DISTANT

When it comes to spending time doing non-family things - work, sport, social life, etc. - I'm not concerned. My family is always there and I will be able to find time for them.

People who espouse Distant are at the core of many of society's anchors - honouring the rules of good behaviour, not trying to appear better than others, caring about their time and family and being optimistic that their family will always be there through times good and bad.

There is a clear cut morality that is the saving grace within many communities where the noise from espousers of more extreme Attributes often seem to define the dominant narratives portrayed in mainstream media. If there is a 'silent majority' in society these espousers will be well represented within it.

They only seem 'distant' to others. Many people within any culture will be looking for ways of individuating themselves from the rest. Sometimes this will be via provocative behaviours or edgy thinking and behaving.

People espousing this Attribute are more likely to display deference to others in their attempts to fit in with others'' more overt displays of thought or behaviour. They are likely to be the calm ones when others around them are having anxieties about the future.

They can appear to be fatalist at times but they are more likely to recognize the basic goodness in others and the systems of support that have provided the platform for their lives today.

They have a strong faith in the basic benign nature of their communities and the groups they identify with.

Though they may be knowledgeable of community or world events, they are often confused about what they are 'supposed to think'. Rather than become anxious by dwelling on what they don't know, they instead prefer to play by the rules as they understand them. Complacency is an antidote to stress.

They are highly likely to be supporters of organizations that are perceived to provide national security and maintain social order. Not for them any change from current realities. They are society's natural followers.

They could be typified as the parents that have settled into a routine and feel contented not to see changes to the outside world while they are raising their ever-changing children - even when their children become adults themselves.

The basic optimism of these espousers is a nice counterbalance to some their potentially more reactionary orientations. They believe that they need more security in life - but believe they will achieve it. They believe that, if they follow the rules, life will turn out alright. Their complacency is not a reflection of resignation. It is an acceptance that life is likely to go on, whatever they feel or think about it - and that life is good and that, no matter what, their family will always be there with them. The future is going to be OK.

This is a fundamental human motivation that is often missed in some of the more extreme and inspiring or despairing narratives so beloved by social commentators.

 

Using Distant

Demographic Skews:

1) Over-indexed: Female, 55+, down-market.

2) Under-indexed: Male, 25-34.

Distant espousers also espouse other Attributes. The top six most highly correlated Attributes of Distant espousers are, in order of the strength of relationship:

1) Deference
2) Propriety
3) Complacent
4) National security
5) Optimism
6) Joyness.

In total those who espouse Distant also over-index significantly on 36 other Attributes.


If "Distant" (or the associated attributes) are important to you and you would like to delve more deeply, contact us at mail@cultdyn.co.uk