One of the “tells” for the instinct-driven is their aversion to and misuse of prepositions, syllables which signal the direction of an activity’s energy flow or function. So, for example, “construct” tells us an agent is working to build something up or put things together, while the agent who obstructs stands in the way. Destruction takes things apart. A person who has no sense of direction and just reacts like waves crashing into a wall has only two modes. Be the wave or be the wall.
What is interesting about the syllable/prefix “con” is that its meaning is variable and even perverse. Sometimes it means “with” as in conspire; and sometimes it means “against,” as in conflict. Or maybe it is just that the second syllable tends to be stronger and more determinative.
Anyway, the Dude is both a wall that is not going anywhere and a sponge that has soaked up popular U.S. culture and exhibits it when squeezed. Remember the Pillsbury dough boy?
