Competento was a little uncomfortable in the doctor’s office. He felt a little better when he was finally invited in.

Dr. Jung asked him about Perfecta and he explained as best he could. He just didn’t understand why Perfecta was angry all the time. As he spoke, Jung nodded his head but asked few questions. When Competento was finished, Jung summarized what he had said. Competento thought, “Wow, this guy is a good listener.”

Then Jung said:

“In my theory, Perfecta has access to the “collective unconscious,” which reveals to her what the ideal world is like, and she sees herself as responsible for making the real world conform to this ideal world. All this is quite unconscious, of course. She knows she can’t change everything!”

“She tries,” Competento muttered to himself.

Then Jung said:

“Let’s see if this fits. If something is wrong with the outside world, she will try to make it right. This means managing others… getting them to do what she thinks needs to be done. Her idea of what is necessary is very precise, and if someone will do exactly what she says she will be satisfied (although she might not say so). If not… she will get angry or maybe just pout. Does that sound like Perfecta?”

“Uh… yeah… she’s that way a lot,” Competento replied.

Then Jung said:

“Pouting is of course a form of anger… passive aggression, really.”

“I hadn’t thought of thought of that before, Doc,” Competento interjected, “but I think you may be onto something. There are different kinds of anger, aren’t there?”

Then Jung said:

“Oh yes. For example, the kinds include acrimony, animosity, annoyance, antagonism, chagrin, choler, displeasure, exasperation, fury, hatred, ill temper, impatience, indignation, irascibility, ire, irritability, irritation, outrage, passion, peevishness, petulance, rage, resentment, and vexation.

“We speak of people blowing up, having a cat fit or a hissy fit, being in a dander, doing a slow burn, kicking up a storm, showing disapprobation or enmity, taking umbrage, throwing a tantrum, and getting into a tiff.

“Angry people might be having a conniption, having a tantrum, or having a bad temper. You can find then in ill humor or in a stew, in a pique or in a huff. They might be miffed. They almost certainly will have a temper. They find lots of things rankling. They get sore – if you will excuse my use of outdated slang.”

“Ah that’s okay, Doc, I’m an old fart. A hundred and fifty years old.” Competento couldn’t resist the little exaggeration he liked to employ with people.

Then Jung said:

“Be that as it may, Mr. Competento.

“Angry people get sore. They get infuriated. They get mad. Sometimes they commit violence.”

“I guess you’re right,” Competento nodded.

Then Jung said:

“If she sees something wrong which is out of her range of control, and she is alone, or even with you – I’m surmising – she might lash out. For example, if she sees or hears something on TV that she doesn’t agree with, let’s say something political, she might angrily denounce it with shouts and curses.” He paused. “Have you ever seen anything like this?”

Competento was taken aback a little. As far as he knew, Jung had never met Perfecta. How did he know so much about her? He couldn’t!

“Yes, I have,” he told Jung.

Jung concluded:

“Well, that’s it.”

“I agree,” said Competento.