Volconvo is a debate forum for the discussion of political, religious, and news-based topics.

Charlatan · Feb 2, 2008, 05:52 pm

What makes a control freak? Being a control freak comes from a fear that you are not in control, so you freak out. Is this a weakness, or something that makes you pay attension to things? All control freaks are worried they won'tbe in control about everything, so seek to control it themselves. Do they think others are stupid, is it a lack of faith for those around you? Is it pent up pessimism? Are control freaks all pesimists? Should work, but control freaks would rather be in control as a factor than let other people be in control, so it isn't a factor when you say that conrol freaks think others are dumb, but that could spark it off, seeing another as dumb could make you lose fiath in the undertaking. So I figure that control freaks have little faith in everything because they need it to run their way and not another. Is it attension to detail in what they are doing?

Well I could see a freak having control and not paying attension, as long as it is them in control, but what about factors where other people aren't involved? These factors make me think that freaks seek control and are power hungry, so maybe it is because they have had little control before? How would they act during a speach where they are not the speaker? Well they could figet and stuff, having little faith in the speakers ability to cover the topic, so you get an attension problem, as they will shut it out and not pay them any. So then you can't say anything about attension to detail can you, because they lack it.

I believe that a control freak is more likely to sit with a task and not pay it attension because they believe that the power should be theirs and that they are fully in control. The subject comes up that control freaks always see themselves as in control and any deviation from this vision leads to them becoming scared and seeking control, because their fragile minds cannot cope with the thought of 'losing' it. It's a power rush that comes to people who believe they are in control all day long and seek to keep their mind calm by exuding power over themselves and others, thus clearing their mind of responsibility.They don't see responsibility coming from the power they have, only from it if they don't have it, so being irresponsible, they look to be the boss of their destiny thinking if they were in control nothing would go wrong, then carrying on with their previous state of mind, that they are the 'boss'. So instead of them lacking faith, they have total faith in themselves, so are overconfident too.

Any task that comes to their eyes makes them think they must control it, so they are possesive too. Maybe it is because they want as much as possible to fall under thier sphere of control, so 'crusade' against losing control by having it uner their feet. Is it because they lost control somewhere else and are trying to make up for it? Their mind must be fragile and delicate not allowing anything to exist around them that they are notin control of, so it is a instinctive 'leadership' they seek. When we were primitive people sought to be the leader, otherwise there would be no leader, because of power lust. Power lust comes from seeing that aspect as their strong points, and people would feel stronger with more strong points. Every undertaking is seen as a strong point, so they feel more like they will survive for longer with more strength, so is it a gene?

A control freak gene... Others come to grips with being out of control as they live, so it is immaturity that you, as a toddler sees the world around you. You explore it, your own individual world, and the more that goes right for you the more relaxed you become, that everything responds to you. If it doesn't your mind will instigate a domineering persona that seeks to keep trying to control everything. As you age you come to grips with not having control as others around you do things their won way, and you get used to the control factor, that things will go your way that need to. But some are so scared of not having control that they age always looking for the control - the security it brings. To have control is to be secure, so always looking for security one would think that they grew up without it, and their mind became a viscious animal trying to domainte everything seeing as how it wouldn't be 'dominated' at first. It is in the developing stages of youth that people feel secure or don't, and insecurity leads to a control freak, I guess.

**Jack** · Feb 2, 2008, 07:44 pm

Wow, so many negative images I'm reluctant to admit to being one.

Having been a control freak most of my life, I've had a long time to self-analyze it. I grew up pretty much on my own. We moved just often enough that I had few close friends, my parents were divorced, my mom worked full time, no siblings close to my age. If I wanted to do something, I had to do it myself. If I started a project, I had to be able to complete it without help. I became very self-confident, and eventually that became an attitude of being in control of myself and my behavior to a high degree. I would never drink or toke to the point of losing control. I never hung with a crowd. I came to trust my own judgment over others in most cases. As I've aged, I've found it a bit easier to delegate, but I still think I could probably do the job better.
I can see where being a control freak could be a handicap, but for me its been more a positive than negative attitude.

ruksak · Feb 2, 2008, 07:59 pm

I wouldn't say that there is necessarily a specific "control freak" gene that could be isolated. I am sure genetics plays it's part, along with a myriad of factors, such as upbringing and how much one has had to be self-sufficient.

I wouldn't think that there would be a specific gene for that anymore than there would be an "asshole gene".

SoylentGreen · Feb 2, 2008, 08:47 pm

There's a difference between self-control, independence or self determinism and being a "control freak"which by its very definition,implies excessive, compulsive need to have control beyond the p[oint where it is healthy for the person or those around them. For example the difference between someone who controls the amount they spend to achieve a balance between what they want and need and someone who counts every penny, denies themselves and others rights to money in order to satisfy some inner insecurity. Excess control , blatant or subtle, ruins lots of relationships and means that children grow up not able to take responsibility or partners become shut off, unfulfilled or frustrated. It also takes many different forms from aggression to avoidance. The real questionis why do you need to exercise that much control? What are you afraid of?

Feb 2, 2008, 05:52 pm	#1 (permalink) (top)
Charlatan Igneous Magma Location: Cape Town South Africa Posts: 378	Control freaks What makes a control freak? Being a control freak comes from a fear that you are not in control, so you freak out. Is this a weakness, or something that makes you pay attension to things? All control freaks are worried they won'tbe in control about everything, so seek to control it themselves. Do they think others are stupid, is it a lack of faith for those around you? Is it pent up pessimism? Are control freaks all pesimists? Should work, but control freaks would rather be in control as a factor than let other people be in control, so it isn't a factor when you say that conrol freaks think others are dumb, but that could spark it off, seeing another as dumb could make you lose fiath in the undertaking. So I figure that control freaks have little faith in everything because they need it to run their way and not another. Is it attension to detail in what they are doing? Well I could see a freak having control and not paying attension, as long as it is them in control, but what about factors where other people aren't involved? These factors make me think that freaks seek control and are power hungry, so maybe it is because they have had little control before? How would they act during a speach where they are not the speaker? Well they could figet and stuff, having little faith in the speakers ability to cover the topic, so you get an attension problem, as they will shut it out and not pay them any. So then you can't say anything about attension to detail can you, because they lack it. I believe that a control freak is more likely to sit with a task and not pay it attension because they believe that the power should be theirs and that they are fully in control. The subject comes up that control freaks always see themselves as in control and any deviation from this vision leads to them becoming scared and seeking control, because their fragile minds cannot cope with the thought of 'losing' it. It's a power rush that comes to people who believe they are in control all day long and seek to keep their mind calm by exuding power over themselves and others, thus clearing their mind of responsibility.They don't see responsibility coming from the power they have, only from it if they don't have it, so being irresponsible, they look to be the boss of their destiny thinking if they were in control nothing would go wrong, then carrying on with their previous state of mind, that they are the 'boss'. So instead of them lacking faith, they have total faith in themselves, so are overconfident too. Any task that comes to their eyes makes them think they must control it, so they are possesive too. Maybe it is because they want as much as possible to fall under thier sphere of control, so 'crusade' against losing control by having it uner their feet. Is it because they lost control somewhere else and are trying to make up for it? Their mind must be fragile and delicate not allowing anything to exist around them that they are notin control of, so it is a instinctive 'leadership' they seek. When we were primitive people sought to be the leader, otherwise there would be no leader, because of power lust. Power lust comes from seeing that aspect as their strong points, and people would feel stronger with more strong points. Every undertaking is seen as a strong point, so they feel more like they will survive for longer with more strength, so is it a gene? A control freak gene... Others come to grips with being out of control as they live, so it is immaturity that you, as a toddler sees the world around you. You explore it, your own individual world, and the more that goes right for you the more relaxed you become, that everything responds to you. If it doesn't your mind will instigate a domineering persona that seeks to keep trying to control everything. As you age you come to grips with not having control as others around you do things their won way, and you get used to the control factor, that things will go your way that need to. But some are so scared of not having control that they age always looking for the control - the security it brings. To have control is to be secure, so always looking for security one would think that they grew up without it, and their mind became a viscious animal trying to domainte everything seeing as how it wouldn't be 'dominated' at first. It is in the developing stages of youth that people feel secure or don't, and insecurity leads to a control freak, I guess. Poison for the system!

Feb 2, 2008, 07:44 pm	#2 (permalink) (top)
Jack formerly Isherwood Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,180	Wow, so many negative images I'm reluctant to admit to being one. Having been a control freak most of my life, I've had a long time to self-analyze it. I grew up pretty much on my own. We moved just often enough that I had few close friends, my parents were divorced, my mom worked full time, no siblings close to my age. If I wanted to do something, I had to do it myself. If I started a project, I had to be able to complete it without help. I became very self-confident, and eventually that became an attitude of being in control of myself and my behavior to a high degree. I would never drink or toke to the point of losing control. I never hung with a crowd. I came to trust my own judgment over others in most cases. As I've aged, I've found it a bit easier to delegate, but I still think I could probably do the job better. I can see where being a control freak could be a handicap, but for me its been more a positive than negative attitude. The Forum Rules Radical Atheist Heathen Queer Let's agree to respect each others views, no matter how wrong yours may be. (Ashleigh Brilliant)

Feb 2, 2008, 07:59 pm	#3 (permalink) (top)
ruksak Natures 'D' Student Posts: 1,214	I wouldn't say that there is necessarily a specific "control freak" gene that could be isolated. I am sure genetics plays it's part, along with a myriad of factors, such as upbringing and how much one has had to be self-sufficient. I wouldn't think that there would be a specific gene for that anymore than there would be an "asshole gene".

Feb 2, 2008, 08:47 pm	#4 (permalink) (top)
SoylentGreen Volcanic Erupter Posts: 3,396	There's a difference between self-control, independence or self determinism and being a "control freak"which by its very definition,implies excessive, compulsive need to have control beyond the p[oint where it is healthy for the person or those around them. For example the difference between someone who controls the amount they spend to achieve a balance between what they want and need and someone who counts every penny, denies themselves and others rights to money in order to satisfy some inner insecurity. Excess control , blatant or subtle, ruins lots of relationships and means that children grow up not able to take responsibility or partners become shut off, unfulfilled or frustrated. It also takes many different forms from aggression to avoidance. The real questionis why do you need to exercise that much control? What are you afraid of?