self-improvement | the Wakefield Doctrine

Tuesday -the Wakefield Doctrine- “… to ring a bell is to play the same notes heard differently”

October 20, 2020 By clarkscottroger

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

(uh oh… by the looks of that sub-title, someone’s been listening to old records again… )

lol

We were privileged to receive a comment on yesterday’s post from a new Reader, Jael. In her comment she says,

I confess I tend to get confused in these posts (as well as comments received on my posts)…I’m guessing I’m somewhere between a Clark and a Roger, definitely not a Scott/predator

First off, thank you for the comment. They, (comments) are, at very least, half the reason for writing this blog.

As mentioned in my reply, it has been a core ambition to write the perfect Doctrine blog post, though I have strayed from that central theme over recent years. There was a time when every post was one in which the principles of the Doctrine were laid-out, illustrated, illuminated, dissected, analyzed and dramatized. However, I’ve tended to stray from this, in the service of a more questionable goal, to learn to write good.

But enough about me!

(Lets shake out the spandex and sequins, crank up the smoke machine, and turn everything up to ’11’. With any luck, I won’t fall off the front of the stage and sprain something necessary.)

the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers) is predicated on the idea that we, all of us, are born with the capacity to experience the world, and the people who make it up, in one of three ways: as an Outsider (clarks), a Predator (scotts) or a Herd Member (rogers). At an early stage in life, for reasons not understood, we all settle into one of these three personal realities. The Wakefield Doctrine maintains that reality itself is, to a small but very significant degree, personal. Not such a radical notion, nothing weird like singing teapots or animals with drivers licenses, simply personal. Consider:

Two people, standing on the sidewalk of a noon-rush city street, looking at the same restaurant. The idea of personal reality allow that they are surely experiencing this moment in time differently. (Hint: one is friends with the manager and used to date the bartender, the other threw-up on the perfectly white linen tablecloth of the table where the family had gathered to celebrate a grandparent’s 99th birthday.)

Once we have settled into our predominant worldview, (whichever of the three), it becomes our reality. And, no surprise here, we learn as children to deal with the world around us, we develop our strategies for getting through life, aka a personality type.

Here’s the cool part: the character of our personality type is a reflection of the world. Our personality types are inevitable, (and effective), because they are geared to the world, as we are experiencing it.

Examples:

the Outsider (clarks) grow up on the fringes, avoiding the spotlight yet finding ways to be a part of a world of people, all of whom seem separate and different.
the Predator (scotts) develop their social strategies in a context where life consists of threats and rewards, danger and pleasure. Like the Predator in nature, this personality type is all about reaction time, staying alert (to the aforementioned threats and dangers) and moving fast
the Herd Member (rogers) belong. They belong, and, more importantly, they experience a world where there are Rules and the future is knowable and quantifiable

… hey, Jael, running out of time and, as I read what I’ve written, its clear I’ll need to resort to some old tricks to get ‘off stage’ in a way that looks totally planned.

One last thing: while we all settle into one, (and only one), of the three personal realities, we never lose the potential to experience the world as ‘the other two’. These are referred to as secondary (and tertiary) aspects. Myself, as an example: I am a clark (my predominant worldview) with a strong secondary scottian aspect and a weak tertiary rogerian aspect. What this mean is that I although am fluent in mumbling, avoid eye contact, and am hypo-photogenic, if under duress or focused on something important to me, I will make sure you hear me, but without a hug.

So, I will continue practicing to write the perfect Wakefield Doctrine post. (This is not it. lol)

oh, yeah! one other thing. Your comment makes it clear you have the right idea about how to determine a person’s personality type. Throw out the, ‘no fricken way!’ choice and then look through the eyes of the remaining two. The one that is clearest and least blurry is the your world.

(The more you learn about the characteristics of each of the three predominant worldview, the easier and more fun it gets to see the world from the perspective of the Wakefield Doctrine.)

Thanks again for the prompt.

#WakefieldDoctrine #theoryofclarksscottsandrogers #personality types

Filed Under: Featured, Psychology, the Wakefield Doctrine Tagged With: personality types, psychology of personality, self-development, self-improvement, the Wakefield Doctrine, Understanding Human Behavior

Monday -the Wakefield Doctrine- “…of style and substance/silk purses and sows ears/youth and wisdom”

October 19, 2020 By clarkscottroger

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

I was talking to someone over the weekend about Friday’s post and, at some point in the conversation, I think it was when they mentioned, ‘Oh, I’ve already read it’, I said, ‘There was a time, back on the early days, when posts were all in the 300 to 500 word range’.

And it now dawns on me. ‘You want to know the real difference between old and young (sophisticated in contrast to raw energy/ practiced versus enthusiastic/and polished)?

The earliest Doctrine posts were brief and short* because the energy they contained/were manifestations of; the overt indications of a successful birthday party for a nine-year-old are in the volume of communications and extent of the disarray of the decorations, not the perfect coordination of the color of the table cloths to the icing that spells out a message of well-wishing and congratulations, taken as intended by no one in attendance other than the memory-echo of the guest-of-honor in the far distant future.

There! That’s why contemporary posts are in the twelve hundred to fifteen hundred word range.**

Surely that is as it should be; ‘youthful’ enthusiasm in expression trumping sophisticated crafting of ideas (for maximum appeal). Of course, it is the underlying energy of the idea of the Wakefield Doctrine that causes some people to read and enjoy. It.

lol

The backstory has always been presented, (and nothing in this essential regard has changed), that we³ discovered the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers) and the goal of this blog has always been to expose the maximum number of Readers to the fun and the benefits of the unique perspective inherent in the Doctrine. Yet, like discovering an old ‘letter sweater’ or cardboard box of trophies from high school⁴ there is a temptation to find a place for their display, despite the passage of time; as enticing as the idea may be, maturity usually carries the day.

So, since I’m approaching the five 100 word mark, lets leave it at this:

the Wakefield Doctrine is not an answer, it is a series of questions with as much a claim on practical value as: a Magic 8 Ball, a box of fortune cookies, the Oscar-Meyers-Briggs personality schedule or the NKJV… in other words, a hammer doesn’t need to be a nail to be useful in fastening things.

(quick explanation to one of more of the feetnotes: if you’re still reading and think you might stop back sometime, you are a clark(predominant worldview of the Outsider) or a scott(Predator) or a roger(Herd Member) with a significant secondary clarklike aspect.)

*the first of the deliberate style choices in adjectives, which, at their heart, were manifestations of my secondary scottian aspect… hey!

** the CMS clearly states: numbers are to be spelled out, numerals are never to be used except in cases of ….

3) the ‘editorial we’ is natural to clarks and is, in practice, a useful tool when trying to determine if a person is a clark or a scott or a roger. Whole ‘nother post, though.

4) yeah, like that’s gonna happen to the typical Reader of the this blog

#wakefielddoctrine

#theoryofclarks,scottsandrogers

#personalitytheories

Filed Under: Featured, Psychology, the Wakefield Doctrine Tagged With: personality types, self-improvement, the Wakefield Doctrine, Understanding Human Behavior

Friday -the Wakefield Doctrine-

October 16, 2020 By clarkscottroger

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

Was engaged in a conversation with Phyllis this morning that inevitably came round to the Doctrine, I believe the touch-point was personal reality and it made me think of the early days of this blog.

Back then, the pace was…different, faster, in the way of running across a field of rain-soaked snow, you know, keep the speed as high as possible because the ten-year-old inside knew that it was possible, if you did it right, to lift your foot even as you stepped forward. At a running pace, you’d try to not put your full weight on the lead foot, and basically, hop over it.

The better to not get your shoes soaked in the grey-snow pools lurking between the tufts of grass that offered a dry passage.

….where was I?

oh, yeah , the early years and the kinds of things we’d write to get attention

clarks think, scotts act and rogers feel (err not exactly fire-in-a-crowded-theatre level on the provocative meter)

I got one! clarks are crazy, scotts are stupid and rogers are dumb (distinctly remember when I came up with that one… interesting, the scotts laughed but the rogers (the Progenitor roger, no less) got really mad.)

ok, ok, one more then a music vid and its off to work

‘Everyone lives in a perfect world‘

(I stand by this statement, but will provide a hint as to why its so terribly true: a) we all live in a reality that is to a small, but meaningful degree, personal and 2) the world we encounter is a reflection of us (including parts and aspects we may not be aware of).

Filed Under: Featured, Psychology, the Wakefield Doctrine Tagged With: personality types, relationships, self-improvement, the Wakefield Doctrine

Tuesday -the Wakefield Doctrine- ‘of resolutions and expectations and Reader participation’

October 6, 2020 By clarkscottroger

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

Well, now that you mention it, the uses of the Wakefield Doctrine as a tool for self-improving oneself, would be an excellent topic this Tuesday morning.

Why yes, we all know that Tuesday is the mildest of workweek days and, therefore, is favored by clarks. But why would that be so?

For a variety of reasons, I’m running later than usual. So, while I’m off at a septic inspection, any Readers (…errr reading this) out there want to jump in, have at it!

Use the comment box for whatever content/direction/’yeah-but-don’t-forget-about!!!’ input you have and, when I get back (say, 10am-ish) I’ll put them into this post right and proper. (Don’t forget any formatting that you would do, asteroids, bullet-points and such and I’ll do my best.)

There!

Regular Readers: you’ve got all you should need sure, you can ask Cynthia or Denise or Mimi questions… just don’t hound them

New Readers: ok… no, this is not a trick and, no, despite what the roger next to you is saying* there are no ‘Right’ answers. That said, we will help you get started with a set of bulletized suggestions:

the Wakefield Doctrine has three personality types (clarks, scotts and rogers) and you’re one of the three, but, you have the potential of ‘the other two’
nope, only one personality type per person (we call them predominant worldviews)
totally real…. no tricks (well, mostly, no tricks)
clarks are the Outsiders, you either are one or have a friend who is one (they kinda like the sidelines… mostly)
scotts are the Predators, not in the bad sense of the word (mostly) they’re the ones you will never overlook when they walk into the room
rogers are the Herd Members, they are totally among your friends, hell, the majority of the population are rogerian

Topic Suggestion: A) why do clarks like Tuesdays so much? 2) are you suggesting that clarks don’t like stress… you did say Tuesday was the mildest day of the workweek and clarks…

Will be back

have fun

Cynthia:

Tuesdays. Hmm…I can like Tuesdays…and Thursdays. They come in a close second.

I totally concur. About the Thursday thing. In fact, I’ll go as far as to say, for clarks, Thursdays are, more often than not, what Fridays are for the other two (scotts and rogers)

Filed Under: Featured, Psychology, the Wakefield Doctrine Tagged With: clarkscottroger, Personal, personality types, self-improvement, the Wakefield Doctrine

Monday -the Wakefield Doctrine- ‘of renewal and resuscitation’

October 5, 2020 By clarkscottroger

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

~~That, when I begin to type my standard intro-line (‘Welcome to…’) the WP autocorrects no matter what letters I use shouldn’t bother me; that, sometimes, I let it, should.~~

We could consider the role of ‘energy’ in the quality of our daily lives, and by ‘we’ I mean ‘me’ and by ‘consider’, I mostly mean, ‘the Reader reads’ and by ‘the Reader’, well, that where things get interesting.

After all, one of the beauty parts (as Lou Collins would’ve said) of this world of blogs and blogging is that we have all the benefits of companionship and friends and such that is available in the ‘real’ world, without the responsibility and emotional upkeep that the mundane requires of it’s participants.

‘Communication is the problem to the answer’ suggestive? Sure. A description of the goal of the Wakefield Doctrine? Kinda*

~~At the heart of the Wakefield Doctrine is the simple (but very difficult to acquire) power of perspective.~~

ok. enough of the ‘hey!! write one of those ‘oh-my-god-I-can’t-believe-you-made-that-connection’ posts that were the style here, back in the heyday** of the Wakefield Doctrine.

(This post is the result of a October 4th Resolution*** to write more, with the goal being of a certain clarklike characteristic to expend effort in a cart-horse manner. lol)

The Wakefield Doctrine is a perspective on life, the world and the people who make it up. Grounded in the notion that all of us are born to experience the world in one of three characteristic manners, as the Outsider(clarks), the Predator(scotts) or the Herd Member(rogers), this personality theory offers an opportunity to see the world as the other person is experiencing it. The key premise to this, ‘personality theory’, is that reality is, to small but perceivable degree, personal. What makes one’s reality personal is the character of the relationship between the individual and the surrounding world.

The Wakefield Doctrine maintains that the most useful, (and, fun), way to characterize the relationship is, as mentioned: Outsider, Predator and Herd Member.

For reasons not yet understood, we all settle into one of the three realities, (predominant worldviews), at a very early age. Although we never lose the capacity to experience the world as do ‘the other two’ we proceed to grow, age, mature and otherwise develop our style of interacting with the world in response to the character of our world. One might say, I have the perfect personality type, given the nature of the world I had to contend with as a child:

clarks growing up in a reality in which they are Outsiders, learn to avoid the spotlight, while at the same time, searching for the missing piece, the one bit of information they apparently lack, something that clearly, most everyone around them were taught, given how comfortable they all seem with each other… they all belong. Outsiders do not.
scotts live in the world of the Predator where life is threat and reward, pleasure and discomfit, win and lose, a simple life which does not provide a whole lotta time to reflect on the meaning of things that do not appear to be chasing you or are not running away,. Predators live for the day, not so much philosophy as strategy.
rogers are a part of a complete and wholly quantifiable world, growing up, the Herd Member does not spend time hiding from others or chasing others, rather they spend their time learning the ways of those closest, this learning is not a discovery of something new as it is practice of something, (a Way of Life) that is tried and true.

Thats all we have time for today. However, the effort has, for me, already been rewarded. (Besides the tuneage)

Hey! Tell your friends you’ve come across a really fun personality theroy.

* but not really

** thanks to our friends at etymonline for:

heyday (n.)
also hey-day, late 16c. as an exclamation, an alteration of heyda (1520s), an exclamation of playfulness, cheerfulness, or surprise, something like Modern English hurrah; apparently it is an extended form of the Middle English interjection hey or hei. Compare Dutch heidaar, Germann heida, Danish heida. Modern sense of “stage of greatest vigor” first recorded 1751 (perhaps from a notion that the word was high-day), and it altered the spelling.

*** yeah, I agree, doesn’t quite have the gravitas of ‘New Year’s Resolution’ but then, as the old trope would hold, ‘Its New Years Day somewhere, or, at least, sometime’