10.4 Quartet of primary life references
As already discussed in previous chapters the life of every human is marked by the four life references:
Human beings both shape others and are shaped by others throughout their lives.
These formative qualities are first experienced within the family system, through the roles of family members, and later through figures outside the family.
Especially paternal figures often fail to embody the ideal qualities associated with their roles. (For example, a violent or overbearing mother instead of an empathetic and caring woman; a weak and emotionally unavailable father instead of a supportive and guiding male presence; disinterested grandparents…)
These quality distortions of role models impact the child, who may later pass on these patterns when becoming a parent or grandparent, perpetuating them across generations.
As shown in the chapter “Perception Spheres’ Mental Maps,” the primary life references—understood as fundamental life principles—not only shape concrete relationships but also influence broader value systems, in the form of core beliefs and convictions:
The problem is that when these primary references are qualitatively imbalanced, value convictions become distorted and misaligned with their ideal essence. This can lead to societal issues and conflicts both within nations and globally.
Because value systems are interconnected, an imbalance in one often triggers an extreme adjustment in another.
A well-balanced structure on a larger scale can help maintain order on a smaller scale. For example, after World War II, the Western civilizational order was supported by three pillars: the USA as the strong male protector of global order; Europe as his peaceful, stabilizing female partner; and Japan as their culturally refined child.
Mutual value interactions occur on two levels:
a) Axis level – for example, an excessive shift to the left may provoke an equally strong shift to the right, and the resulting expansion of the horizontal axis can trigger a corresponding growth in the vertical axis:
and
b) Sector level – for instance, leftist values established as ideals (upper-left sector) may eventually become traditional values and/or lead to the rise of right-wing sentiments in one or both right-hand sectors:
The most beneficial scenario for both individuals and society is likely an upward dynamic grounded in empathy, shared roots, creativity, and freedom:
