Thursday, May 2, 2019

types

from the dance of anger by harriet lerner

PURSUERS
  • react to anxiety by seeking greater togetherness in a relationship
  • place a high value on talking things out and expressing feelings, and believe others should do the same
  • feels rejected and take it personally when someone close to them wants more time and space alone or away from the relationship
  • tend to pursue harder and then coldly withdraw when an important person seeks distance
  • may negatively label themselves as 'too dependent' or 'too demanding' in a relationship
  • tend to criticize their partner as someone who can't handle feelings or tolerate closeness
 DISTANCERS
  • seeks emotional distance or physical space when stress is high
  • consider themselves to be self-reliant and private persons -- more 'do-it-yourselfers' than help-seekers
  • have difficulty showing their needy, vulnerable, and dependent sides
  • receive such labels as 'emotionally unavailable,' 'withholding,' 'unable to deal with feelings' from significant others
  • manage anxiety in personal relationships by intensifying work-related projects
  • may cut off a relationship entirely when things get intense, rather than hanging in and working it out
  • opens up most freely when they are not pushed or pursued
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UNDERFUNCTIONERS
  • tend to have several areas where they just can't get organized
  • become less competent under stress, thus inviting others to take over
  • tend to develop physical or emotional symptoms when stress is high in either the family or the work situation
  • may become the focus of family gossip, worry, or concern
  • earn such labels as the 'patient,' the 'fragile one,' the 'sick one,' the 'problem,' the 'irresponsible one'
  • have difficulty showing their strong, competent side to intimate others
OVERFUNCTIONERS
  • know what's best not only for themselves but for others as well
  • move in quickly to advise, rescue, and take over when stress hits
  • have difficulty staying out and allowing others to struggle with their own problems
  • avoid worrying about their own personal goals and problems by focusing on others
  • have difficulty sharing their own vulnerable, underfunctioning side, especially with those people who are viewed as having problems
  • may be labeled the person who is 'always reliable' or 'always together'

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