Beta Quadra Description

The beta quadra, also known as the second quadra, is a quadra valuing , , , and

Beta quadra types are characterized by ideological conflict and passionate energizability. Of the four quadras, beta quadra values are manifest most diversely; this variability is inherent to what the beta quadra is. It is also sensible to imagine two types of betas -- "light" and "dark" betas, with the understanding that although these groups look starkly different, they are primarily manifesting surface differences, and that at their core, betas share the same set of values as any quadra shares the same set of values, and as such all betas are both light and dark, but primarily dark.

Betas types are deeply anagogical creatures by nature who have kind of a spiritual quality about them at their essence; they are naturally attentive to messages and deeper meanings in the world around them. Beta types seek to be the messengers of such insights, communicating their inner truths (Gamma types may have similar tendencies, but their interpretation of deeper messages and inner truths is much more subdued, cautious, and constrained). Valuing , Betas' quest for deeper meaning tends to manifest as an impulse towards finding consistency and clarity in interpreting the messages of the world. They are driven to seek worldviews and beliefs that are internally consistent and absent of contradictions, hence an emphasis on logical principles and ideologies as systems. Rather than there being many possible ideologies and sets of principles, as might be perceived by alpha types, betas value and as such limiting possibilities; beta types' visionary qualities and principled worldviews are enmeshed together, and they have a somewhat narrow focus (though over time, the principles can change and adapt to the vision -- if not easily).

Valuing and devaluing also means that beta types are more inclined to evaluate people and other things based on the sensibility and concordance of their ideological principles than on their individual character. Additionally valuing and , they value impactful action and immediacy of rewards, as well as singular visions of the world. If gamma quadra types judge people harshly based on their assessments of character and trustworthiness in the immediate now, so do betas judge people harshly in the immediate now; they make these judgments based not on character but on their internally-held principles governing the world. The principles they abide by are often group-oriented (as such principles are the simplest principles), including simplistic principles such as "Group X is bad." As such, betas tend to have a collectivistic, us-versus-them mentality. They are able to perceive conflict more easily than other quadras; valuing , they may also read between the lines and find hidden conflicts that other quadras may not recognize (whether or not they are correct and this conflict exists or they are wrong and they are merely perceiving nonexistent conflict, is not the point; both outcomes are possible).

Another quirk of betas is that their principles and group orientations may change very rapidly. As betas value , they are attentive to the signals and messages that others are sending off in an exterior emotional space, and are able to detect fluctuations in these signals at a rapid timescale. These signals are an important component of how betas construct their principles and visions; as such, betas' life principles and visions can change rapidly. A common occurrence in beta types is the prompt realization, based on rapidly changing exterior-emotional-space signals, that one's friends (or group) are not who they were previously believed to be (and again, whether or not this perception is correct is not the point; both outcomes are possible).

Beta quadra members are characterized by their passion and conspicuous emotionality. Valuing , beta types attend to rapidly changing emotional states and broad emotional ranges. Valuing , betas are also attentive to long-range visions of how the world should be. Betas can have a tendency to be cause-oriented and philanthropic, but more fundamentally they have high emotional energizability. They can be inclined to pay more attention, and view emotional displays as more "real," when accompanied by high emotional energy. This can give them the appearance of being dramatic, sometimes overly so. As they value , they also value environments of free expression in which they feel able to express their dynamic and sometimes vulgar emotional states without those spontaneous emotions being reflected as judgments of their character.

Type-specific digressions

• Rather than appearing collectivistically minded, IEIs often seem to be prominent individualists, oriented primarily towards their inner emotional landscapes and the individual qualities that make them who they are, and eschewing a collectivistic mentality. The basis of this individualism is severalfold; IEIs have more access to their interior emotional space than dominants, being demonstratives to the latter's ignoring, and thus are more likely to recognize their stable personal qualities (although by no means are they immune to the tendency of losing their sense of self in their highly variable emotionality). Most prominently, however, IEIs are creatures defined by the combination of and , and as such attend to their individual qualities because of their internally held principles concerning the justice of independence and individual self-determination. The predominance of over can be commonly seen in the need to specifically express this individuality, rather than in keeping it in a primarily interior emotional space.