Personality Styles and How You Handle a Farm Crisis More on the
by Hal Brown, LICSW Updated 6/24/00 Added 6/24/00: It ain't my ox getting gored type: I have to admit that it pains me to have "discovered" a few cranberry farmers who fit into this category since writing this article when our industry hadn't yet moved from a state of crisis to a disaster with predictions that, at least in Massachusetts and on the west coast, close to fifty percent of all growers may be out of business before the industry stabilizes. These "it ain't my ox getting gored" farmers lack empathy. They put their own personal needs above the needs of their friends and neighbors in the industry. Their lack of empathy ran deep and is an ingrained personality trait, but it wasn't discernable anyone, except in some cases those closest to them, until their style of living was threatened. Some of these people are economic vultures, watching in secret glee and waiting in anticipation while their neighbor's ox is getting gored, so they can ultimately benefit from his misfortune. A few may be economic predators, actually engaging in behind the scenes machinations designed to hasten the bankruptcy of other growers. They hide their bloodlust, and they often rationalize their detachment intellectually by telling themselves that this is just the way capitalism works. There are no atheists in the foxholes type: These farmers just want to believe in a savior when the mortar shells keep coming closer and closer. They see friends or neighbors about to go under because their break even point was $40.00 dollars a barrel. Last year they heard rumors that the final figure might be as low as $32.00 a barrel, and now we're looking at around $10 for the next year or two... or three. If the grower belongs to Ocean Spray, and wants to believe badly enough, just like the atheist in the foxhole, God or in this case, Corporate, is looking mighty powerful when the next explosion hits twenty feet away. Independents look to their handlers for good news, they want to believe that these "father figures" really do know what is best for them. Doubt is put aside and hope triumphs. These farmers will cling to every positive forecast, and count on every knight in shining armor to rescue them, and resent growers who undermine their belief. In the jargon of psychology and sociology they might be called authoritarian personalities, or followers rather than leaders. There is nothing wrong with them. It is merely a personality style, perhaps the most common of all. Industry leaders know they can always count on a cadre of these folks, along with "The eternal optimists" (below) to act as supporters for their efforts. However well-meaning the leaders are, if they allow their cheerleaders to suppress rational and equally well-meaning critics they are doing themselves and the industry disservice. Those who play the blame game: On the other extreme from the "no atheists", are those who have an anti-authority bent. Their way of handling a crisis is to look for someone to blame, in part because of childhood experiences when, in fact, others were to blame at least to some extent for unpleasantness. People who are like this tend to have had authoritarian parents who were often impossible to please. Rational argument often falls on their deaf ears, and any errors made by decision makers are used as proof positive as to where the fault lays. Instead of believing that a handler can do no wrong, they believe that everything a handler does has the underlying motive of hurting them. They hurt their own cause by "crying wolf" too often. When they have a good argument, their point is likely to be dismissed as paranoid ranting. Trust, but verify, types: This is a cold war term coined during disarmament negotiations with the Soviet Union. It is a more thoughtful approach to the two extremes described above. These people are basically trusting. They probably grew up in families where there was largely unconditional positive love and acceptance. They are willing to trust those in authority, but have seen enough betrayals to know that it is always wise to remain somewhat skeptical and expect verification of promises. They recognize their own emotions, but are able to set them aside and analyze them rationally. When they become frustrated that others "don't see the forest for the trees" they can come across as pompous and pedantic, thus leading people not to pay attention to what they have to say. Catastrophizer types: These farmers have developed a belief system that works surprising well in many ways, but is very dangerous to one's personal mental and physical health. It is based on the premise that if you expect the worst, anything better is a relief. The problem is that this philosophy often translates into anxiety and depression, and can make a person emotionally and physically dysfunctional. The good news is that psychotherapy often works best with these individuals. The Eternal Optimists: Seen by some as foolhardy "what me worry?" people, to the point of being delusional, and by others as the most enviable and stable farmers around, they in fact are engaged in psychological denial and are setting themselves up for a serious breakdown if they loose their farms. There are few of these cranberry growers left. Those that are still around can usually be counted on to provide an upbeat quote about how resilient cranberry growers are and how they'll bounce back from this crisis just as they did after the amino triazole scare. The Survivalists: Hopefully the majority of farmers fall into this group. They are the ones who are able to "count their blessings", who have made a list of the good and bad things in their lives. They realize that if they have their health, a loving marriage and family, their faith, food, shelter, cable T.V., and of course, their Internet connection, no matter how bad things get, they will survive. True, their college student children might have to withdraw from the expense private university and go to a state school, and they might have to trade in their expensive vehicle for one half the price, but they can assess what is really important in their lives and know that they will survive.
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