Psychodynamic Theory in the type 8

What is splitting and how does it manifest in the type 8?

Splitting is a psychodynamic term that describes the ways in which the psyche splits or fragments the world around us and ourselves into a binary black and white perception, all concepts, objects, emotions and thoughts are segregated into a binary classification system, the reason the psyche does this is that it applies a classification system as a means of survival, removing all nuance and the “grey” from the world prepares the individual to make quick decisions that insure survival and leave no room for ambiguity. It is important to note that all types engage in “splitting” but it looks different from type to type. In the case of the 8, splitting takes on a very evident manifestation, the binary splitting classification for all 8s is the following: OPPRESSION vs VICTIMIZATION. It is the common denominator between all subtypes and is essentially the core of the world view. In terms of how this manifests, OPPRESSION is valued while VICTIMIZATION is devalued in the value structure. How this may look like in other types is the following: (Type 1: correct vs incorrect) (Type 6: certainty vs uncertainty) and (Type 7: stimulation vs emptiness) and etc.

We can find the origins of this dynamic in the early life of the 8, the worldview was split into the oppressor (parent) and the victimized (self), as opposed to most individuals, the young 8 did not identify with the victimized side of the equation, rather, they adopted the identity of the oppressor, they did this in order to halt the oppression, or in other worlds, they learned to counter oppression with oppression. The life directive of the 8 is to retain this oppressor status while cementing the other as a victimized individual. This explains the similarity the individual innately has with the oppressive parent, even though they were unjustly treated and or exploited by that parental figure, none the less they out of all the types, are the ones to subconsciously identify and associate with the oppressor in the end, even though the most typical reaction would be the opposite.

How does OPPRESSION vs VICTIMIZATION apply to the three domains?

The type 8 simply and forcefully transfixes this classification on life as a whole, this is done in three domains:

SELF:

The oppressive constellation is the following:

independent, powerful, self sufficient, rebellious, retaliatory, oppressive, unjust, vindictive, violent, etc.

The victimized constellation is the following:

dependent, powerless, conforming, harmless, controlled, passive, pacified, etc.

EMOTION:

The oppressive constellation is the following:

anger, aggression, rage, vengefulness, omnipotence, pride, glee, charisma, etc.

The victimized constellation is the following:

shame, sadness, vulnerability, softness, emotionality, shyness, sensitivity, curiosity, etc.

SOCIAL:

The oppressive constellation is the following:

enemy, rival, authority figure, competitor, strong ally, strong friend, like minded individuals, respected individuals, parental figures, institutions, etc.

The Victimized constellation is the following:

vulnerable individuals, dependants, followers, innocent individuals, passive and non harmful actors, victims, etc.

How does OPPRESSION vs VICTIMIZATION apply to the 8’s life?

The origin of the phallic narcissistic properties of the type 8 all originate from this simple concept, the self perception of the type 8 is that of an indomitable and invulnerable person, the truth is that the individual takes conscious decisions to deliberately oppress the environment, they will consciously adopt the sufficient and proper qualities that will display them as the oppressor, like adopting certain roles in relationships and greater society such as being an oppressive husband, a controlling father or unjust leader. In the worldview, if they oppress, then they will never be oppressed, the idea of the tyrannical and unjust authority figure is nonetheless true to the type, their whole personality structure is built around oppressing, and so ideas of a just and fair individual is not true to the type 8, if the individual is non oppressive in times of neurosis, then they are simply not a type 8.

This paradigm is reminiscent of qualities found in phallic narcissism and sociopathy, where the world is segregated into the split of wolves and sheep, sheep deserve to be exploited given their inherent weakness while wolves adopt might is right. The individual will put in all their efforts to retain their oppressive or “wolf” status by deliberately going out of their way to enact antisocial behavior, this is not just done out of impulse, but its rather a preordained or strategic method to instill their status on others, they externalize these strategies and thoughts externally to in a sense, force them into reality, this nonetheless is a purely reaction based on a profound insecurity, one that drives all these antisocial behaviors and strategies in order to ward off their irrational fear of victimization, the truth is that the type 8 is not dominant or powerful based on inherent power, but rather they are overcompensating with crude actions to develop a self portrait of power, a power that they deep down perceive is lacking, as the self always recounts their powerlessness at the face of early oppressions subconsciously, cementing their self perceived fragility, the fragility that drives all these behaviours in life.

Why would an individual engage in dominant behaviors if it was not from a place of profound insecurity, in a sense, the type 8 is truly a master at defense mechanisms, their life is an uncontrollable reaction to trauma.

Idealization and Devaluation

The individual idealizes and associates with the oppressive side of each domain, while cutting off and devaluing the second side of each domain, for instance, the individual will self identify with an oppressive self perception, they will view themselves as the transgressors and never the victims, they will associate with like minded folk who are viewed not as victims, but rather transgressors, as they can only respect strength. In opposition, they will devalue all victimized sides of each domain, denying weak emotionality and distancing themselves from individuals who have a victimhood or weak mentality. The 8 cannot truly respect an individual they deem as a victim, as it goes against its own structure, rather, you will see them respect strength, resilience and force in others. This permeates all their worldviews, as this mentality is reflected in their ideology, preference in art and even interests.

Even in the case of the SO8, they harbor a subconscious disdain for the ones they take under their wing, feeling a repulsion towards their naivety and quick acceptance to their leadership, whether admitted or not. In a sense, the SO8 will never identify with the very people they protect. As doing so will contradict their self perception and conflict with their worldview.

While they respect and usually associate with forceful and willful individuals that they trust, they are nonetheless oppositional to these exact same qualities in strangers and greater society, showcasing nuance in this concept, while they ally with fellow “oppressors”, they also take most others as direct threats, showcasing a certain dilemma. Nonetheless the type 8 can only truly respect individuals they deem as strong, while looking down upon the oppressed.

The 8’s relationship with external objects

It is impossible for the type 8 to ever view themselves in the lens of the victimized in any situation, this delusion is so pervasive that even at times of true oppression or humiliation, their psyche will dissociate from reality in order to preserve their self perceived status, an 8 can be physically assaulted and beaten, but their denial and dissociation will not fail to manipulate their perception favourably, they can skew the situation into saying things like the following: (they are cowards, it was two against one), or (they are indirect and attacked me while I was not looking), the type 8 will never fail at preserving their self perception of the oppressor, even at the face of true oppression and humiliation.

Likewise, the type 8 will never attribute this oppressor status to external authority, they proclaim that governments and authority figures hide behind systems and body guards, thus exposing their nature as weak individuals. The type 8 covets this oppressor status and will not attribute it to anyone except themselves or their close ones. For the 8, being an oppressor and not the victim is a sacred matter.

In times of conflict, the type 8 has a delusion so profound and neurotic that they will vehemently believe that they are the only oppressors and transgressors in life, in a literal sense, they devalue all external reality into the role of the victim, while cementing their role of the oppressor psychotically. This deluded and megalomaniacal stance is literal and is true to the type, it is what also distinguishes the type from the other types, as this narcissistic self perception has no reality anchoring basis behind it and is nothing but a defensive stance that wards off their early traumatic experiences, with some 8s, they can go as far as painting themselves as the oppressors in their early childhood while painting the oppressive parent as the victim in a deluded and contradictory manner.

Any external factor that triggers feelings of victimhood has a violent reaction, the 8 will double down on oppression and will go to great lengths to restore that internal balance, in a sense, the type 8 can fall into a cycle of getting triggered and then overcompensating, which can lead to serious consequences and dysfunction in their lives, many downtrodden and or incarcerated 8s fall into this.

The manifestations of splitting in the type 8 subtypes

SP8:

The SP8 has a particular flavor of this expression, their main two oscillations is between protectiveness and lack of protection, they disconnect all feelings of dependency and belonging to a schizoid like lifestyle, the SP8 lives life in order to stay away from feelings of exposure and fortify themselves in order to feel protected, their oppression is expressed in protecting their territory, being ruthless in getting their needs and being the most vengeful of the subtypes.

The SP8 also main fear in life is a lack of protection, in their worldview, if they lose their protective edge, they risk literal death or disintegration (irrational fear), thus their whole personality is structured around ensuring that protection.

SX8:

The SX8’s main oscillation is between freedom and subjugation, they idealize the former while devaluing the latter, they view individuals who adhere to norms as undervalued while idealizing freedom and respecting it in others. We can understand that rebellion in the SX8 is not meaningless, rather it is an irrational and neurotic reaction to life. One of the hardest tasks for the SX8 is to truly conform, as doing so also risks “death” (irrational fear).

SO8:

In the case of the SO8, their binary is between social justice and injustice, in similarity to the other two, their irrational fears revolve around these concepts and these are the main motivating factors for this subtype. The SO8’s need for protest and revolution is not meaningless either, it is rather stemming from a deep fear of being victimized like all 8s.

Conclusion

The way in which the type 8 can grow is simple in theory, what they have to do is to integrate both sides of the binary back into their worldview, instead of associating with oppression alone, they have to also associate with victimization in a sincere sense, a lot of the issues of the type stem from their lopsided and neurotic relationship with these views of oppression and victimhood.

If the individual acknowledges times of being subjugated and or oppressed, they will in a sense connect to humanity since no one is truly an oppressor alone or a victim alone, there is nuance that is void in the psyche of the 8 and the only way of counteracting the neurosis of the type is to go against its grain and accept realities that are denied and detached from the individual.