The natural frame of reference of the Externalizer lies in the world outside of himself. He therefore has no need to refer his perceptions to internalized reference points In order to make them personally meaningful. His reality consists of real people and real things, and he relates to them spontaneously and directly. Relating, in fact, is the natural avenue of self-expression for the Externalizer. He is capable of initiating and maintaining close interpersonal relationships. Such relationships are essential for his psychological equilibrium, and he seeks and finds his major satisfactions in them.
Reality, to the Externalizer, consists essentially of what he can reach, and what can reach him, through his senses. His dominant orientation, then, is perceptual, and the quality of his perception Is inherently specific and concrete. In behavior, he is characterized by a high level of overt activity, since he is continually responding to, and interacting with, perceived external reality. He prefers doing to thinking, because through doing he can increase his environmental relatedness, while thinking would turn him away from others in an internal direction.
The kinds of skills which the Externalizer tends to develop are primarily perceptual in nature. His characteristically high activity level, as it evolves from the diffuse quality of infancy, predisposes him to favor physically oriented activities, such as sports. He also retains his inherently specific, concrete orientation, and seeks areas of activity for which this type of approach is suitable.
The natural inclinations of the Externalizer also direct him toward activities and accomplishments which increase environmental relatedness, a tendency which is evident comparatively early. The externalized child, for example, usually develops speech earlier than does the Internalizer The development of speech serves to bring the Externalizer closer and into more intimate contact with others, and thus provides him with greater satisfaction. In view of his innate difficulty with ideational, abstract concepts, however, he Is not likely to become a linguist, since the symbolism of language, as such, is not a source of primary appeal for him.
The natural orientation of the primitive Externalizer, then, exerts its influence on both awareness and reactivity in the two-fold manner characteristic of primitive tendencies in general. While It permits a heightened awareness of certain kinds of stimuli In the total stimulus field, it Inhibits others at the same time. It also facilitates certain types of responsiveness, at the expense of others. In consequence, whenever a primitive tendency is permitted to develop in Its Inherent direction, a tension-free but one-sided course of development results. The individual thus fails to achieve a sufficiently broad area of awareness, and an adequate repertory of responses, to enable him to deal effectively with reality.
The primitive Externalizer must acquire certain adjustments, then, In the Interests of optimal functioning. He must supplement the restricted range of his natural awareness, and increase his inherently limited reactivity. In brief, he must learn to control his spontaneous, perceptual activity to an extent sufficient to permit him to become aware of internal as well as external stimuli, and must also acquire the ability to respond meaningfully to both. Finally, If he is to behave efficiently, he must learn how to integrate and utilize both Internalized and externalized types of reactivity appropriately.