Yielding and obstinate

Yielding / Obstinate, sometimes called Resource-protecting / Interest-protecting, is one of the 15 Reinin dichotomies <reinin_dich>.

Yielding and obstinate types

Theoretical properties of yielding and obstinate types

Yielding/obstinate corresponds with the evaluatory/ situational dichotomy for rational information elements:

  • The yielding types have evaluatory symbol_p.gif symbol_r.gif and situational symbol_l.gif symbol_e.gif .

  • The obstinate types have evaluatory symbol_l.gif symbol_e.gif and situational symbol_p.gif symbol_r.gif.

Typical characteristics

Yielding types

  1. Resources are ‘sacred’, but ideas are freely shared and manipulated.

  2. Easily aware of the boundaries between their and others’ interests.

  3. Protect their resources to the point of conflict, and their reaction may be unduly strong.

  4. If I know I can’t do something, I won’t and will forget all about it.

Obstinate types

  1. Ideas are ‘sacred’, but resources are freely shared and manipulated.

  2. Easily aware of the boundaries between their and others’ resources.

  3. Guard their interests from intrusions, and their reaction to such intrusions may be quite sharp.

  4. I won’t abandon my interests just because my resources are inadequate, but simply work towards improving my resources until they ARE adequate.

Extended characteristics

Taken from 2003 study of Reinin traits.

Yielding

  • For the Yielding type, personal resources falls into their “inner personal space” (i.e. something that cannot be compromised), which is outlined with a “personal boundary”, while interests constitute an object to be manipulated. Interest is evoked only if it can be supported by an adequate, corresponding resource or opportunity.

  • Yielding type, while interacting with other people, freely express their interests (they readily share photographs, voice their disagreements, consider counterarguments, are ready to share their interests with other people and collaborate on them). These types clearly delineate interests as “my own” and “those of others”.

  • Yielding types protect themselves during conflicts over resources, but they do not monitor encroachments on their interests. If anyone attempts to claim their resources, thus intruding into their “personal space”, they react sharply, which can even seem a bit over the edge and aggressive. (This reaction is associated with “inviolability” of their resources.)

Obstinate

  • For Obstinate types, their interest fall into their “personal (“inviolable”) space”, which is outlined with a “personal boundary”, while resources are an object to be manipulated. In the presence of an interest, their will seek suitable resources and opportunities.

  • The Obstinate interacting with other people freely operates with their resources (they can “share” and “trade” them, purposefully replenish them and use them up). They are acutely aware of the dividing line between their own resources and those of others.

  • Obstinate types guard themselves from intrusions into their personal sphere of interests, while at the same time they pay no heed to intrusions on their resources. If someone tries to impose their interests on Obstinate types, thus intruding into their personal space, their reaction will be sufficiently deterring and sharp (such a reaction occurs in cases when other’s interests do not become their interests).

Notes

Key concepts of this dichotomy are “personal space”, “resources” (what we have available at our disposal) and “personal interests” (what is meant here are not personal interests, but pursuits we find interesting and feel personal responsibility and attachment to). “Personal space” is something that an individual feels is an integral part of himself or herself, cannot renounce it, and will defend it from impositions and intrusions from outside. For the Yielding types, this space is occupied by their resources, while for the Obstinate typesby their interests. Correspondingly, Yielding types manipulate interests (freely change them, adjust them in accordance with their resources) and Obstinatetheir resources (they adjust them to their interests).

Examples

Compliant: “Affairs can be yours and those of other people who can compel you with their requests” “Interests that cannot be realized eventually become uninteresting. I let go of old interests easily” “I try to limit my affairs, how many things I’m involved with, how many things I am suppose to do. Potentially this is interesting to me but I will not undertake it” “If I know that I can’t do something, I will reject it and will forget about it” “If I have an interest, it is, naturally, reflected by capabilities. If something is impossible I won’t go wasting my time and effort on it.” “I don’t understand people who list all kinds of interests… personally I clearly know what my capabilities are”

Obstinate: “I never let go of my favorite occupations. I will do them at expense of sleep, food…” “I certainly won’t abandon it…. I’m inclined to squeeze the situation to the very end” “I can’t let go of my interests out of fear of destruction and loss of my personality” “My interests are at the limits of my physical capabilities. When my physical capabilities show me their limitsI back away, but I will do this only as a very last resort… but even then I will not abandon them but “postpone” them and await the moment when I have sufficient resources. I won’t let go of my interests, even though the resources are already insufficient…”