Passion In The Sphere Of Instinct: How Pride Works In The Social Subtype

The sense of belonging to the family, group, or tribe is a core and conflicting aspect in all Social subtypes. The Social 2 is no exception. This ambitious person is an orphan searching for the necessary and legitimate place they were not allowed to occupy as a child. Faced with difficulty in developing a positive and identifying bond with a paternal figure or secure maternal figure, they crystallize their fear and anger into animosity. Lacking a figure to admire and feel valued by, they will try to replace that figure. Thus, the "child of no one" will seek to become the "father of all."

They will not have a positive connection with any father figure because opening up to recognize the good in another and, thus, admiring them, is inextricably linked in their case with feeling humiliated by the same figure, whom they will therefore come to hate.

The Social 2 will be benevolent and generous as long as they don't feel questioned. However, they are highly sensitive, and any sign that makes them feel they don't have absolute control over others will throw them into insecurity and provoke a crisis of authoritarianism, leading to a conquering and invasive reaction.

With a strong sense of revenge, they will try, throughout their lives, to conquer what they consider their legitimate place as a leader in the social hierarchy. Their ambition feeds off a competitive and destructive spirit aimed at the source of their feelings of inadequacy and self-contempt. They swallowed the disappointment of an authoritarian father or an unsatisfied mother and today, they vomit that same frustration onto others.

When we refer to the word that gives this subtype its name, "empress" or "emperor," we are talking about domination, territoriality, leadership, and protection. We also speak of tyranny, abuse, absolutism, and disproportion. Various aspects that together depict a scene presided over by a pronounced vertical view of social relationships.

Among the proud, the Social subtype makes its presence known by occupying space with their body, voice, gestures, and a presence that transmits security and conviction. They are

histrionic simulators, so they add to their appearance a grave demeanor, as if concerned and committed; the attitude of someone very mature, who knows what they are doing and what needs to be done. At times, they may seem to have prophetic abilities due to their fervor, appearing to carry a heavy burden, though with a self-sacrificing posture.

The Social 2 focuses on replicating the role and bond they developed at home, as a child within their family, in the social relationships they establish in the world. They want everyone, not just their family or friends, to assign them personal importance, granting them the role of a point of reference in their lives.

The Social 2 occupies a place close to the adults very early on and was seen as someone important in family life, but not as a child. They lack the experience of having been a child. Standing in shoes too big for them, they received the admiration of mom and dad for what they did, not for who they were. Being deprived of the fraternal world, they don't know how to relate to their peers except in competition or from above, and they will continue the triangulation game established with the parental system since early childhood, polarizing their relationships into good and bad, or with me or against me.

The confusion created with roles in the family system permeates their adult relationships, which they view from a hierarchical perspective. The Social 2 stratifies people into influence and power ranks, meaning they cannot establish emotional bonds, only strategic and practical ones. They value people based on how high they are in the "institution’s" hierarchy, whether real or fantasized. What would be the president, CEO, etc., in a company, they apply to their friendships, social groups, or family.

They confuse a person’s status with their personal worth; they neither see the other nor themselves clearly. They confuse doing with being, and only what they can show gives them substance and identity. It could be said that they are the least empathetic of E2s, with their high use of strategies and organization. They have more access to functions linked to the frontal and prefrontal lobes: planning, problem-solving, error control, decision-making, social cognition, and working memory.

All are equal, but some are more equal than others

The emperor plays with pride in the social realm, convinced they are much more qualified than others to lead, plan, or develop any project or activity. The Social 2, like all proud people, needs recognition, specifically that from groups. Paradoxically, inside, there is an intense self-devaluation and a profound sense of loneliness. They believe they have much to offer and say, often fantasizing about the impact of their social participation and their place in the world, considering that they leave a profound mark on others through their

actions and opinions. They like to think of themselves as part of something fundamental and important. In their narcissism, they need to feel the center of attention. It doesn't matter if they are liked, what matters is that they are not ignored.

They can resemble E1 in that they seem to possess the truth, as someone very vehement who easily convinces others with their confidence and conviction, while in reality, they may only know the subject superficially. Their anger can activate suddenly if their arguments or desires are contradicted or questioned, and they seem unashamed, as they don’t connect with fear, scarcity, or insecurity.

Of all the wonders I have heard,

I find it strange that men are afraid. —Julius Caesar

Thus, they have an image of themselves that is fairly close to reality: a competent, committed person with great capacity for work; but their difficulty with boundaries prevents them from knowing when to stop, making them extremely demanding of themselves. Not even illness can stop them, unless it results in hospitalization. They need someone with authority to impose and thoroughly justify the need for self-care, as their delusional idea of overabundance prevents them from accepting their limits.

In parallel, they believe they are suited for command, though they often end up in failure, rarely acknowledged. Once again, their confusion with roles places them ambivalently with their subordinates, treating them as equals, aligning with the fraternal system. However, when they need to exercise authority, they must place themselves as a father figure, and no one likes to be ordered by someone who acts like a "father." They attempt, in their false abundance, to satisfy everyone, and with their inability to delegate certain matters and keep all their promises, they are forced to abandon or be expelled.

When I occupied an authoritative position in a health company, I emphasized a strong yet indulgent leadership, which required much effort to listen and try to please all team members. I exhausted myself trying to reach consensus, promising more than I could maintain, giving more value to requests than I could support. I wanted to be the "most beloved boss," despite being in a power system with little freedom. At the same time, I wanted to earn the esteem of those in higher positions, without burning out. In short, I wanted to be loved by everyone, to please everyone, but in return, I felt very alone. —Alba Arena

They get involved and committed, showing great conscientiousness and efficiency in all the projects they start. However, they struggle to work in teams: they are despotic both with others and with themselves.

The self-indulgence so characteristic of proud people manifests in the Social 2 through behaviors that can serve as an anxiolytic, such as sex, food, media, or sports. These are their ways of disconnecting from self-imposed pressure. "I demand so much of myself: doing many things, doing them well, knowing and being in everything, not missing anything... and with such passion, that when something doesn't go as I would like, instead of being self-critical and analyzing why (who grasps too much squeezes too little, how is it that I need to do so much...), I become self-indulgent and tell myself that it doesn't matter, patting myself on the back. I find it hard to see my mistakes, and before admitting that I could make them, I absolve myself." —Ana González Tejera

The Social 2 justifies this self-indulgence with an assumed privilege derived from how valuable everything they give is. But also, as mentioned, it's where they allow themselves to give up, as the only way to rest, to escape from the control and demands of the inner parent. "If I have to get up for a meeting at five in the morning, I do it without questioning it at all. However, if I need to get up at eight for anything related to my self-care, I will find a thousand excuses to postpone it." —Fresia Nora Robledo Poma

Another form of self-indulgence practiced by the Social 2 is procrastination. It serves to avoid contact with what is ungratifying or painful. It also acts as a demonstration of superiority, as it is they who decide when things get done. If the task is socially invisible, routine, or mundane, they either avoid it or delegate it to someone else. Other reasons for procrastination include fear of success, shame from publicly demonstrating failure, or even being called out for not fulfilling their promises.

In this sense, they often struggle with time management, taking on more than they can handle. Their difficulties with authority are another key reason for procrastination; for example, if they have to answer to a superior they don't recognize. They may delay completing a task to avoid answering to someone whose capacity they doubt. Even when they validate authority, they may delay delivery, believing that the task doesn't need review, as there is no room for error in their mind.

The Social 2 exhibits a high intolerance for frustration and feels impotent when their projects or ambitions fail. If they fail, they feel anything from frustrated to furious, and they will blame the other person or the situation, unable to recognize their part in it or the

disproportion of the project. They can easily be ruthless with the people in their charge, even though they see themselves as a compassionate, just, and beloved boss.

"I was the coordinator of a team of six people. The atmosphere and relations with the rest of the team became increasingly complicated, but I was convinced that the problem was the team, and I was misunderstood despite all the efforts I made for them. One day, in a meeting, one of the educators, whom I considered a fool, was sharing an intervention that she hadn’t done as I had instructed. Suddenly, I looked at her very angrily and said, raising my voice: 'Next time, I’ll smash your head.' And I remained calm. Only when I looked away and saw the expressions on my colleagues' faces, between horror and anger, did I realize what I had done, but I didn’t attribute any importance to it; I didn’t see it as excessive or disproportionate." —Ana Baza

One of their skills is, using their empathy, adopting the appearance, gestures, and speech of whoever they are trying to attract at any given moment. They can manipulate others into doing tasks they don't want to do. To do this, they surround themselves with the best and sell them the idea, covering them in credentials and various advantages they will gain. They believe it's a privilege to take on the task, while the Social 2 builds their network of collaborators who take on the "ungrateful" work, allowing them to focus on the creative part, organization, social relationships, or imagining new projects.

Normally, they work many hours and get involved so seriously that they tyrannize and enslave others, without considering the care of personal relationships. They expect others to adhere to them as an unquestionable leader, demanding absolute loyalty and dedication from their subordinates and collaborators, as well as availability on par with their own. This usually results in a frantic pace, which not many people are willing or able to assume. They show intolerance toward others' limitations, viewing them as uncomfortable obstacles, so they constantly try to correct and improve others. They tend to scold the people they collaborate with, reducing the relationship to a bothersome, necessary procedure to use the other to achieve their goals. They feel that others—family, partners, subordinates, etc.—are an extension of themselves, and they must seem as competent and brilliant as they are.

They are very skilled at assessing the importance and abilities of everyone within a structure, whether in their social or work world. They don’t pay attention to those they perceive to be at the lowest rungs of the pyramid unless they see utility in forming connections with them. For example, they may have excellent relationships with company secretaries or concierge staff.

With those they recognize as authority, they use a seductive strategy, and when they are acknowledged by these people, they interpret it as a just recognition, something they "deserve" for everything they do and how well they solve things. It’s easy for them to

visualize and present themselves as the architect of successes, even when it’s a team effort. If this recognition doesn’t come, they trivialize it, justifying it as a sign of mediocrity or envy from the authorities.

And with peers, since they’ve never been part of the fraternal subsystem, they establish relationships of competition from an auto-assigned superiority, condescending and paternalistic, which eventually leaves them very alone.

Deep down, following their childhood pattern, the Social 2 seeks to be close to authority, to the elders, which is their natural reference point. However, even though they neurotically seek power and even try to replace the leader, reality returns that this does not calm their ambition. What they truly desire is to find a family where they are recognized through love and unconditional acceptance. Ultimately, this dominant and counterdependent character seeks someone who will finally protect them and take care of them.

Debts

The Social 2 reaches a point where they show no hesitation in doing whatever it takes to achieve what they desire, including forming relationships based on complicity, which may involve bribery, blackmail, mutual interest, or temporary alliances. Of course, except for criminal actions, this can be seen as logical and reasonable in their attempt to fulfill their desires. However, for the Social 2, the motivation will be selfish, devoid of any compassion or solidarity, even though they believe it is for the greater good. The ambitious individual only owes and serves themselves. Their generosity is part of their seductive and self-interested façade, and they end up receiving much more than they give. Furthermore, debts with them will rarely be cleared, and they charge a high price for the "favors" they may have done in the past.

On the other hand, when they are the ones who face insults, defeats, or neglect, they experience these as humiliations that threaten their dignity and which they store as resentments that do not fade over time.

Being a creditor places the Social 2 in a privileged position to influence others and use them for their own plans. They are deeply invested in maintaining this debt for two reasons. First, because it demonstrates that they do not need what is owed to them, reinforcing their false sense of abundance. Second, because it serves as a means of control and dominance.

When I have forgiven someone, I have done it from above, as if I were a papessa giving absolution. I do this because I don't like being asked for forgiveness; a simple explanation is enough to calm the distress of not knowing where the error lies. One day, an old friend approached me to apologize for something from the past; I didn’t let her apologize fully.

Then, I realized that this way, I could keep her indebted to me forever. —Ana Baza

The ambitious person has a sharp sensitivity to perceive when someone does not value them as highly as they value themselves. It is not enough for them to have been recognized at some point by another; they require constant confirmation of their excellence or superiority. Naturally, this is a layer of varnish to cover up their deep insecurity and sense of inadequacy.

The endless expansion of power, influence, and capability to which they dedicate themselves body and soul can be seen as an attempt to free themselves from those shackles that threaten to suffocate and make them disappear.

The feeling of being small, infinitely smaller than others, of being weak, dependent, and needy, causes them anticipatory anxiety, paralyzing them in front of two possibilities: either they are on top, which gives them security, or they are below, which means being subjected, abused, and, ultimately, disappearing. The Social 2 quickly chooses to survive, and for that, they need to adopt a "top" position in everything that concerns them.

They cannot receive; they do not know how. Especially not a gift. If they receive something, they think it is payment for a favor they’ve done or that something will be expected in return. And if they haven’t done anything beforehand, they will suspect or think that it is in payment for the benefits the other person gains from their friendship. This character keeps a detailed account of favors, payments, charges, and debts in a notebook where they write down their "good deeds," even those that were never asked of them.

Feeling needy is, for the Social 2, synonymous with weakness, with danger. Being small terrifies them because they have never been loved as a child, nor recognized in their weakness or vulnerability except to be used and abused.

Being a debtor is intolerable for them, as it threatens their self-perception of being above attachments or duties toward others. It is synonymous with slavery. And if there is something they adore, it is believing they are free and without limits. They distrust and reject anyone who they perceive in any way, whether emotionally, sexually, laboriously, or spiritually, as a reference or superior. They carry a lifetime trauma of having felt abused by "the older ones," having feared for their lives for various reasons.

For the emperor or empress, asking for help is the public and explicit recognition of their incapacity, and being helped is humiliating. Being helped without asking, which is very unlikely, is even insulting. When they are down, defeated, depressed, or absent, they retreat to their home and give no signs of what is happening until they recover and return to the stage.

I was on the couch at home with a pretty severe depression; only my closest family knew about it. I didn’t go out or speak to anyone. Who would I call? I didn’t think anyone could have the faintest idea of how to help me. —Ana Baza

They harbor the irrational thought that if they put themselves in someone else's hands, they will be betrayed and could emotionally perish. This distrust originates from their relationship with their mother and is generalized to life; hence, their skepticism about receiving without giving anything in return, and their constant arrogance about their own vulnerability or limitations. To maintain this self-sufficiency, they operate under the premise that they don't need anyone. The Social 2 is an expert at despising others if they are not useful in achieving their goals. This makes it so that few people get close to them, which confirms their self-sufficiency but also their orphanhood. Paradoxically, when there is a problem, others usually turn to them, which narcissistically compensates for their sense of loneliness.