Operating Pressures: A Recent Discovery
Q-Arenas
Studies in the Q-expansion revealed the presence of a second pressure affecting the Arenas.
The initial or primary (1°) pressure identified there and in the structural hierarchies is based on the identity or structure of the taxonomic entity.
In a structural hierarchy, this identity would be specified by the Grouping.
The second or secondary (2°) pressure in the Q complex related to operating the taxonomic entity.
It was conjectured that "operating" in the structural hierarchy would be specified by the Groups within the Grouping.
A Recent Structural Hierarchy
More recent studies of structural hierarchies provided an opportunity to explore this conjecture.
Looking out for Yourself is a Q-structural hierarchy (PH'6Q4sH), and following its formulation, the likely presence of two psychosocial pressures was identified without much difficulty.
The pattern that has been identified is as shown below:
| sH-G | 1° Structural Pressure (Grouping) |
2° Operating Pressure (Groups) |
|---|---|---|
| G7 | Selflessness | Autonomy |
| G6 | Well-Being | Selflessness |
| G5 | Acceptability | Well-Being |
| G4 | Certainty | Acceptability |
| G3 | Performance | Certainty |
| G2 | Understanding | Performance |
| G1 | Autonomy | Understanding |
At present, a structural hierarchy in is being carefully investigated (but not yet posted) and appears to show the same pattern. Informal investigations of earlier structural hierarchies appear to be supportive as well.
Groupings in structural hierarchies evolve as the hierarchy is ascended, and this evolution is mirrored by the pressures. The 2° pressure in one Grouping becomes the 1° pressure in the next higher Grouping, and the system is cyclic (as usual) in that G7 leads into G1. This is more evident in the following layout with coloured cells.
| G1 | G2 | G3 | G4 | G5 | G6 | G7 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1°: Identity | Autonomy | Understanding | Performance | Certainty | Acceptability | Well-Being | Selflessness |
| 2°: Operation | Understanding | Performance | Certainty | Acceptability | Well-Being | Selflessness | Autonomy |
Comparing Structures
In comparing the patterns in Q-complex Arenas and Structural Hierarchy Groupings, the result is as follows:
| sH-G | 1° Structural-G 2° Operating-Q |
2° Operating-G 1° Identity-Q |
Arena |
|---|---|---|---|
| G7 | Selflessness | Autonomy | |
| Acceptability | Selflessness | Q7 | |
| Well-Being | Autonomy | Q6 | |
| Autonomy | Understanding | Q5 | |
| G6 | Well-Being | Selflessness | |
| Selflessness | Well-Being | Q4 | |
| G5 | Acceptability | Well-Being | |
| G4 | Certainty | Acceptability | Q3 |
| G3 | Performance | Certainty | Q2 |
| G2 | Understanding | Performance | Q1 |
| G1 | Autonomy | Well-Being |
Pressures in a structural hierarchy and Q arenas do not show a definitive pattern. While some of the comparisons are interesting, there is nothing that appears to invite special investigation at this point.
Originally posted: 25-Apr-2026.
