What causes people to be control freaks? Where does this personality characteristic originate?

Question

The Other...

Do you know that when you are telling others how to live and that they are making wrong choices, that they think you are insulting their intelligence? Have you ever thought about that?

Answer 1

Something I've noticed is that while I'm not a control freak, I do have a desire to control people and tell them what's right and what's wrong. I was born into a family with no control at all because I'm the youngest. So just about anything I want to change is impossible. I don't try to control people because I know that nobody will listen. I want to control them because I feel people are making bad choices and I want to tell them how to live. Now about control freaks, they could have been born into the same situation as I have, an environment with chaos and with controlling parents. This personality can rub off on parents kids and they grow up to want to control the world around them because they had none of that control when they were younger. That's what I think at least.

Answer 2

I believe it could be due to a sense of lacking control of situations which could be the result of growing up in a highly controlled environment. Once an individual who has been controlled by another finally breaks free of that there is a tendency to try to exert control of others as a subconscious for of retaliation. This is not, however, true for all because some maintain the attitude of continuing to be submissive and non-controlling. It is a learned behavior and until one recognizes that it is a detriment to their character there is little that can be done to change it. Unfortunately, there is always a need for dominance among certain individuals who fear the loss of control.

gatita_63109

Answer 3

Nobody knows, but some people feel the need to dominate others.  Some people feel the need to be dominated.  I feel the need to be left alone.      

Answer 4

That which causes people to be control freaks may be a blunt intimate need to more clearly ascertain and to improve whatever may be going on, or is supposed to be done, in their own surroundings.

As for the possible origin of such a personality characteristic we might venture to say that

either they were reared up that way, or they even unconsciously tend to adopt as their models somebody or some people very near to them, or just known to them, who used to behave or still behave as more or less severe control freaks.

Anyway, even an infernal Cerberus may be tried and diligently more or less unconflictingly guided into a metamorphosis of more mildness

if methodically insistingly made conscious of the natural need of freedom of movement or behavior in others and of the warm gentle pleasures of a relaxed and even now and then mindless or glowingly dreamy life.

Answer 5

I think its something your born with, a desire to in control, or to have power