Cobalt

Iron is the eighth developmental level where the subject is defined as wishes which have perceptions (the object of the skill or trait). The novice which has the developmental object at this level does not distinguish the property from its wishes about it. It can be thought of as a newbie version of the skill and those who use it at this are said to have no standards. Things which they make in this period are known as crude copies.

At the cobalt level of development, the wishes remain unfulfilled due to the crude nature of this novice skill, and perceptions are actually distorted by the frustration. The novice has actually gone into a state of minor crisis known as "temper tantrum." She may be so disappointed by the crudeness, she gets angry with others in her frustration over being unable to do better. This anger at the non-self and at the wishes themselves often expresses itself as temper. Her dulled perceptions still reveal the work as a copy not fulfilling her wishes which leads up to the first minor crisis.

This is also the sixth level of development where previous vocabulary? is used. People operating at the cobalt level of development have come to understand that their anger will be most effective if it is expressed using terminology emphasizing perceptions. They will tend to avoid autocratic declarations of their own will and respect others who have not yet learned to exert their own wills. This will be reassuring to those approaching the level (in period 1) and may aid them in resolving the conflicts.

The three elements of Group VIIIB?-Period 2 (iron, cobalt and nickel?) are distinguished by the three phases of the minor crisis quest.

Minor Crisis

The temper tantrum minor crisis is not resolved by redefining the self (as in the case of a major crisis). A temporary fix is used to avoid the need to abandon the self. That fix consists of the creation of the idea of internal components within the self (mind/soul, ego/id/superego, or whatever).

These internal components enable the novice to temporarily resolve the conflict which is both distorting her perceptions and thwarting her wishes. She can say to herself, "In order to get what I want, I am going to have to allow others to think I'm giving in -- but I'll really preserve my wishes here inside." Her declaration of the her external state with be loud and demonstrative, pitched to convince others.

The second phase

The atomic symbol for Cobalt is Co. The Atomic Number for Cobalt is 27. Cobalt's Atomic Weight is 58.93.

Period: Two

  • Balance: Imperial
  • Subjects: wishes (-)
  • Objects: perceptions (-)

Group: Group VIIIB?

See also Co 27 and Periodic Table.

— Scotus - 27 Jan 2002