E-Mode 8 · The Axis of Self-Determination

At a glance

The Existential Axis of Self-Determination

The Existential Axis of Self-Determination takes shape when experience is organized around autonomy, personal initiative and the ability to make decisions with clarity and determination. This Axis is linked to asserting one's own judgment, actively exercising one's will and an attitude geared toward taking responsibility for one's own path.

Life begins to be interpreted through the need to set a direction, mark boundaries and stand by one's own choices, without depending on outside criteria to validate the chosen path. The person seeks to build a trajectory based on their ability to decide, to uphold what they consider important and to act in line with what they perceive as fair or necessary.

Self-Determination thus becomes the Axis that organizes existential experience: a way of organizing life around freedom of choice, inner consistency and the strength to hold one's course firmly.

Childhood context

Exploring the childhood context helps us understand more deeply how certain traits develop from an early age. Many of the behavior patterns we see in adults are rooted in childhood experiences and family dynamics. Understanding the context in which our early way of facing existence was established helps us understand how we face situations and challenges today.

Strong, protective children

From an early age, a child with E-Mode 8 tends to stand out for their strong will, their determination and their desire to control their surroundings.

• They are energetic and direct, and try to face challenges with courage and decisiveness.
• Their self-esteem is often tied to their ability to be strong and protective.
• They feel more satisfied when they are recognized for their courage and their leadership.
• They sometimes struggle with vulnerability and avoid showing signs of weakness.
• They tend to challenge rules and resist authority if they perceive it as unfair or limiting.
• They seek independence and feel uncomfortable at the idea of being controlled by others.
• In play and in social situations, they tend to take the lead, and their peers see them as leaders.
• They are seen as defenders of others, with a natural inclination to protect those they consider more vulnerable.

From Fear

What a person with E-Mode 8 thinks (Perspective), feels (Affective) and does (Effective) in the Fear dynamic.

Perspective · ThinkFrom Fear

What do they think?

The fear of being controlled or hurt by others can generate defensive and assertive thoughts that reflect the desire to stay in control and protect their own vulnerability. Some examples of their inner narrative:

• Self-assertion: “I have to be strong and assertive to protect myself and the people I care about.”
• Distrust: “I can't show weakness, or others might try to take advantage of me.”
• Control: “It's better to take charge of the situation before someone else takes control and hurts me.”
• Independence: “Depending on others is a sign of weakness; I have to be self-sufficient.”
• Justice: “If something isn't fair, it's my responsibility to fix it or at least expose it.”
• Confrontation: “Direct confrontation is the best way to solve problems and keep from being manipulated.”
• Protection: “As a protector of others, I always have to be alert and ready to act.”
• Resistance: “Showing emotions is a risk; I have to resist any attempt to make me vulnerable.”
• Strength: “Strength is a virtue; vulnerability is a weakness others can exploit.”
• Dominance: “So that no one controls me, I have to be the strongest and most dominant in any relationship or setting.”

These thoughts can lead them to be overly combative or domineering.

Affective · FeelFrom Fear

What do they feel?

Driven by the fear of being controlled or of appearing vulnerable, they may experience intense, powerful emotions, often rooted in the need to assert themselves and protect their autonomy:

• Anger: the most characteristic emotion of E-Mode 8; they feel it and express it easily when they perceive threats to their independence or control.
• Frustration: when things don't go as they expect or when others don't act with the same speed or effectiveness.
• Distrust: suspicion of other people's intentions, especially in the face of possible manipulation or deception.
• Impatience: low tolerance for weakness, their own and others', which shows up as impatience or irritation.
• Passion: they experience intense passions and throw themselves fully into causes or relationships, with energy and commitment.
• Determination: a firm will to overcome obstacles and reach goals, with strength and perseverance.
• Protectiveness: protective feelings toward those they consider vulnerable or who are in their care.
• Denying vulnerability: discomfort with their own vulnerability; they choose to appear strong and fearless.
• Justice: a deep sense of fairness, which leads them to react intensely to what they perceive as unjust.
• Challenge: they are energized by challenges and confrontations, as a way of proving their strength and leadership.

When these emotions are not managed, they can lead to frequent clashes and a combative attitude.

Effective · DoFrom Fear

What do they do?

From Fear, they are driven by the fear of being controlled or hurt by others, and this can motivate defensive or assertive behaviors:

• Controlling their surroundings: they try to control their surroundings and the people in them so as not to feel weak or vulnerable.
• Confrontation: they become confrontational and defiant when they feel their control or authority is being questioned.
• Intimidation: they use intimidation tactics, often unconsciously, to keep a dominant position in their relationships.
• Denying weakness: they deny any feeling of weakness or vulnerability, even to themselves.
• Autonomy: they guard their independence and avoid situations that involve depending on others.
• Protecting others: they take on the role of protector of those they see as weaker or defenseless.
• Overworking: they overload themselves with activity to feel strong and in control, avoiding a mediocrity they experience as weakness.
• Directness: they communicate directly and clearly, without softening their approach for the sake of other people's sensitivity.
• Impatience with vulnerability: they get uncomfortable or impatient with other people's vulnerability and push them to “be strong.”
• Running toward danger: they rush toward challenging or dangerous situations instead of avoiding them.

These behaviors are driven by the desire to protect themselves and their loved ones from betrayal and vulnerability.

From Trust

What a person with E-Mode 8 thinks, feels and does in the Trust dynamic.

Reference character: Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games)

Perspective · ThinkFrom Trust

What do they think?

When they live their Axis from Trust, their thinking balances their strength with vulnerability and consideration for others:

• Interdependence: “I can be strong and still need others. Strength lies in community and collaboration.”
• Vulnerability: “Showing my vulnerability isn't a weakness; it's a way of connecting more authentically with others.”
• Control: “I don't need to control everything and everyone. I can trust others and let go of control.”
• Compassion: “My strength can be a source of protection and support for others, not just a way of imposing my will.”
• Empathy: “Understanding and feeling what others are going through enriches my life and my relationships.”
• Respect: “Everyone deserves respect and consideration, regardless of their power or status.”
• Patience: “Patience lets me guide others without pushing or dominating.”
• Humility: “Recognizing my mistakes and learning from them makes me stronger, not weaker.”
• Responsibility: “My responsibility is to use my strength fairly and with integrity.”
• Acceptance: “Accepting things as they are gives me the clarity to change what I can and accept what I can't.”

This maturity allows them to lead fairly and to put their confidence and decisiveness at the service of everyone. They become a loyal advocate and protector, not out of a need to dominate, but out of a genuine desire to make things better for themselves and for others.

Affective · FeelFrom Trust

What do they feel?

Their emotions become more accessible and they express them more easily:

• Vulnerability: they accept it and express it in a way that lets them connect more deeply with others.
• Empathy: they feel and show more empathy toward other people's struggles and emotions, and are willing to be an emotional support.
• Compassion: genuine compassion; not only strength and protection toward those they see as weak, but also understanding and emotional care.
• Patience: the willingness to let situations unfold without needing to control every outcome.
• Love: they experience and express it more openly and tenderly, without fear of seeming weak.
• Serenity: an inner peace that allows them to face challenges without reacting aggressively or defensively.
• Humility: they recognize their limitations and mistakes without feeling that their authority or strength is under threat.
• Joy: they enjoy life's simple pleasures and share them, without feeling they always have to chase something bigger or better.
• Gratitude: for the relationships and experiences they have, instead of always fighting for more power or control.
• Calm: they still feel strong emotions, but they handle them with a calm that allows them to react more thoughtfully.

There is a balance between strength and sensitivity: they use their power and passion to lead and protect, with a sense of justice and a genuine desire to promote the wellbeing of others, and this allows them to build more meaningful relationships.

Effective · DoFrom Trust

What do they do?

They show their strength in ways that not only protect their own vulnerability, but also consider and respect the needs and vulnerability of others:

• Compassionate leadership: they lead others with a mix of strength and compassion, without needing to dominate or control.
• Openness to vulnerability: they allow themselves to be vulnerable with the people they trust, because they recognize that it leads to deeper connections.
• Self-regulation: they are aware of their strength and power, and regulate them so as not to come across as overwhelming or intimidating.
• Standing up for others: they use their strength to protect and empower others, not only to protect themselves.
• Active listening: they show genuine interest in and respect for other people's opinions and feelings.
• Negotiation: they look for compromise and agreement instead of imposing their will.
• Managing anger: they handle their anger constructively; they express it when needed, without letting it rule their actions.
• Empathy: greater sensitivity to other people's challenges and struggles.
• Reflecting before acting: they take time to think before acting, which allows them to respond rather than react.
• Encouraging independence: they encourage others to be strong and independent and support their personal growth.

Strength and assertiveness are balanced by warmth and the desire to care: they are still a powerful leader and protector, but with an open heart and a helping hand.

From Fear to Trust

The integration process for E-Mode 8 begins when they stop acting, feeling and thinking from fear, actively working on their fears and exploring new possibilities, and start doing so from trust. In this way they enrich their way of facing existence and begin to show positive traits of E-Mode 2 (empathy, compassion, generosity, acknowledging vulnerability, and tempering aggressiveness and intensity), which they usually did not develop or did not stimulate enough. They move toward sensitivity to others and service.

Integration is, therefore, the process through which a broader range of competencies, skills and resources is acquired to build a fuller, more authentic existence.

Perspective · Think

Perspective: from Fear to Trust

These changes in their thought pattern can help them live in a more balanced and harmonious way:

• From strength to vulnerability: from “I have to be strong all the time” to “I can show my vulnerability in certain contexts.”
• From controlling to sharing power: from “I need to be in control” to “I can share power and still be influential and confident.”
• From confrontation to understanding: from “Confrontation is the only way to solve problems” to “Mutual understanding can be a more effective way to resolve conflicts.”
• From one-way care to mutual support: from “I have to protect everyone” to “We can look after each other.”
• From independence to interdependence: from “I have to do everything on my own” to “It's valuable to ask for and accept help.”
• From justice through force to justice through respect: from “Justice requires me to fight” to “Justice can be achieved through respect and fairness.”
• From inflexibility to flexibility: from “My way is the best way” to “There are many ways to reach a goal and I'm open to exploring them.”
• From self-protection to trust: from “I can't trust others” to “I can build trusting relationships based on respect and honesty.”
• From denial to accepting reality: from “Emotions are a distraction” to “Emotions are an important part of the human experience and give me valuable information.”
• From impatience to process: from “Everything has to be solved now” to “Some things take time and it's important to respect the process.”

These shifts allow them to put their will and energy at the service of their own wellbeing and that of those around them, and to use their presence to lead in a more inclusive and compassionate way.

Affective · Feel

Affective: from Fear to Trust

To work with their emotions in favor of integration, it is essential that they learn to accompany their strength and their tendency to control with more emotional openness and vulnerability. They can try:

• Recognizing and naming emotions: identifying what they feel beyond anger, which often covers up more vulnerable feelings such as fear or sadness.
• Allowing themselves to feel: accepting that feeling the full range of emotions is natural and not a sign of weakness.
• Practicing vulnerability: sharing worries and fears with people close to them, understanding that this strengthens relationships instead of weakening them.
• Patience and understanding: with others, especially in situations of conflict.
• Mindfulness: techniques for staying present with their emotions and learning to respond rather than react.
• Self-inquiry: reflecting on the situations that trigger an intense emotional response in them and thinking of other ways to approach them.
• Managing anger: learning and practicing techniques to avoid outbursts and handle conflict in healthier ways.
• Creative expression: channeling intense emotions through sport, art or writing.
• Role models: observing and learning from people who balance strength and sensitivity.
• Self-care: self-care routines with time for rest and emotional recovery, balancing action with reflection.

In this way they can balance their natural tendency toward intensity and assertiveness with compassion and understanding, and build richer, more satisfying relationships.

Effective · Do

Effective: from Fear to Trust

What helps are behaviors that balance their natural strength with sensitivity toward themselves and others, and that help them overcome distrust and the fear of their own vulnerability:

• Showing vulnerability: allowing themselves to be vulnerable with others, to deepen relationships and build mutual trust.
• Practicing empathy: making a conscious effort to understand and resonate with other people's feelings and perspectives.
• Volunteering and community service: taking part in activities that involve helping others, to cultivate sensitivity.
• Patience: cultivating it, especially in situations where their impulse could be domineering.
• Active listening: listening and reflecting before responding, to improve communication and relationships.
• Self-control: working on managing their temper, especially anger, and learning to express disagreement constructively.
• Advocating for others: using their strength and influence to support the less powerful or those who need support.
• Accepting help: recognizing that accepting help doesn't compromise their autonomy or their personal strength.
• Humility: recognizing and admitting mistakes, and seeing them as opportunities to grow.
• Recognizing others' achievements: valuing other people's contributions and successes with genuine recognition.
• Asking for feedback: asking people they trust to share their view, to broaden their perception of their own behavior.
• Tempering intensity: being aware of their intensity and adapting it to the context and the people present.
• Self-care: setting aside time to take care of themselves, because this is key to sustaining their energy and their ability to care for others.

With these behaviors they can move beyond the need for control or to be seen as powerful, and find an authentic personal power, based on emotional connection and compassionate leadership.

Levels of integration

Disintegrated

Aggression and destruction. They may feel betrayed and marginalized, and become aggressive, vengeful and violent. They may act in megalomaniacal, intimidating ways, attacking potential rivals and pushing limits without considering the consequences. In the worst case, they become destructive and antisocial, and would rather tear everything down than let anyone surpass or dominate them.

• Effective: aggression and sadism; they act with violence, vengeance and intimidation when they feel betrayed, dominated or disappointed.
• Affective: deep distrust; anxiety about losing power and resentment at feeling deceived or vulnerable.
• Perspective: paranoia and destructive thinking; a confrontational view of the world, with conspiratorial thoughts and constant scenarios of betrayal.

Semi-integrated

Dominance and competitiveness. They begin to worry about not having enough resources and resort to cunning and opportunism. They become more guarded in expressing their feelings and more methodical in their approach. Worry about not being respected may lead them to act in vain, domineering ways, with big promises and boasting to secure their position and control.

• Effective: dominance and competitiveness; they react with cunning and opportunism, and become more emotionally guarded to stay in control.
• Affective: distrust and wariness; they worry about not being respected, and feel inner tension, contained anger and suspicion toward others.
• Perspective: a strategic view of control, aimed at securing their position and leadership and guaranteeing their power.

Integrated

Magnanimity and leadership. They move beyond the need to constantly control their surroundings, which allows them to be more generous, brave and merciful. They feel safe and protected in their own inner strength. They are independent and vigorous, and use their energy to lead and protect others. They take on challenges and show their strength through constructive action, with strategic and decisive leadership.

• Effective: magnanimity and leadership; they are generous, brave and strategic in decision-making.
• Affective: inner steadiness; they feel empathy, compassion and emotional security, without needing to impose themselves.
• Perspective: a constructive perspective; they take on challenges and lead in order to empower others and foster their growth.

C-Modes: C7 and C9

C-Modes (complementary modes) influence and nuance the characteristics of each person's E-Mode, creating greater variety and richness in behavior. They are the E-Modes on either side of one's own: if someone has E-Mode 9, their C-Modes are 8 and 1.

Understanding C-Modes helps explain the wide range of behaviors that people with the same E-Mode can show. An E-Mode can show positive and negative traits of one or both C-Modes, only the negative ones, only the positive ones, or a combination.

Effective triad

The three triads group the E-Modes according to the dimension in which their way of facing existence is mainly anchored: the effective (action), the affective (emotion) and the perspective (thought).

E-Mode 8 belongs to the effective triad: it covers the vital, instinctive drives that help us assert our “territory,” such as anger. It focuses on action, instinctive reaction and the relationship with the physical environment, and tends to be practical.

• Focus: action; control and resistance.
• Seeks: autonomy.
• Underlying feeling: anger.
• Aggressiveness: tends to express it.

Integration and disintegration strategy