Following on from the previous post about freedom, security, and risk, I once had a discussion about the possibility that our leanings toward one or the other has to do with our personalities and preferences.
The 2 traits discussed were, referencing the Big Five, that of Openness to Experience and Neuroticism.
The thought goes that:
High Openness and Low Neuroticism may favour leaning towards freedom (and higher risk).
Low Openness and High Neuroticism may favour the opposite - leaning instead towards security and stability.
If Openness and Neuroticism are both high or both low, then they may be somewhere in the middle, depending on their other personality traits.
Perhaps they enjoy freedom, but within a certain umbrella of security, possibly determined by themselves.
Obviously, not being psychologists, these are only speculations. Nevertheless, it was an interesting discussion.
If you happen to know your Big Five traits, and you've figured out your tendency towards freedom / security, I'd like to hear your thoughts on this.
Freedom vs. Security - Where Are You On This Spectrum?
One of the reasons that I loved games like Uncharted Waters 2: New Horizons (from my previous post) and Sid Meier’s Pirates was that I was fascinated with the ideology of the pirate.
Sure, it’s been highly romanticised by popular fiction, especially Treasure Island, and, more recently, the successful Pirates of the Caribbean series.
Still, there’s just something so appealing about sailing the high seas, living in the company of ride-or-die comrades, far away from “civilisation”, outside of the clutches of societal expectations.
Of course, life on a ship was difficult, dangerous, and often deadly.
You could die in battle or mutiny, during a tempestuous storm, from malnutrition or scurvy, as well as a plethora of other undesirable ends.
But there can be no freedom without risk. And I deeply value that freedom.
Which isn’t to say that I eschew any form of stability and security.
It’s not a one-or-the-other deal. We’re all somewhere on the continuum.
Some of us lean towards freedom (which, of course, comes with risk), and some of us lean towards stability and security (which is typically less risky).
So where would you be on this continuum / spectrum?
Do you lean more towards the free and risky end (Arrr, me hearties!), or the stable and secure one (ye landlubber)?
