Has anyone heard of Clarity 4D?

[Truly1999]

My employer, a large multinational, is introducing a Personality Profile management tool into the general workplace as a 'better' way of understanding how to interact more effectively with colleagues and customers. It's based on the theories of Carl Jung. A previous employer introduced it at my old workplace, but it was a half-hearted attempt. This time, the masters of this dark art seem to have produced an 'improved' version and steer away from emphasis on the Ancient Greek symbols of the "four elements" of Fire, Water, Air and Earth, and emphasizing colours, although they do mention its origins. On its website, it has superimposed the symbols of these four elements upon four coloured circles, interestingly adding a fifth colour and symbol of yellow and sunbeams and isn't the ancient Egyptian symbol for Clarity the Sun. Their website suggests that we can achieve "Clarity" through the study and application of the four elements in our lives.

Can anyone offer advice on how I can understand for myself just how dangerous is this Clarity4D?

I should mention that the online questionnaire is optional and that we do not have to attend the Clarity4D sessions which follow. How this affects my career progression they have not said. But I have stated openly to the management in front of my colleagues that I will not be taking the test, that I am aware of what it is about from a previous employer and that I think it is a load of rubbish. I asked my line manager what is next, astrology?

Already, some of have taken the test and have been amazed how accurate this is. They obviously have weak minds to be swayed by this nonsense. Frighteningly, the management seem to believe in it after taking the test and undergone the indoctrination.

So long as it remains optional, I am okay, but I suspect I will need to build a defence as it takes hold and possesses more and more people. Members, I need your help and advice.

 

[archer75]

I'm not familiar with 4D itself, but it sounds like a re-imagining of the myers-briggs stuff.

In my opinion, it's really inappropriate to use this stuff in workplaces, but it's far from astrology.

It's like this, you take a test where you rate how much you like certain activities. If you say you like sitting alone rather than going to parties, then the results tell you "You would rather sit alone than go to a party."

No advanced degree in demonology required to see how this works.

Seriously, it may be a touch more complex than that, but that is literally it -- you answer questions about yourself and the results summarize your answers. Big deal.

My opinion (not having seen 4D itself but having seen half a dozen things like it): this is an exercise in redundancy more than anything else. Relax and do it if you need to.

 

[RaymondG]

It depends on your relationship with Christ. If you have Christ, you can walk through the valleys of the shadows of death and fear no evil....The Lord is your light and your salvation...who or what should you fear?...the spirit of fear is no longer in you...because God doesnt give it.

If you dont have Christ, or just believe you have Him.......Be afraid......Be very afraid.

 

[Truly1999]

I'm not familiar with 4D itself, but it sounds like a re-imagining of the myers-briggs stuff.

In my opinion, it's really inappropriate to use this stuff in workplaces, but it's far from astrology.

It's like this, you take a test where you rate how much you like certain activities. If you say you like sitting alone rather than going to parties, then the results tell you "You would rather sit alone than go to a party."

No advanced degree in demonology required to see how this works.

Seriously, it may be a touch more complex than that, but that is literally it -- you answer questions about yourself and the results summarize your answers. Big deal.

My opinion (not having seen 4D itself but having seen half a dozen things like it): this is an exercise in redundancy more than anything else. Relax and do it if you need to.

Once we have taken the online questionnaire, an indepth Personality Profile is compiled based upon the results, and then there are follow-up sessions - in addition to our 1-1 sessions, which will now have the additional Profile as a tool - to discuss our individual profiles.

I don't know how deep my employer intends to go with this or how much of an expert the Clarity people are, but it might be no more then an exercise in determining redundancies, as you suggest. Then again, there are some fanatics amongst the senior management who might run and run with this and see how far they can take it.

You might already know that Karl Jung, born in Switzerland in 1865, specialised in Psychiatry, Psychology, Psychotherapy, and Analytical Psychology. among other things, he was known for his work on typology and the collective conscious, two areas particularly relevant for this thread. Typology seems hard to understand but Jung introduced extrovert and introvert and one being the dominant conscious and the other being the repressive unconscious; my line manager showed me his profile and how he was described as an introvert. And the idea of the "collective unconscious" concerns me, since I have studied cult leaders techniques and how they alter the collective unconscious of a group from thinking one thing to thinking the opposite ie. indoctrination or brainwashing.

I have no intention of trying to launch a crusade against this strategy. At the same time, I cannot keep quiet when asked what I think and I will resist some manager trying to convince me that I do not know myself and that I cannot develop in my customer interactions without this Clarity 4D rubbish. It goes against my nature as a Christian to simply keep quiet when I know and can see something is wrong, even if it costs me my job in the short or long term.

Thanks for your advice and it has helped me to remember to be wise and innocent and avoid a head-on collision or full-blown battle, unless I am pushed into a corner.

 

[Goodbook]

Meh just another babylonian brainwashing technique to keep the employees in line.

Well..read the story of Daniel in the bible for encouragment on how to cope with secular indoctrination. Sometimes we need to go through the fiery furnace, but remember we will come forth as gold after our trial and Jesus is with us.

 

[Truly1999]

It depends on your relationship with Christ. If you have Christ, you can walk through the valleys of the shadows of death and fear no evil....The Lord is your light and your salvation...who or what should you fear?...the spirit of fear is no longer in you...because God doesnt give it.

If you dont have Christ, or just believe you have Him.......Be afraid......Be very afraid.

My grandmother influenced me greatly to stand up as a Christian against tyranny and dictatorship in society and the workplace. She always taught me to speak to other people and treat other people as your equal - never as inferior to you, and certainly never as superior to you. I love how Christ spoke and behaved with dignity and humility n addressing other people and I love how He teaches us to do the same. As you say, never to respond out of fear and to never be afraid because we have Christ.

I will continue to walk in the light of salvation, trusting in God always. Thanks for your advice.

 

[archer75]

Yeah, I don't know what your workplace is like. Sounds like you expect this to become extremely annoying. Managers don't have enough to do so they attach themselves to this stuff. That's too bad. Oh well. Good luck with it.

I'm familiar with Jung and the types are mildly interesting but people want to do way too much with them.

The collective unconscious in Jung, at least to my understanding, has nothing to do with brainwashing but refers to the unconscious stuff that is common to all humans.

 

[Truly1999]

Babylonian indeed - I've got to laugh because I can just picture one of my managers in Babylonian dress with a whip marching us off to drag another boulder to somewhere else in a futile attempt to build fantastic structures. As you say, they have been trying to keep this group of employees in line for the past year, who are certainly rebellious in nature and resist being pushed around like frightened school-leavers with their first real job and taste of "big money". It's early days yet and let's see how far they can push us before we snap back.

 

[Truly1999]

Yeah, I don't know what your workplace is like. Sounds like you expect this to become extremely annoying. Managers don't have enough to do so they attach themselves to this stuff. That's too bad. Oh well. Good luck with it.

I'm familiar with Jung and the types are mildly interesting but people want to do way too much with them.

The collective unconscious in Jung, at least to my understanding, has nothing to do with brainwashing but refers to the unconscious stuff that is common to all humans.

I work in a Customer Service call centre where management fight each other and employees betray their colleagues at every opportunity afforded them, yet their loyalty is not rewarded and everyone gets a kick in the teeth on a regular basis. People are expected to show initiative but when they do - in their own time - they are not recognised or rewarded, or their hard work is shelved. There is a thin veneer of friendship and camaraderie and management know that a high percentage of employees harbour a quiet resentment towards them. There is no trade union representation or other worker representation. However, employees can always withdraw their free labour if they chose to.

I'm probably getting mixed up between Jung and Freud with regard to collective unconscious.

 

[archer75]

Or maybe you were right. I'm not an expert.

That sounds moderately miserable. Good luck navigating the latest time-waster.

 

[Truly1999]

Or maybe you were right. I'm not an expert.

That sounds moderately miserable. Good luck navigating the latest time-waster.

on the whole, I work in a pleasant environment. Our happy little bunch gets on together, celebrating each other's birthdays, joking around, yet we are all professionals and help each other all the time. I like the challenge and we can separate the X the clumsy manager from X the person; we like X the person more than X the manager, though.

What really annoys me is when management think they are always right and never listen to their staff. However, there might be managers there who also think Clarity4D is a waste of time - but will they stand up and say something?

 

[archer75]

on the whole, I work in a pleasant environment. Our happy little bunch gets on together, celebrating each other's birthdays, joking around, yet we are all professionals and help each other all the time. I like the challenge and we can separate the X the clumsy manager from X the person; we like X the person more than X the manager, though.

What really annoys me is when management think they are always right and never listen to their staff. However, there might be managers there who also think Clarity4D is a waste of time - but will they stand up and say something?

My guess? No.

 

[Greg J.]

My employer, a large multinational, is introducing a Personality Profile management tool into the general workplace as a 'better' way of understanding how to interact more effectively with colleagues and customers. It's based on the theories of Carl Jung. A previous employer introduced it at my old workplace, but it was a half-hearted attempt. This time, the masters of this dark art seem to have produced an 'improved' version and steer away from emphasis on the Ancient Greek symbols of the "four elements" of Fire, Water, Air and Earth, and emphasizing colours, although they do mention its origins. On its website, it has superimposed the symbols of these four elements upon four coloured circles, interestingly adding a fifth colour and symbol of yellow and sunbeams and isn't the ancient Egyptian symbol for Clarity the Sun. Their website suggests that we can achieve "Clarity" through the study and application of the four elements in our lives.

Can anyone offer advice on how I can understand for myself just how dangerous is this Clarity4D?

I should mention that the online questionnaire is optional and that we do not have to attend the Clarity4D sessions which follow. How this affects my career progression they have not said. But I have stated openly to the management in front of my colleagues that I will not be taking the test, that I am aware of what it is about from a previous employer and that I think it is a load of rubbish. I asked my line manager what is next, astrology?

Already, some of have taken the test and have been amazed how accurate this is. They obviously have weak minds to be swayed by this nonsense. Frighteningly, the management seem to believe in it after taking the test and undergone the indoctrination.

So long as it remains optional, I am okay, but I suspect I will need to build a defence as it takes hold and possesses more and more people. Members, I need your help and advice.

Well, if it is generally accurate, that means it isn't a "load of rubbish," right?

It depends on to what degree it leverages psychology and what degree it leverages the spiritual. Understanding how we work via psychology is no different than understanding how blood moves through our body to nourish us and keep us alive—presuming you would like an EMT to stop profuse bleeding as opposed to just letting nature take its course. IMO, it is a part of ruling and subduing the earth as God commanded (Genesis 1:28).

While the results from an evaluation that is based on spirituality can run the gamut from Godly to Satanic, things based on psychological understanding only run the gamut from understanding a person to quackery. We don't want to accept quackery as truth, but it is not a rejection of God to do so like it would be if it was based on the demonic.

If they are just using colors to represent psychological concepts, then there's nothing morally wrong with it, regardless of what symbols they used to use. The only concern is if a Christian sees you accepting something that is a sin to him, and from what you wrote, that sounds unlikely. This misrepresents God and what is morally right from his point of view. However, you would also be misrepresenting God to others if people see you trying to be a good Christian by refusing to do something that has nothing to do with God or morality.

 

[Truly1999]

Well, if it is generally accurate, that means it isn't a "load of rubbish," right?

It depends on to what degree it leverages psychology and what degree it leverages the spiritual. Understanding how we work via psychology is no different than understanding how blood moves through our body to nourish us and keep us alive—presuming you would like an EMT to stop profuse bleeding as opposed to just letting nature take its course. IMO, it is a part of ruling and subduing the earth as God commanded (Genesis 1:28).

While the results from an evaluation that is based on spirituality can run the gamut from Godly to Satanic, things based on psychological understanding only run the gamut from understanding a person to quackery. We don't want to accept quackery as truth, but it is not a rejection of God to do so like it would be if it was based on the demonic.

If they are just using colors to represent psychological concepts, then there's nothing morally wrong with it, regardless of what symbols they used to use. The only concern is if a Christian sees you accepting something that is a sin to him, and from what you wrote, that sounds unlikely. This misrepresents God and what is morally right from his point of view. However, you would also be misrepresenting God to others if people see you trying to be a good Christian by refusing to do something that has nothing to do with God or morality.

In taking the test and participating in the follow-on sessions, my employer aims to help me to understand myself better and how to improve my effectiveness in dealing with others. In taking the test, I give my consent to my employer to analyse my mind and behaviour and to manipulate my thinking. The clear statement is that I do not know myself as well as I could and that I do not know how to properly relate to other people. But I know who I am. I know what type of personality I have. Other people will get to know me better through open and honest conversation and interaction - not through deceit and secret ways. I will get to know other people better through my interaction with other people - not by applying some formula.

The privacy of my own mind is the 'fig leaf' which remains between me and my employer. If my employer can get me to agree to this test and profiling, then he has stripped me naked. I will have given up my independence - my right to self-determination. I will have given up my freedom of privacy. My employer has no business knowing my private thoughts, feelings and opinions.

 

[Greg J.]

Only God knows your private thoughts, feelings, and opinions. No test reads your mind to reveal those things to others. As you note, it is you who reveal those things by interacting with others. However it's certainly the case that test results are more concrete than people's opinions and can be used against you. I think the administration of the test is either for seeking expediency for managing people the way they want, out of fear of trusting others, or out of fear of trusting God.

 

[archer75]

But the test is probably junk.

I agree that you shouldn't have to do this silliness, though.

 

[Truly1999]

Only God knows your private thoughts, feelings, and opinions. No test reads your mind to reveal those things to others. As you note, it is you who reveal those things by interacting with others. However it's certainly the case that test results are more concrete than people's opinions and can be used against you. I think the administration of the test is either for seeking expediency for managing people the way they want, out of fear of trusting others, or out of fear of trusting God.

Perhaps I should mention more about this test. Once taken, we are given our individual profile. We take this profile to follow-on sessions where we open up and share more. In essence, it is not the test but us who reveal our private thoughts by agreeing to the test, the profile and participation in sessions - only by revealing our private thoughts can we benefit from this Clarity 4D. We have been given instructions on how to answer the online questionnaire - by not "overthinking" the answer. I have come across this trickery in psychology where "the first answer is usually the right answer". I have not seen the questions but from a similar course with another employer,I suspect the will be questions which challenge our normal pattern of thinking, but because we want the best results we will go along with it and answer quickly - with a suggestion of 15-20 minutes. My employer uses deception and manipulation on a daily basis, but at the same time professes to engage in honest and open communication.

I agree with you that only God knows our true thoughts and feelings and those who I choose to reveal them.

 

[Truly1999]

But the test is probably junk.

I agree that you shouldn't have to do this silliness, though.

This test is definitely junk but it is part of a long-term strategy. The stage before this stage involved talks or "workshops" where a motivational speaker suggested how we can bring our personal lives into our work lives to improve our relationships with our colleagues. The name of the game at my workplace is to be a sychophant. It is not in my Christian nature to say one thing and mean another. There are times when it is prudent to remain quiet, to go along with something you disagree with, but this just sticks in my throat and I will resist.

 

[archer75]

Well, hm.

You could quit.

Or just resist.

Or just play along.

Or mark the first answer for every question.

 

[Truly1999]

I will, of course, let God guide me in what to say, when to speak up and when to stay quiet. After all, it is God who got me this job and I owe it to him - as well as to myself - not to throw it all away through stupid behaviour. I pray that God will give me the strength, the peace and the courage to get through this stage triumphantly.