the Wakefield Doctrine

Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks scotts and rogers)

courtesy: Friend of the Doctrine Val

Feeling guilty about the number of useful, entertaining and instructive Posts that I’ve been producing of late. Seeing how the goal of this blog is to write a single Post that a stranger, wandering the blogosphere could read and understand and, if they were so inclined, apply the principles of the Wakefield Doctrine in their life, that very same day and realize a direct benefit from having learned about the Wakefield Doctrine, it kinda behooves me to post them Posts! (yeah, that was one long-assed sentence! I’m just limbering up for zoe’s Six Sentence Story!)

This goal, the thing about writing one simple Post that allows you, the Reader, one new perspective on life just from reading a Post, that’s not too ambitious is it? Wait! Don’t answer yet!  It’s definitely not too ambitious from the perspective of what the Wakefield Doctrine is and how it might be applied. Sure, maybe a little ambitious on my part. My skills are coming along, but I have a bit of a ways to go. As to the Doctrine and what it has to offer? Not a doubt in my mind that if you use the three worldviews as a way to see the world as the other person is experiencing it, you can’t not benefit. clarks become less vague and uncertain as to what they really want, scotts less volatile and flighty and their enthusiasm becomes more disciplined and focused and rogers, well, suffice to say, some of them become kind and totally altruistic! But don’t take my word for it, read!

So, here’s a reprint from last year. In two parts! That way, if you like what you read, you can go ahead and listen to the video. If not, then, hey! have a nice day, be sure to stop back in again (sometimes, it takes a couple of visits to get this Doctrine thing.)

Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers)

Some people come here and before the end of their first visit, ‘get’ the principles of the Wakefield Doctrine personality theory. Other people read and read, they know there is something here, they enjoy the company of the other Readers but, nevertheless, struggle with the concept. It’s funny, how, very often, the ones that struggle at first? …end up getting further into the use and application and enjoyment of a new idea, than do those who pick it up easily and without difficulty. I’m thinking about Val and Sarah, who have recently written comments expressing a certain… frustration or (semi)-aggravation at knowing the principles but missing out on the fun. To them, (and anyone else out there encountering difficulties with our little personality theory), I want to say, ‘Thank you!’

I used to remind myself (and have myself reminded at by the people* who were here when I started the blog), ‘if the Reader don’t get it, it’s my fault’.
Meaning, of course, it was my responsibility to present the Wakefield Doctrine in manner that would allow anyone having the slightest interest, to read, understand, use and enjoy the Doctrine. It’s funny about blogs, how we start out with a certain goal or idea or image of what it will be like when we have Readers but, somehow as success comes along, some of the fun (and aggravation), risking taking (and embarrassing early attempts) and adventurousness leaves us… we become content that we have what we set out to get, often we are fearful (to some extent, sometimes great, often small ways) of taking chances. (“Hey! careful there! don’t want to alienate any Readers!!” “…are you sure you want to take that approach?” “Dude! don’t screw it up, you know how you always sabotage yourself.”)

I will repeat, ‘Thanks Sarah and Val!’ Thank you for reminding me of the most important thing: a) that I present the Wakefield Doctrine in terms that all of us can read and learn and enjoy and 2) I remember to have fun. ( “It ain’t a college elective we’re writing here!! it’s the damn Wakefield Doctrine.”)

So today I’ll try to present the Doctrine in 2 ways: written and aural***

the Wakefield Doctrine has one simple requirement: the willingness to imagine that we all live in one of three worldviews (these are personal realities… that little portion of reality that is ours alone) and that by (our) growing up and developing into adults in the context of these three worldviews, our personality types are manifested. These three worldviews are: the life of the Outsider(clarks), the reality of the Predator(scotts) and the world of the Herd Member(rogers). We are all born with the potential to live in any of these three, we all settle into one (the predominant worldview), but never lose the capability to experience the world as do ‘the other two’.

the Wakefield Doctrine is best learned by: reading about the characteristics of the three worldviews and learning (for each of the personality types) a person’s likes, dislikes, phobias and failings, strengths, weaknesses and (preferred) strategies in relating to the world.

Once learned, look around and they will be there.
Once learned, observe the behavior of the people in your life and infer how the other person is ‘relating themselves to the world around them’.
Once you have reached a certain level of familiarity (with the three worldviews), be prepared for people to act like clarks and scotts and rogers with a spontaneity and genuineness that may first creep you out (like how did they know to do that) and then you will see behavior and traits that you know you didn’t read about here, but you are certain is a characteristic of the worldview. (at this point, you will laugh and thank us or you will swear to never go near ‘those people and their Doctrine’ again). oh, yeah,…. by the way? if you get to a certain point in learning the Doctrine to where you can see the clarks, scotts and rogers in your life? you…er may not be able to not see them, ya know?
The rest is having fun and writing Comments and contributing to the understanding of the Wakefield Doctrine… like I said, fun stuff.

(as promised: Video Supplement )

* Denise and roger and glenn and jennifer and… Molly (who I saw in the Comments yesterday, she was the total (home)school marm, whenever I would express my misgivings on some point of presentation… as Denzel would say, ‘Laura Engal ain’t got nothin on her!!**)

** no, I don’t think she would say that, but I liked the quote and, somehow, in the way that these things have, the photo I encountered fits just fine for today’s Post.

*** well, not rising to the level of a true rogerian expression, I still enjoy the look of that word choice