Basic ifu (IuFuUu)

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This is a reasonably effective adaptation of the primitive IFU orientation; it is relatively more common for women than for men. The ifu pattern is quite similar to the ifa* [IuFuUc] adjustment, but represents more individualism and less conventionality. While the ifa* [IuFuUc] tries to establish a uniform role that gives him as little social-interpersonal anxiety as possible, the ifu is both less conforming and less conventional; snobbery, pretentiousness, and hauteur are less likely because the ifu is relatively oblivious to his social image and less consistent in maintaining it. However, as he reaches maturity, the ifu is likely to be more aware of his failure to pay enough attention to his image; social-interpersonal anxiety is quite common in the adult.

Fundamentally, the ifu is a person with so much intellectual curiosity that he can, for long periods of time, become so involved in his own interests and attitudes that he has little time or inclination to be aware of the other people in his environment. The ir*u [IuFcUu] is completely self-centered in a narcissistic way. His self-centeredness is directed toward the acquisition of knowledge and skills; what he learns makes his behavior more appropriate and more useful, socially, than that of the ir*u. [IuFcUu] The ifu is self-centered because he is so busy getting knowledge of an intellectual and abstract nature that he misses opportunities to acquire social and pragmatic skills. He is usually a serious, dedicated student who learns his lessons well and finds sustaining pleasure from the nuances of what he studies. Because he commits so much of his psychological energy to his sort of activity, he has little breadth or versatility in anything other than intellectual interests. The ifa* [IuFuUc] spends much of his time trying to develop a social role, for he has a strong sense of social-interpersonal responsibility as well as personal integrity and ethical standards. The ifu develops his ethics, his principles, and his integrity, but often does so at the expense of any kind of conventional social-interpersonal orientation.

Individuality, integrity, and intellectual specialization, then, are the primary characteristics of the ifu, particularly if he is average or better in intelligence. Like the e*fu, [IcFuUu] he chooses rather early in life the areas of his interest and application and sticks to these assiduously. Unlike the e*fu, [IcFuUu] however, his interests are more diffuse, artistic, creative, and abstract. Thus, he is more philosophical, contemplative, evaluative, and mystical in orientation.

Art, music, literature, and social studies are more likely to interest him than mathematics, science, and economics. He may be quite imaginative in the areas of his interest, but is not as imaginative as the ifu*. [IuFuAc] The ifu is succor dependent in that the milieu in which he lives must give him support and direction. Unlike the ifa*, [IuFuUc] he does not feel, even intellectually, any need to be socially active and aggressive. There is an element of "the world owes me a living" to his adjustment because he is inclined to believe that he deserves acceptance and understanding for his intellectual productivity rather than for his social perceptivity and interpersonal activities. This attitude makes the ifu careless, indifferent, or insulated about his social relationships. As a result, he is often considered different, unusual, queer, eccentric, or odd. Since structure, form, and security are so important to the ifu, it is important to understand the nature of this need. The drive of the ifu is toward creativity and imagination; thus, he must live in a milieu that does not thwart or frustrate this need. Concepts such as seniority, tenure, accreditation, and academic freedom become very important to him because these frameworks give him the freedom to be different and, at the same time, guarantee that he will not be punished for his difference. In some ways, this is similar to the need of the i*fu [EcFuUu] and i*f*u [EcRcUu] for status and recognition. Dynamically, however, these groups are more concerned about discrimination because they are disliked or misunderstood, than about lack of opportunity to be creative and imaginative. In addition, the i*fu [EcFuUu] and i*f*u [EcRcUu] are much less passive and spontaneously contemplative than is the ifu.