Small Quad Two/Large Quad Four
When the second quad is small and the fourth quad is large, the following statement would seem appropriate: “I have a large amount of unconscious material that remains ‘well-protected’ from other people.”
In Jungian terms, this person’s “persona” (mask) is selectively strong (very thick). Nothing leaks out through these strong personal barriers, unless the person with the mask wants the leaking to occur.
The tension in this configuration resides not only in the presence of this selective barrier, but also in the lack of alignment of this large Quad Four and small Quad Two with the size of Quad One and Quad Three. This person remains relatively open (Quad One), but devotes considerable energy to managing this quadrant—and must always be diligent (since Quad Four is large and perhaps even growing in power, given that it is being repressed). This person’s private self (Quad Three) remains fairly large, but doesn’t grow larger, even though Quad Four remains large. Nothing much is being learned about oneself from Quad Four material. Energy must be expended in protecting this boundary between Quad Three and Quad One, just as energy must be expended in protecting the barrier between Quad One and Quad Two.
The tension can be reduced by relaxing one’s vigilance and allowing Quad Two to expand. This shift can be of particular value if other people will provide us with feedback about what they observe in our behavior, how they interpret what is observed, and how this behavior impacts on their own relationship with us when we have relaxed our defenses. This is one of the values inherent in effectively run human relations workshops.
