They are playing a game.
They are playing at not playing a game.
If I show them I see they are, I shall break the rules and they will punish me.
I must play their game, of not seeing I see the game.
— R.D. Laing, Knots (1970)
This is not traditional poetry but a poetic, aphoristic exploration of human relationships, communication, and psychological games, written in a style that reflects the paradoxical nature of interpersonal dynamics.
The passage captures Scottish psychiatrist Laing’s interest in how people trap themselves and each other in unspoken rules and contradictions.
This is the game so many scientists play, especially when it comes to the failed paradigm of human-caused global warming.
Many of us want to make better decisions, perhaps to also understand why there is disagreement, or even to know why we have disappointed someone. The trouble is, we may not know how to do this effectively. We may not be able to even perceive the factors someone else is taking into consideration.
We have natural preferences and understanding them can give us an advantage, and insights into our personal strengths and weaknesses. It is a way of understanding the different ways that different people collect data and make decisions.
Socrates famously promoted the idea of self-knowledge, with the adage: Know thyself. Carl Jung researched a method for systematically defining individual preference that was developed further by Isabel Myers. More recently Mark Majors has added to this with the Majors Personality Type Inventory (Majors PTI), a powerful tool designed to help you understand your unique personality and through this gain self-knowledge.
As a certified Majors PTI practitioner, I can guide you through this process. It begins with completing a straightforward online questionnaire, followed by an initial one-hour consultation where we’ll explore your results. There is a fee; if you are interested, email me at jenn@jennifermarohasy.com.
