Basic efu (EuFuUu)

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This is a relatively rare male but not uncommon female adjustment pattern derived from the primitive EFU orientation. In many ways, it is a primitive adjustment, although not a primitive as the er*u, [EuFcUu] since self-centeredness and emotionality are controlled without being repressed.

The efu recognizes that he has a tendency to be too emotional and too self-centered, but also realizes that he must learn to suppress or manage these tendencies. As a result he is tense because he is not sure that he will be able to maintain control. He IS very introspective and self-evaluative and frequently anxious about himself and his performance. The efa* [EuFuUc] has, at least learned to have some confidence in his social effectiveness and mitigates some of his inferiority and anxiety in social-interpersonal activity. The efu can really maintain social-interpersonal activities for long periods of time and becomes moody about his failure. The efu can really maintain social-interpersonal activities for long periods of time and becomes moody about his failure to be successful. This characteristic moodiness arises from: (1) his recognition that he should be more active, socially aggressive, or mechanically competent; (2) his lack of confidence in his own efforts when he makes attempts in these directions; (3) his tendency to become over emotional and self-centered when frustrated or fatigued, and (4) the guilt (depression) he experiences when he has not done as well as he thinks he should, or when he allows his emotionality and self-centeredness to get out of control.

The efu is potentially both, the most creative and the most emotionally distressing adjustment. External perceptivity and the capacity for empathy are marked. The efu rarely becomes directly involved with others as the inferiority interferes with direct participation. His primary means of sublimation is through the development of vicarious enjoyment. Persons with limited intelligence may become "peeping Toms," while those with average or high intelligence may develop various means of identification such as "Walter Mitty" daydreams or by becoming productive, efficient historians and research biographers. Members of the efu cluster are real sensualists with a range of interests running from the true gourmet, the artistic connoisseur, the collector of stamps, books, and butterflies to the avid baseball and football fan, the movie addict and the neighborhood "snoop."

A primary and prevalent aspect of the efu adjustment is stubborn individuality. A fundamental feature of the primitive U is negativism; the primitive EFU is the most aggressively negativistic of the primitive orientations. While the efa* [EuFuUc] mitigates his negativism by becoming socially over conforming and overeager to please, the efu does not make this sort of adjustment. He has to learn to control his negativism. In some cases, this attitude can be sublimated to the point that it is considered to be "originality," but the need to do things in his own way is stilled marked. The basic u or u* usually finds it difficult to conform, adhere, or be controlled, but it is the efu who finds it the most difficult. In well-organized and highly disciplined situations, the efu is under considerable stress resulting from the fact that he has a strong desire to revolt or escape, but has too much insight to be able to do so. He usually makes strong efforts to conform, but often discouraged because of his failures. Since he cannot express his hostility directly -- he is F rather than R -- his irritation and disillusionment with others are expressed by moroseness, bitterness, and cynicism. The. efu has great difficulty maintaining a consistent paranoid adjustment, since he rarely becomes a true paranoid. However, paranoid attitudes, usually in the form of paranoid depression, are common as part of his moodiness.

The efu is sensitive to criticism and has a very low threshold for embarrassment and humiliation. These characteristics are often masked by the apparent complacency that is part of the efu adaptation. There is so much conscious control in the efu that he must be cautious to avoid precipitation either his over-activity and dependency [basic e] or his negativism [basic u]. This tension state results in surface complacency that is deceptively calm and interpreted. However, the efu can be episodically very moody and is generally under more conscious stress than is indicated by his serene facade. Because of his feeling of potential explosion, the efu will go out of his way to avoid direct confrontation that may lead to expressed hostility or anger.