Independent

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Independent

Quick definition

Desires freedom to choose own path in life. Willing to disturb tradition or cultural norms.

Average user score

68

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Description

High scorers want the ability to chart their own course in life, independent of cultural norms, tradition, or parental expectations.

Though they are not necessarily disagreeable or impolite, at the extreme they are willing to disturb the peace or sacrifice relationships in this pursuit.

About this trait

Distribution of user scores

0

25

50

75

100

In relationships, high scorers ensure they maintain their own independence outside of the couple.

Strengths

Independent people have an underlying motivation towards competence, mastery, and personal meaning. It is thus important to them that their work provides them the necessary pathways to develop and master a skill that also serves as a piece of their identity. These people cannot separate personal meaning from their work and so cannot do a meaningless job that helps them live for the weekend.

Healthy Adaptations

  • Charting their own course in life, and feeling liberated to live according to their own desires without influence from dominant culture

Unhealthy Adaptations

  • Self-righteousness, presenting hostility towards those who follow traditions or norms divergent from their own
  • Struggling to take direction from authority

Recommendations

If Independent people find themselves in environments that require constant compliance, they will feel aggravation, dissatisfaction, and lethargy. These people will be aided in learning to live with some level of required conformity and balancing that out with finding hobbies and work that allow them to exercise creative control in their life with minimal supervision. In a world where compliance often is required for institutional success (e.g., working your way up the corporate ladder), these people might need to take the road less travelled to find their happiness.