Other Names
I’m not aware of any other names for this type, though in many ways I don’t find the name so accurate. Really, their most basic attribute is their determination to be high-functioning.
Safety Strategy
Rigid Types invariably learned as kids that life is all about status and how well you function. They are terrified of losing status or of not being able to function well in society. Anything which could interfere with high functioning, such as human emotions, appears dangerous to them.
Origins
As kids, their parents invariably punished them for behaviours deemed “bad” and rewarded them for behaviours deemed “good.” And at some point they understood. What matters in life is what you do, and how well you do it.
Rigid Types have high egoic strength. They fundamentally accept the “rules of life” as they perceive them and play to win.
Rigid characters learned as children to rigidify their body to hold their feelings in, to keep their inner world under tight control. This obsession with functioning well gives them a somewhat robotic aspect. They tend to aspire towards archetypal forms, such as the “alpha” male or female.
The Rigid Type simply seeks to be high functioning in whatever world they find themselves. They want to achieve power and they want status. If it’s a male-dominated environment, where power roles go mostly to men, Rigid men will chase that, whilst Rigid women will seek to get the best male they can. If it should be a female dominated environment, the roles would reverse.
Positive Qualities
Rigid Characters are the backbone of human society. They maintain standards and test those who wish to move up social hierarchies, to ensure they are ready and that they will fulfil their role well. Management roles are invariably filled by people high in the Rigid Type. They maintain standards. They demand better results. They know and accept the rules of the game and they both play by them and uphold them. It is inconceivable that our society would have achieved its current level of development without large numbers of Rigid Types. They constantly seek to improve their lifestyle and level of material assets. By demanding more, in a coherent and consistent manner, they pull the whole of the material world up around them.
Negative Attributes
Rigid Types are obsessively materialistic. To them, the only thing that matters is how big something is, how many of them there are or how much it costs. Material values are the way that Rigid Types keep track of how well they are doing in the great competition for social status that runs constantly in their minds.
Rigid Types are strongly sceptical of anything which isn’t purely rational. They have armoured over their own emotionality to such a degree that many would either deny the existence of feelings altogether or simply dismiss them as something that “weak people” fall prey to. Rigid Types do not consider that human emotions are of much value. Feelings simply get in the way of good functioning and are to be controlled.
Rigid Characters find it difficult to ask for help. To do so represents to them a drop in status, so they will invariably work hard to try and resolve issues themselves without having to reach out. They are terrified of showing vulnerability. To them, a drop in social status is akin to death.
Appearance
Both genders will seek to look like ideal stereotypes for their culture. Male Rigid Types will try to look very “male,” female Rigid types very “female.” Daniel Craig’s “James Bond” and Victoria Beckham are excellent examples of typical models for Western Rigid Types.
High upper-body rigidity, especially in men.
A hardened, mask-like face, which is usually attractive, but nevertheless not used to showing much emotion.
Rigid Types tend to have a set jaw, as though determined to pursue a path in an environment where they expect resistance.
Under emotional stress, they may visibly appear very tense and as though any trigger could cause an explosion - like a time bomb.
Behaviour
Rigid Types will stand up for what they believe to be right, seeking support for their positions from other Rigids where necessary. They hold society upright.
They demand more from others as a means to test the other’s ability to “step up.”
When confronted, they set their jaw and stand firm. (Contrast this with the behaviour of Aggressive types under pressure.)
Rigid Types always need to have a plan. Rarely are they simply appreciating the moment. When moving, they are moving towards a destination or goal.
Rigid types tend to develop rituals and routines, partially as a means to keep their underlying repressed emotionality from interfering with their functioning. Along with things like always having a coffee at a certain time, these may also include compulsive behaviours like gambling, regular drinking, recreational drug use, the compulsive acquisition of material goods, or compulsive exercising.
Psychology
Rigid Types regard any situation that might make them feel vulnerable as threatening.
They have a very low tolerance for uncertainty and will demand to know what’s going on.
They need a role in order to engage with life. The idea of living without a role would feel entirely meaningless to them.
They have a strong distrust of emotionality and of people who they perceive as highly emotional.
They worship rationality.
Rigid males will seek casual sexual encounters until they find a female that they feel to be worthy of them, likely to produce good offspring, and to maintain their social status. Such a woman will invariably be of the Rigid type also.
Rigid females will test unrelentingly those males who pursue them, granting sexual favours only to those whom they feel to be worthy.
Rigid Types invariably had one or both parents in the same category. They have often simply copied their parents' behaviours.
Rigid types either deny the existence of their inner world of feelings, or simply regard it as something to be “dealt with” such that it doesn’t interfere with their good functioning.
Because of their high-functioning behaviour, and their denial of emotions and an inner life, Rigid Types frequently fall prey to anxiety-related conditions when they become around 45 years old.
The notion of “unconditional love” makes no sense to Rigid Types.
Treatment Directions
Rigids will usually only seek therapeutic help in the event of a life crisis. Even then, their focus will simply be to get functional again.
Before getting engaged with body-based therapy, Rigid Types need to at least accept the existence of repressed emotions within them, and that the therapeutic journey is to move towards more feeling. Without this, invoking emotions may simply make them harden further.
Rigid Types typically have an “armoured” upper body. Thus classic Bioenergetic exercises like the Bow & Arch, Chest-openers and Face stretches are all excellent.
Working the seven belts of Reichian Segmental Armouring with breathwork and stretching.
Pelvic exercises that culminate in pelvic bumping.
Expressing anger vocally can support them to also allow emotional pain.
Allowing vulnerability.
Learning to trust life.
Exercises which stimulate early infant, pre-verbal feelings - such as gibberish and childlike playing.
Parent-child type structures which make use of authority dynamics to access blocked emotional rage and pain.