Andrew Neiman - ESI

 

Fi 1: Base Ethics of Relations

Andrew's Fi dominance is seen in how deeply personal and internalized his values are. His primary focus is on what is "right" for him in a moral sense, which manifests as a need for authenticity and the search for his moral achievements. He is known for his intense ethical devotion to drumming, going to great lengths to be one of the greatest drummers of his time. This can make him hold high ethical standards for the kind of people he interacts with, only interested in his relationship with music professor Terence Fletcher, for example, one which will help him achieve his deep goals. 

• Selective Trust: Andrew is highly discerning about who he lets into his personal life. His relationship with his family is distant because they don't align with his vision of greatness or perfection. This reflects Dreiser preference for clear relationships based on mutual interests and values. He maintains an emotional distance from anyone who might compromise his goals, even at the expense of his personal well-being, exemplified in how he is able to be clear and honest with his then girlfriend, showing more of how an ESI is quite adept at communicating his true feelings, whether it be to distance themselves from certain people or to attract them. 

• Moral Perfectionism: Andrew holds himself and others to a high moral standard, a key trait of Fi base. His commitment to drumming is not about technical proficiency; it is about moral integrity in the pursuit of greatness. At points in the film this moral strength of Neiman becomes more clear, as he literally punches through the drums or goes to play even after suffering a car accident. Those behaviors are not in line with logical types for example, which observe more the aspect of technical proficiency and technical standards, but for Neiman, it all comes from his feelings and desires. 

• Judging Others: His Fi allows him to quickly assess the intentions of others. For instance, Andrew sees Fletcher's abusive teaching methods as both an opportunity to prove his worth and a moral test of endurance. He also judges his fellow students for their lack of dedication and passion, believing they don’t deserve the same opportunities.

Striving for Ethical and Personal Greatness

Andrew’s journey is about pushing himself beyond normal limits to meet his internal sense of ethical perfection in drumming. This aligns with the Fi-Se axis of the ESI, where Fi drives his internal code, and Se fuels his desire to materialize his goals into reality.

• Self-Denial for Achievement: Andrew sacrifices personal relationships, health, and happiness for the sake of his personal goals. He cuts off meaningful connections, like his relationship with Nicole, because he perceives them as distractions from his quest for greatness. This is a strength of Dreiser, which can objectively seek that which will fulfill his personal depth. This decision stems from his belief that meaningless ties will compromise his ethical duty to his art, therefore his "best friend" in the film becomes Fletcher.

• Ethical Vigilance: He has a deep-seated need to eliminate any element of compromise which are not aligned with his feelings, which is typical of ESI’s Fi base function. He is constantly on guard against behaviors that could impede his success and holds himself to a relentless standard. Unlike other disciplined types, such as LSI, Neiman cares more about giving all of his essence and emotional energy to achieve his objectives, instead of following a streamlined objective path observing technique and practice. He believes this is the only way to achieve greatness that he desires, "by being unique and singular from all the rest", in that sense, by following something deep inside instead of just following recipes of countless practice sessions like most of the other students. His practice sessions are in line with his permanent mood of achieving greatness, which can exhibit tryhardness and despair sometimes. Anything less than being "one of the greats" is unacceptable, as he already identifies with one of the greats, so he behaves like one of the greats. 

• Relationships and Goals

  Andrew demonstrates maximalism—as ESI—in both his personal and professional life. Once committed, he gives himself completely, as seen in his obsessive pursuit of becoming a great drummer. This is common for ESIs, that pursuits personal meaning and a deep vocation like it's the only important thing in their lives. 

  • All or Nothing Attitude: He cannot accept mediocrity. Either he becomes one of the greatest drummers or he fails completely. This black-and-white perspective and a high-demand of himself and others reflects ESI’s tendency to view the world through extremes in terms of morality and passion.

  • Total Dedication: Andrew is willing to sacrifice his health, relationships, and even his identity in his pursuit of greatness. This is a hallmark of the ESI’s maximalist approach to life—giving everything he has, even when it breaks him.

  Tendency Toward Violence

  Andrew’s internal ethical battle sometimes leads to self-destruction, another trait associated with ESIs. His confrontations with Fletcher, his self-imposed isolation, and his extreme training methods all show his readiness to inflict violence on himself in order to maintain his ethical integrity.

• Self-Sacrifice for Ethics: Andrew’s willingness to endure pain and push himself to his limits reflects the ESI’s inclination to inflict “real violence” on themselves or others to uphold their moral standards.

Se 2: Creative Force Sensory

1. Intensity and Assertiveness in Goal Pursuit

• Se in ESI manifests through a strong will and determination, and Andrew’s obsession with becoming one of the greats is emblematic of this. His obsession toward that ends up consuming all of his life. He doesn't just have a passion for drumming (Fi), but an overwhelming drive that pushes him to endure extreme physical and emotional pain (Se). This tenacity in the face of challenges is a hallmark of Se in ESI, where external circumstances don’t deter the individual from their interior path.
• Example: Andrew practices until his hands bleed, and even after being involved in a car accident, he still pushes himself to perform on stage. This showcases the ESI's capability to push themselves and others to the extreme when defending their personal interests.

2. Defensive Reaction to External Pressure

• ESI’s Se creative is sensitive to external pressures and threats, whether physical or social. Andrew constantly faces pressure from his tyrannical instructor, Fletcher, but instead of backing down, he responds with defiance, continuously pushing himself harder. The Se function here allows Andrew to respond assertively when his authority, worth, or progress is questioned.
• Example: Fletcher’s constant verbal abuse and intimidation tactics do not break Andrew’s spirit. Instead, it fuels his resolve. 

3. Taking Action to Protect Personal Values

• ESIs protect what they value, whether it be relationships, personal goals, or ethics. Andrew’s creative Se makes him guard his relationship with his craft (drumming). He cuts off all distractions, including his romantic relationship, to focus entirely on his ambition. This displays his defensive Se in a way that prioritizes his own values and goals over emotional connections that could potentially hinder his progress.
• Example: Andrew ends his relationship with Nicole, recognizing that any emotional ties could be a distraction from his primary goal. His Se function here works to eliminate anything that could threaten his pursuit of greatness.

4. Physical Tenacity and Endurance

• ESI's Se creative often shows up in physical endurance, the ability to handle discomfort or adversity to achieve their ends. Andrew’s ability to endure pain and exhaustion is another example of how Se drives him. He doesn't merely play the drums; he pushes his body to its limits, showing the ESI’s creative function in action as they use their physical willpower to dominate the activity, all fueled by deep moral standards. 
• Example: The scenes of Andrew practicing for hours on end, with bleeding hands and sweat pouring down, demonstrate his ability to push through physical barriers in pursuit of his goals, much like the discipline of the Se creative.

5. Defensive Response to Ethical Encroachments

• Se in ESI is about protecting oneself and one's values from external harm. When Andrew feels threatened by Fletcher’s constant belittling, his reaction isn’t passive; he fights back through increased determination. This reaction to protect oneself from someone they perceive as unethical or oppressive is typical of an ESI using Se to guard against threats.
• Example: After being verbally abused by Fletcher, Andrew doesn’t walk away or crumble emotionally. Instead, he becomes even more fixated on proving Fletcher wrong, thus asserting his will against the ethical violation Fletcher represents in Andrew’s mind.

6. Resistance to Outside Influence

• ESI’s Se function also leads them to resist external attempts to manipulate or control them. Andrew doesn’t allow Fletcher’s manipulation or pressure to deter him from his goals. Even though Fletcher tries to break him, Andrew’s response is to harden and sharpen his focus, showing that Se is a force of internal strength that resists external dominance.
• Example: Despite being kicked out of the band and seemingly broken, Andrew returns to the stage, takes control of the final performance, and ultimately impresses even Fletcher. His resilience and unwillingness to submit to external forces illustrate how the Se creative function can be disciplined and strong when defending his values. 

Ti 3: Role Structural Logic

Overthinking and Lack of Logical Discipline

• Manifestation: Andrew tries to be systematic in his thinking. He formulates step-by-step plans, particularly when trying to impress his teacher, Terence Fletcher, with his skill. However, under pressure, his logical sequence tends to fall apart, especially when emotional factors come into play, which are the focus for Andrew. 

• Example: During the intense drumming scene where Fletcher pushes Andrew to play faster and faster, Andrew struggles to maintain technical precision, but keep pushing harder on a deep personal force.

• Socionics Explanation: This reflects the typical behavior of an ESI when using Ti. Andrew attempts to logically sequence his thoughts but cannot sustain this under stress, especially when the situation becomes emotionally charged. His main motivation is an ethical one, which quickly reveals his lack of preference to logical structures, such as planning or technique, especially when in pressure. 

Struggle to Match Perfectionism of Others

• Manifestation: Andrew strives to emulate the technical skills of great drummers such as Buddy Rich. This shows how Andrew looks up to the person rather than the technique, trying to emulate behavior of his idols. 

• Example: Andrew idolizes Buddy Rich, a jazz drummer known for his technical brilliance. He tries to replicate this kind of skill but often ends up relying more on his emotional drive than logical mastery, leading to moments of frustration and self-doubt.

• Socionics Explanation: ESIs often admire people instead of clear techniques or rules, which can make the technical evolution process be harder. Andrew demonstrates this by idolizing technical masters in his field, even though his strength is in his intense emotional commitment.

Incapacity to explain personal feelings with logic

• Manifestation: Andrew tries to present his arguments or thoughts logically, especially when defending his dedication to drumming. However, he often gets sidetracked by emotions or ethical concerns, leading to arguments that are less about logic and more about proving his worth or defending his pride.

• Example: In his conversations with his family, Andrew tries to justify his obsession with becoming "one of the greats." He starts with logical reasons (e.g., dedication to his craft), but soon the discussion devolves into an emotional confrontation about worth and personal success.

• Socionics Explanation: This shows how Andrew’s Ti Role Function operates. He starts out wanting to appear reasonable and structured but inevitably shifts the focus to ethical and emotional concerns, highlighting his true strength in Fi. 

Frustration with Ethical Deviations

• Manifestation: Andrew excels in environments where there is a clear ethic to follow, such as the rigorous practice schedule imposed by Fletcher (Te base). 

• Example: Andrew becomes visibly upset when he’s unsure of Fletcher’s expectations during practice, especially when the instructions seem arbitrary. This lack of orientation causes him great distress, as he relies on clear, established methods to improve his drumming.

• Socionics Explanation: ESIs, especially in their Ti Role Function, thrive in environments with clear, accessible methods. Andrew’s frustration with theoretical or freestyle learning reflects this reliance on business logic, even though it’s not his natural mode of functioning. 

Logical Manipulation in Service of Ethics

• Manifestation: Andrew often uses logical arguments to defend his ethical stance or personal values, even when the logic itself is not entirely sound. He might distort facts slightly to better fit his narrative of personal sacrifice and dedication.

• Example: In his conversations about drumming, Andrew may bend the truth about his progress or the necessity of his extreme practice regimen to justify his dedication and pursuit of greatness. He’s more concerned with defending his ethical position than sticking to logic arguments.

• Socionics Explanation: ESIs tend to use logic as a tool to support their ethical goals rather than for its own sake. Andrew’s use of logical reasoning is secondary to his emotional and ethical motivations, which is why his logic may sometimes appear distorted or inconsistent, especially when trying to explain deep sentiments with a logical structure.

Ne 4: Vulnerable Intuition of Possibilities

Inability to See Potential Future Outcomes

• Neiman struggles to foresee the long-term impact of his actions. Throughout the film, he obsessively focuses on his short-term goal: becoming the best jazz drummer. He doesn't consider alternative paths or potential consequences of his single-minded pursuit, such as the toll it takes on his relationships and health. This demonstrates ESI’s difficulty in envisioning broader possibilities or understanding how present actions may affect future outcomes.

Difficulty in Assessing Risks

• Neiman often miscalculates the risks he takes. For instance, he risks everything to satisfy his demanding instructor, Fletcher, without considering other options or weighing the potential for failure. ESIs, like Andrew, can miss the ability to correctly gauge whether a situation will work out well or lead to disaster, because they lack Ne's ability to "see around corners" and consider multiple scenarios. Like many other Ne polrs, Andrew Neiman focus on a path and is obsessed with it, relying on his force sensory to make him get there no matter what it takes. 
• A prime example is the car crash scene, where Andrew pushes himself to make it to the performance despite serious injuries. His inability to have foreseen the dangers of that situation he got himself stems from his Ne polr.

Tunnel Vision and Obsessiveness

• ESIs tend to fixate on a single goal, not because they believe it’s the best of all possible options, but because they can’t imagine alternatives. Andrew exemplifies this by focusing solely on becoming a great drummer, often at the expense of his health and well-being. His Ne polr prevents him from seeing a wider variety of potential futures or imagining alternate paths to success.
• His conversations with his family further highlight this. When questioned about his future or alternative ways to pursue music, Andrew dismisses their concerns and remains fixated on his narrow path, unable to entertain the possibility of other successes.

Uncertainty and Anxiety in Ambiguity

• ESI types are deeply uncomfortable in uncertain situations where outcomes are not clear-cut. Andrew constantly seeks validation and certainty from Fletcher, who offers clear, albeit extreme, feedback. He feels unmoored in situations of ambiguity, which is why Fletcher's harsh, definitive guidance appeals to him. When Fletcher says, "there are no two words more harmful than 'good job'," Neiman interprets this as clarity in a world of uncertainty, latching onto it as a guiding principle.