Abstract Conflict

I know.  The Avengers.  And the Four Basic Personality types.  We get it guys.  Well you see the funny thing about these four basic personality types is that they interact with one another in a complex fashion.  One of such a rivalry of course is that between Asgardian Princes Thor Odinson and Loki Laufeyson.  This bitter and delightful conflict between brothers may indeed be fictional, but serves however to highlight the important characteristics of the age-old conflict between Rational and Idealist.  Let’s go right on ahead then and take a look at this epic clash of abstract minds.

These Idealist-Rational relationships do not always remain harmonious, of course.  Conflicts of NF emotional expressiveness against NT self-control, of NF intuition against NT logic, and of NF ethical or humanitarian concerns against NT technical pragmatics can prove challenging.  — Please Understand Me II, p. 238

Thor Odinson is the Crown Prince of the mystical realm of Asgard.  Thor is based off of the Norse God of Thunder, and acts accordingly.  A brave and mighty warrior Thor won many battles as a child, growing headstrong and proud.  In his arrogance, Thor put his realm and people on the brink of war after breaking a truce with Asgard‘s enemies the Frost Giants.  Teaching his son a lesson in humility, Thor‘s father Odin banished him to earth, and stripped him of his powers.  Thor came back humblegentleempathetic, and sympathetic to his fellow man.  Altruisticmysticalnoble, and self-sacrificing Thor makes for a great example of an Idealist.  Indeed Thor possesses a high-spirited attitude and warm enthusiasm especially for defending his native realm of Asgard.  Only those ‘pure of heart‘ are able to wield Thor’s mystical hammer Mjolnir, as the Thunder God himself was only able to wield it ‘the day that great deeds of selfless valor had proved him worthy of it’.  Thor has undoubtedly proven himself as self-sacrificing over the span of his extended fictional life, most notably regarding the subject of his mischievous kid-brother Loki.  Indeed Loki has made countless attempts at Thor’s life, but Thor however always spares Loki, in an attempt to quell the evil in his heart.  Thor often considers Loki’s affinity for malice his own personal responsibility, something Idealists often do with others.  Indeed Thor possesses a tireless faith in his fellow man, and will always use his diplomatic intellect to attempt to free his dear brother Loki from evil’s grasp.  Such is the struggle of the Idealist.

Thor’s villainous step-brother Loki Laufeyson aptly named after the Norse God of Mischief starts off as a resentful and jealous Asgardian Prince but evolves into a truly powerful and intelligent supervillain.  Growing up step-brother to the mighty Thor indeed  left Loki with a tragic sense of inferiority and not belonging.  What he lacked in physical strength and bravery however, he eventually made up for in cunning and malice.  Always strategizing and conceiving ingenious plots and schemes, Loki’s malevolent behavior is clearly a bit of “madness” or “distracting rituals” that serve as defense mechanisms for hiding one’s shame.  Despite Loki’s insanity, he seems to find ‘difficulties highly stimulating’ and loves finding a  ‘creative solution’.  Diabolically ingenious, highly pragmatic, outstandingly intelligent, and a powerful sorcerer, Loki makes for a great example of a Rational.  Certainly Loki’s powerful arch-villainy has firm roots in hiding one’s shame as an adopted Frost Giant.  But the God of Mischief’s inherent affinity for strategy, technicality, and science however make him strongly akin to the Rational mode of thinking.  And thus whenever faced with steadfast difficulty, as those trying to rule the world often are, a Rational will always defer to his or her intellectual sanctuary.

The calm, autonomous, Wisdom of the Rational relates very much to the enthusiastic, benevolent, Mysticisim  of the Idealist.  The two certainly have their differences though, as the cold, calculating Reason of the Rational often comes into disagreements with the diplomatic, empathic Intuition of the Idealist.  Over time, this fundamental difference in perspective between these two abstract modes of thinking can evolve into a complex subconscious rivalry of minds.  The Rational will always retreat to their Ivory Tower, while the Idealist will always hold true to their Ethereal Complex.

Whether it be Asgardian Princes, a husband and wife, a Father and son, Mother and daughter, Rationals and Idealists are drawn to one another by nature.

The basis of their compatability is the NFs amd NTs both live primarily in the world of abstract concepts—the world of theories and possibilities, of insights and symbols.  — Please Understand Me II, p. 238

Quote1.png My, my, my… a world for the taking. Quote2.png

Loki Laufeyson
Quote1.png Even the life of a Thunder God can offer no greater satisfaction than this! For I have helped a fellow man! Quote2.png

Thor Odinson

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