Understanding Human Nature The Psychology of Personality

ambition-and-status

• The goal of power and superiority becomes increasingly prominent; individuals live their lives in expectation of great triumphs, losing sight of real life.

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• 'If I did not have this disadvantage, my talents would develop brilliantly. But unfortunately I am handicapped!' — weapons like ambition, envy, mistrust fuel the striving for power.

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self-and-identity

• Vain people camouflage their vanity — dressing sloppily to appear modest — yet 'your vanity peeps out through every hole in your robe.'

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• Optimists retain belief in themselves, do not demand too much of life, and weather storms others experience as further proof of their inadequacy.

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obedience-and-authority

• A person can pursue power with 'feminine' traits such as obedience and submissiveness — striving for power is present whether a child is obedient or disobedient.

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• Only children become extremely dependent, always waiting for someone to show them the way, accustomed to having every difficulty smoothed away for them.

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