In discussing the final set of value orientation pairs, we turn our attention to the tension between the amount of order and structure we want in our lives-a choice between hedonism and hierarchy.
The Free Spirit
The essential value theme for the Free Spirit is hedonism. Many people think that the term hedonism carries with it a negative connotation. But in scholarly literature and for the purposes of this model, hedonism is not consider negative. The Free Spirit’s sole purpose is to enjoy every ounce of zest life has to offer. Basking in strong emotions, the Free Spirit lives for today and lives a life filled without regret or responsibility. A girl dancing alone and having a good time is a great representation of the free spirit.
Influence Lesson #27: One who always lives his or her life for tomorrow may one day find that they’ve run out of todays.
If you are going to hold a party, you will want a Free Spirit there. The Free Spirit is filled with such energy and such a willingness to enjoy life that this energy permeates everything and everyone around him or her. This energy is refreshing and contagious. Their spontaneity and ebullient demeanor help everyone to have a more enjoyable time.
Johnny Cash as portrayed in Walk the Line and Pippin from the Lord of the Rings movies are excellent examples of Free Spirits.
Yes Man
Jim Carrey adopted the approach of the Free Spirit in the movie Yes Man, where he attends a motivational seminar and the speaker challenges him to accept every opportunity that presents itself. Throwing conventional thinking and prudence to the wind, Jim Carrey’s character goes on to have a series of adventures and life-changing experiences. He gained new perspective on what life has to offer by refusing to stand idly and instead taking advantage of opportunities for fun and spontaneity.
The Free Spirit’s nemesis is the Police Officer who aims to bring structure and order to the world.
The Police Officer
The Police Officer’s purpose is to develop the rules to bring order to our world. Police Officers wish to protect their communities by establishing and enforcing a code of responsible behavior. They like to organize, to lead and to administer. The Policeman is primarily concerned with structure.
The Police Officer keeps us focused on the horizon. The investment in structure today is the basis on which our society can reap greater happiness in the future. Laws encourage the Inventors to create and to protect rights of people who choose to strive for something greater. Personal discipline allows us to weather adversity and capitalize on inner strength. Ethics allow us to agree as a group of what is acceptable behavior and what is to be scorned.
Inspector Javert from Les Miserables and Flight Director, Gene Krantz from Apollo 13 embody the Police Officer mindset.
Influence Lesson #28: Ethics allow us to agree as a group what is acceptable behavior and what is to be scorned.
I once had the opportunity to participate in a group dynamics class. These kinds of classes are completely unstructured learning. There is no syllabus — no agenda. It’s just 20 people sitting in a circle and together deciding what to talk about for four days straight. Some people find these classes to be interesting and invigorating. It’s an opportunity to experiment with your interpersonal style to try things that are new to you. It’s amazing what you learn about people by freeing yourself of the distractions of the issue at hand. Group dynamics classes, by design, have no issue to contend with so you are only left with the way you interact with others. Police officers however, have a much more difficult time in these types of classes. Because there is no agenda, there is no structure. This is extremely frustrating to people who value structure. These folks become physically uncomfortable and filled with anxiety. It is a real challenge for these people to get through this class. For those who are aware of this and have prepared themselves to be uncomfortable, a group dynamics class can be a fantastic learning experience for those who thrive in structure and support the prevailing hierarchy.
Inspector Javert
To me, there is no better character that embodies the Police Officer archetype than Inspector Javert from the Victor Hugo novel, Les Misérables. Javert, the government inspector, tracks the protagonist fugitive Jean Valjean for more than 20 years. I find Javert compelling because of his inability to accept ambiguity. Javert, believes in the righteousness of law and order. He resides in a black and white world. Valjean resorts to crime to feed his struggling family, but Javert doesn’t concern himself with motives. He only sees that Valjean is a criminal and, therefore, is irredeemably evil.
Later, Javert becomes puzzled when he observes Valjean commit noble and self-sacrificing behaviors. Javert constantly look for Valjean’s true selfish motive. Javert cannot accept the truth that Valjean was a good man who, nevertheless, broke the law. In a climactic scene, Javert is captured and is in mortal danger of execution. Valjean, then, requests that he deal with Javert. Feeling justified that he has been right about Valjean all along, Javert awaits his imminent death, but is stunned when Valjean frees him–unconditionally.
Finally being forced to face a world that is far more complex than he had ever imagined, Javert can’t cope. Rather than face a world without the clarity of right and wrong, Javert takes his own life.
Javert’s story is a warning for people who rely too heavily on structure, order, and hierarchy. Rules and principles are wonderful in the abstract, but are often quite messy when applied to certain situations. Justice is never as simple as a rulebook; and, winning is not as simple as following a recipe.
The Policeman’s nemesis is the Free Spirit, who lives a spontaneous life with few constraints.
How They are Different and Why They Need to Be
Without the spontaneity and unpredictability of the Free Spirit, our society runs the real risk of being regimented and structured into a drab dreary existence that might be best embodied in a George Orwell novel. Moreover, the Free Spirit reminds all of us that today is valuable. None of us know the time of our passing. Our time is precious and the Free Spirit reminds us to seize the day because one who lives his or her life for tomorrow may find that they have run out of todays.
That being said, if you are going to hold a party you will also want a Police Officer there. The Police Officer brings us the structure that holds our society together. A society without rules is unmanageable. It is through the agreements between us, often unsaid, that provide the infrastructure upon which we can erect a more advanced society. For our party, the Police Officer will take the steps to order the proper food and drink. They will assign the roles and responsibilities so that all the participants can be safe and can enjoy the party with the least amount of stumbles.
