EgoHacking Via Cognitive Origins and the Golden Rule 

“Ultimately, Social Engineering is proof that you care.” — Robert Potts 

We all want something. Each of us is hard-wired for the pursuit of our psychological needs and the realization of our deeper spiritual natures.  

Whether you are searching for Justification, Intimacy, Satisfaction, Reverence, Authority, Validation, Discovery, or Purpose, the pathway of our intentions and behaviors leads back to one source: our Cognitive Origin.  

In light of launching the course, EgoHacking By Text (or EBT), we are beginning to see the fringes of how foundational the Origins are when applied to social engineering. Cognitive Origins are a more fundamental form of unlocking someone than just targeting their Cognitive Functions. Origins represent the unified theme that underpins a person’s functions. 

And remember, social engineering, at its root, is itself truly neutral and nothing more than purposeful and skillful social interaction.  

This article will serve the purpose of demonstrating and exploring a little nugget that Chase shared in EBT. The Origins, the Golden Rule, and social engineering cross at THIS juncture. 

Disclaimer: if the term “Social Engineering” triggers thoughts and accusations of “Manipulation!” and “Conniving, evil masterminds!” then read Here to learn how your misconceptions are hurting those you care about most. As our own Robert Potts also commented, “Anyone who says they don’t want to be socially engineered is lying to themselves.” 

The uncomplicated truth of social interaction is that all social interaction is manipulation. And what is the alternative? To be silent and “absolve” oneself of being manipulative? 

Even silence is manipulation — and arguably among the most powerful tools in social engineering. To interact socially is to manipulate. But, what we do within the borders of that “manipulation,” through our skill and intention, is where the battleground of ethics emerges. 

Beyond that, we are here to discuss the practical concepts of how to social engineer effectively, so that we can get what we want and need, and so that we can provide others with what they want and need. 

 

The Golden Rule is …. 

The Golden Rule is the cornerstone principle for effective Social Engineering. 

“In everything, therefore, treat others the same way you want them to treat you.”  

Or, you may have heard it, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Or you may have learned it “Treat others like you’d like to be treated.” No matter how you say it, the underlying premise is the same. And yet, most miss the point of this rule.   

Many of us make a critical mistake when we interpret and apply the Golden Rule. What is the mistake? To assume that everyone wants the same thing we want and wants to be treated the same way we wish to be. 

I had a moment in high school where I was sitting on the tables in the cafeteria and I was watching people move by me as if I was a detached observer. I had just gotten out of a discussion-driven class after which I suddenly felt completely disconnected from my classmates. Sitting there, I had the following epiphany, “They don’t think the same way I do.”   

Up until that point in my life, I had been using the Golden Rule how most people do — treat others the exact way I want to be treated. But most other people do not want to be treated exactly how I want to be, just as you don’t want to be treated the exact way others want to be. 

But here lies a key social engineering insight.  

This typical interpretation of the Golden Rule — “I want x so I’ll provide x to others.” — comes NATURALLY to many people. Observe someone’s behavior, and they often reveal the keys to the very thing they want, based on how they treat others.  

The typical interpretation of the Golden Rule is NO DIFFERENT from Cognitive Projection. And Cognitive Projection is an inability to properly distinguish oneself from others.  

This is typically an unconscious use of the Golden Rule. Watch someone closely enough, and they will reveal how they want to be treated. Those who give acceptance freely are searching for it desperately. Those who search out other’s opinions are hoping others will ask for theirs. 

 

Matthew 7:12, Reinterpreted  

The scripture is NOT saying, “Oh, I’m an INFP and I want authority, therefore I treat everyone else like they want authority.”  

WRONG! 

The scripture IS saying, “If I, as an INFP, want authority, what would that other person, an INTJ, want?” And, FURTHER, “How would I want to be treated IF I WERE THEM, and IF I were seeking Reverence?”   

Matthew 7:12, accounting for Cognitive Origins, becomes: “In everything, therefore, treat others the same way you would want them to treat you IF YOU WERE THEM AND HAD THEIR COGNITIVE ORIGIN.” 

The takeaway? If you want to apply the Golden Rule effectively, realize that there are eight fundamental and distinct psychological motivations that drive a human being.  

And if you want to apply Matthew 7:12, acquiring the knowledge of what those eight motivations are, how to identify who has which, and when and how to apply them is ESSENTIAL. Welcome to the eight Cognitive Origins.  

 

Cognitive Origins and EgoHacking 

How do we apply the knowledge of Cognitive Origins to Social Engineering? If you’re interacting with a Reverence-type, should you simply fall to the ground and worship the dirt they walk upon? 

Or do you walk around telling an ISTP “You’re smart, you’re smart, you’re smart!” on repeat? 

If you’re interacting with an Intimacy type, is disrobing to titillate that Deadly Sin of Lust the best play? 

Some of these strategies may work for you in certain situations. But all of them lack the context and sophistication that Cognitive Origins provide. And this depth is unlocked through the Octagram.  

 

The Origins and the Octagram: the “What” and “How” 

Practically, knowing someone’s Origin is useful. This knowledge, at a bare minimum, tells what not to do. For example, knowing that disrespecting a Reverence type will blow it with them is very helpful when dealing with ESFPs and INTJs. 

But going another layer deeper reveals the specific strategies for daily skillful interactions with the 16 types.  

Cognitive Origin reveals WHAT a person wants. But a person’s Octagram — their preferred poles — reveals HOW they want their Origin delivered.  

If two people’s Cognitive Origin is both meat, and one of them likes beef and the other likes chicken, then that would be how they want their Origin delivered. The Octagram reveals the specific pathway to each of our Origins.  

Here is a list of the preferred dishes.   

 

SOUL TEMPLE DYADS 

ENFP + ISTJ —  

  • JUSTIFICATION: ENFPs and ISTJs are seeking to use their awareness of perspectives to decide whether or not behavior from self or others can be excused or rationalized, based on their own moral standard.   
  • ABSOLUTION: Subconscious Focused (SF) ENFPs and ISTJs lead by taking away the burden of guilt from self and others because they understand why they did what they did. 
  • WRATH: Unconscious Focused (UF) ENFPs and ISTJs, despite potentially understanding why someone did something, prioritize the enforcement of their moral standard over the flexibility of someone else’s perspective. A “wrong” can only be Justified through punishment.
  • IMPARTIALITY: Subconscious Developed (SD) ENFPs and ISTJs focus on “just the facts,” searching to gather all the perspectives and all the relevant information to reach the most rational conclusion. 
  • DISCRIMINATION: Unconscious Developed (UD) ENFPs and ISTJs lean more on which facts, perspectives, and people they value more, as well as being more prone to dismiss the facts, perspectives, and people they value less

ESTP + INFJ — 

                                         

  • INTIMACY: ESTPs and INFJs are seeking connection and confidentiality. By drawing close to others, they can better understand themselves. 
  • CHASTITY: Subconscious Focused (SF) ESTPs and INFJs lead with psychological, emotional, and even spiritual connection, searching to capture the immaterial identity of self and others.  
  • LUST: Unconscious Focused (UF) ESTPs and INFJs lead by pursuing the objects of their desire (a person, place or thing), which they believe will make them more whole. Lust leads them to build identity through action, in hopes of filling the sense of “lack” by achieving the object of their lust.
  • OBJECTIFICATION: Subconscious Developed (SD) ESTPs and INFJs believe they see others as they are and not as they wish to be seen. Objectification simplifies people and relationships into their base categories. SD ESTPs and INFJs have less tolerance for the messy “passion” than their UD counterparts.
  • IDOLATRY: Unconscious Developed (UD) ESTPs and INFJs see the best in others, especially those they desire, and wish for others to see the best in them.  

HEART TEMPLE DYADS 

ENTP + ISFJ —                                        

  • SATISFACTION: ENTPs and ISFJs are seeking to be filled up with others’ desires, passions, and sensations. To be the object of others’ passion is what they seek above all.  
  • COMPASSION: Subconscious Focused (SF) ENTPs and ISFJs see first the pain that exists beneath others’ successes and sorrows. Through empathy, understanding others’ emptiness leads to fullness.  
  • ENVY: Unconscious Focused (UF) ENTPs and ISFJs first see the lack of “deserving” in others’ successes and sorrows. There is a catharsis found in the injustice of what seems undeserved.   
  • FANATICISM: Subconscious Developed (SD) ENTPs and ISFJs want to receive Satisfaction through the avenues of their obsessions. From certain foods, brands, and habits, to the apex of religious fervor, they want you to care about what they care about. 
  • MALEVOLENCE: Unconscious Developed (UD) ENTPs and ISFJs believe that pain and adversity refine a person’s character. Sharing their pain with others, and even causing others pain, feels like a balance of justice. They often treasure those who seek to understand their suffering.  

ESFP + INTJ —  

  • REVERENCE: ESFPs and INTJs are searching for deep admiration and respect from others, especially from those they revere.  
  • MODESTY: Subconscious Focused (SF) ESFPs and INTJs share the spotlight with others. They achieve respect by treating others with regard.  
  • VAINGLORY: UF (Unconscious Focused) ESFPs and INTJs try to always be in the spotlight, believing that attention and respect should be given to them wherever they go.  
  • EGOTISM: Subconscious Developed (SD) ESFPs and INTJs give and receive respect based on accomplishments. Accolades are proof that respect is deserved. 
  • DESECRATION: Unconscious Developed (UD) ESFPs and INTJs undermine the Ego-investments in others — as with self — and seek to destroy sacred cows so that the best version of a person (self and others) can emerge.  

MIND TEMPLE DYADS 

ESTJ + INFP —                                     

  • AUTHORITY: ESTJs and INFPs are seeking influence and power, and to be regarded as weighty and knowledgeable. 
  • INITIATIVE: Subconscious Focused (SF) ESTJs and INFPs put forth tremendous effort in chasing their positions of influence. 
  • SLOTH: Unconscious Focused (UF) ESTJs and INFPs lead with Sloth. While in Sloth, they experience power and authority by maintaining the steadiness over their internal and external world. They may believe they have “arrived” or they may perceive the futility in rigorously pursuing certain achievements. For them, power exists IN stillness.
  • CREDULITY: Subconscious Developed (SD) ESTJs and INFPs maintain an extreme open-mindedness to others’ perspectives and are more flexible in finding their path than their UD counterparts. But their open-mindedness is best accessed when an idea is siphoned through the intellectual beliefs of the groups they are a part of. To share a “foreign” idea with a credulous ESTJ or INFP can ring danger.
  • MANIFESTATION: Unconscious Developed (UD) ESTJs and INFPs have a strong purpose that drives them toward specific goals. Day to day they embody the type of person they know they will eventually become. There is a certain “density” to UD ESTJs and INFPs, as if no one could puncture a hole in their focus. In the pursuit of their goals, they appear imperturbable. 

ENFJ + ISTP — 

  • VALIDATION: ENFJs and ISTPs are searching for accuracy and correctness in intellectual, personal, and educational pursuits. They seek to be the filter that keeps the charlatans from the door.   
  • HUMILITY: Subconscious Focused (SF) ENFJs and ISTPs want to be shown what they don’t know. They walk around believing they have much more to learn, even to the point of lacking confidence in their knowledge and skill.  
  • PRIDE: Unconscious Focused (UF) ENFJs and ISTPs lead with confidence in their skill and knowledge. They believe they have the knowledge they need, or can easily find it, and are much more resistant to being taught by others. Confidence is rarely a problem for UF ENFJs and ISTPs. 
  • OBSTINANCE: Subconscious Developed (SD) ENFJs and ISTPs hold people to their words and actions. They respond best when you hold them to their words and actions. Being stubborn and even forceful in their stance makes them feel more likely to be validated by an authority. SD ENFJs and ISTPs can be among the most thorough verifiers of all the types.   
  • ACCOMMODATION: Unconscious Developed (UD) ENFJs and ISTPs focus on adjusting to the circumstances and viewpoints held by the people around them. They give others what they need in order to learn and improve the best. They are more lenient with standards and possess higher flexibility than their Obstinate counterparts,

BODY TEMPLE DYADS 

ESFJ + INTP —                                                   

  • DISCOVERY: ESFJs and INTPs are seeking exploration, novelty, and to both experience and re-experience being on the edge of something new. 
  • GENERATIVITY: Subconscious Focused (SF) ESFJs and INTPs find Discovery through producing the resources, technologies, motivations, and insights that allow them to find and integrate their personal cutting edge. SF ESFJs and INTPs often find that creating new things leads to even more inspiration. 
  • GLUTTONY: Unconscious Focused (UF) ESFJs and INTPs lead with consumption. Often bored, uninspired, and unmotivated by production, they consume what is most engaging in front of them. Gluttony can also act as a “refueling” period so that further production is possible. Gluttonous ESFJs and INTPs are more likely to believe their productivity is a scarce resource.
  • SERVILITY: Subconscious Developed (SD) ESFJs and INTPs give themselves away to serve other people and explore the things other people value. By being the most helpful, they hope to experience deep gratitude and reciprocation for the effort they put forth.   
  • HEDONISM: Unconscious Developed (UD) ESFJs and INTPs lead with their curiosity. Hedonism has a mark of independence, where this Dyad gives themselves complete permission to follow whatever trail they wish. Few pathways are off-limits.  

ENTJ + ISFP —                  

  • PURPOSE: ENTJs and ISFPs seek specific, often tangible outcomes that are considered “achievements” by self and others. To not be on the path of reaching their inspired goals is to whither away. Identity comes from achievement.   
  • GENEROSITY: Subconscious Focused (SF) ENTJs and ISFPs invest in projects and people they believe in, often giving away tremendous resources and time to see others thrive.  
  • GREED: Unconscious Focused (UF) ENTJs and ISFPs invest their resources in themselves, often feeling the need to make up for lost time. They often feel they didn’t have the time or resources in the past. The sprint for their current purpose (goal) is a scarce treasure no one will take from them. 
  • COMPLACENCY: Subconscious Developed (SD) ENTJs and ISFPs charge ahead, often without fear or caution, to achieve their goals. Strategy comes second to belief, as Complacent ENTJs and ISFPs lead more with inspiration, followed by planning.
  • SUBJUGATION: Unconscious Developed (UD) ENTJs and ISFPs are more tactful with their planning than their SD counterparts. Subjugating ENTJs and ISFPs demand effort from others, and often self, to see their achievements reached and their goals fulfilled. Everyone, even self, is a cog in the greater task of the mission.   

Looking Forward

Via the Golden Rule, then, a person’s Origin + Octagram reveals the path that we can walk to use the Golden Rule. And, as Chase said on the most recent Season 18 episode, the Golden Rule is actually a Systematic Principle, not an Interest one. Meaning what? That it is best executed when nothing is demanded, or expected, in return.  

For the EBT course, which is out now and provides specific tool to not only type but to social engineer anyone where text is used, Chase goes further into the application of Origins. If you’re ready to learn how to EgoHack and give people what they want for their benefit and the benefit of your relationships, click Here for information on the EgoHacking By Text Course. 

If you haven’t learned the basics of the eight Deadly Sins per Origin, you can sign up for a Journeyman Subscription Here.  

There will be an accompanying masterclass to supplement the material in the EBT course. It will address, among other things, a few lingering questions: Does everyone use all eight Origins in some capacity? If so, in what order? And does one type produce their Origin, while the other type consumes it?  

Stay tuned, the EgoHacking has just begun.   

 

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