
Reacting to a Distracter: (via NLP) You can use the Computer stance until they switch, then recalibrate to Placater or Blamer. Be careful: the super reasonable attitude can also trigger a stronger Distracter response in them
Reality: • they just want to evade any confrontation
• role may seem to be a relief from stress, but actually leaves them feeling lonely & without meaning or purpose (useless)
• are convinced that nobody really wants them
• don’t believe they would be heard or respected if they said what they really thought & felt
Negative: • the pattern actually serves to create conflict
• their behaviors are inappropriate to serious situations
• makes people change their focus, so confuses & annoys others who can’t understand what the Distracter is getting at, & therefore don’t know how to respond
Positive: • great for flirting and having fun
• can be a powerful strategy in negotiations, if the other party is playing hardball, because of unpredictability in the stance, as if ready to grab the desired ‘object’
NEXT: COMPUTER Role