Basic efa* (EuFuUc)

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This is a common and generally productive adjustment derived from the primitive EFU orientation. The primary Characteristics of efa* are the development of emotional control (Fu rather than Fc) and the increase in social-interpersonal activity (Uc rather than Uu). The efa* is an involving, sometimes dependent, emotionally controlled (but not emotionally repressed) person who is active in a social-interpersonal sense.

The efa* is a warm, involving person who feels much responsibility for others. The adjustment can range from the fawning, masochistic person who makes himself subservient and supercilious to the empathic, understanding person who can support and defend his loved ones with competence and dedication. The primary area of threat is in the sexual sphere. The efa [EuFuAu] is a sensuous, hedonistic person who recognized the need to discipline and control himself. Sublimation, in one form or another, is the principal means of adjustment.

The fundamental difference between the efa [EuFuAu] and the efa* adjustments lies in the acceptance anxiety of the efa*, who has had considerable experience with wanting to belong, but being denied acceptance. The efa* begins early in life consciously to seek means of gaining acceptance and involvement; characteristically, he searches for conventional social behavior patterns and attempts to learn and apply those that are most acceptable and least threatening. His problem is that he tends to be preoccupied with anxiety that he will do something wrong or that he will make a fool of himself. He is ashamed of his sexuality because he recognizes it as potentially unmanageable and, in many instances, will be very threatened by anything that is suggestible or erotically stimulating. Depending upon cultural circumstance, the efa* adjustment may range from the tense, protective prude who consciously recognizes his erotic weakness to the sexual frigid person who has completely sublimated his sensuality into other channels. In the American culture, the efa* adjustment is particularly stressful for women who have not diverted their emotionality into socially acceptable channels. Many overprotective mothers and some child welfare workers may have this adjustment pattern.