Different frames, different natures

Each frame has a distinctly different nature, each with its own benefits and handicaps.

Though the different frames compete with each other for attention (see post “The fight of the frames“), they also supplement each other. The different nature of each frame helps us to look at things in different ways, each valuable in their own sense. If we can explain the choices that we make in all three ways, we will benefit from the qualities of all three.

 
Comply

Be successful

Be good

Communication
Move words aroundMove numbers aroundMove feelings around

Sub-/objective
ObjectiveObjectiveSubjective

Ratio-/emotional
Rational ReasoningRational CalculationEmotional Intuition

Time perspective
Past-orientedFuture-orientedPresent-oriented

Negative/positive
NegativePositiveBoth

Motivation
ExtrinsicExtrinsicIntrinsic

Figure: Different frames, different natures

Where the ‘be good’ frame might be hard to describe because it is the domain where we deal with feelings and intuitions mostly, the ‘comply’ frame and particularly the ‘be successful’ frame are very easy to describe. In the ‘comply’ frame, we ‘move words around’ to figure out what is allowed or not, and in the ‘be successful’ frame we ‘move numbers around’ to calculate what will be most profitable for example.

There is also a noticeable distinction in the time-orientation of the frames. The ‘comply’ frame generally focuses on preventing incidents from happening (again) and is therefore predominantly past-oriented and negative. The ‘be successful’ frame on the other hand is mainly aspirational in nature and therefore future-oriented and positive. Lastly, you could say that the ‘be good’ frame is mostly aimed at what we currently feel is good or bad and what we presently think needs to happen or be avoided. It is therefore present-oriented and can be both positive and negative.

Imagine if you take any one frame out of the equation, for example when you make a decision on what to do, and you will see that by doing so, you will lose valuable ingredients. Therefore, if we want to make good more doable, it is probably wise to aim for integrity between the three frames.

In order to see how we can do this, we need to have a look at the context in which professionals operate, not only who they are as individuals. Probably, there is more value in trying to improve the environment than trying to improve the individual.

In the next couple of posts, I will put the three frames into context. This is necessary to learn to recognise different perspectives on good on different levels.


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