The Special Case

The social role of Fours is that of The Special Case. This is becasue Fours base their identity on difference. They feel they are not like others and, from the average levels down, they increasingly insist on being different - not only to other people but also different from the environment they find themselves in. For example, if everyone is having fun at a social event and the general ambiance is upbeat, they will be downbeat and even sad. They have to put their personal stamp on everything insisting on being true to themselves but this may lead them to reject many things that they actually might want or enjoy simply because other people like it, do it. go there etc. They would 'not be seen dead' doing this or that and will hide behind mystery, hoping to attract others' interest by being unlike everyone else. If this gets too entrenched they can feel that the ordinary rules of life do not apply to them and exempt themselves from anything that doesn't inspire them or appeal to their mood or aesthetic and so on. Their sense of social obligation can become tenuous - for example they may arrive somewhere but then announce they are not going to go in because they don't like the look of the place or they don't feel like it. They want to be free to follow their imagination, their fantasies and moods wherever they take them. Needless to say, this behaviour can create friction with others and be limiting to them - depriving them of experiences and fulfilment that may be there waiting for them if they were not so quick to exempt themselves.