A pattern may be activated all the time or only under certain conditions. For example, one client may feel judgmental toward men but not women while another client may feel this way with everyone. One pattern might be activated only by authority figures and another only in love relationships. The Pattern System describes each pattern's usual underlying psychodynamics and where it come from in the client's childhood. When a pattern is activated, it tends to distort a client's perception of himself and others.
Patterns have typical ways of reacting to each other.
On the other hand, people with needy and isolated patterns will not likely be interested in each other. Let's do it my way. Don't tell me what to do. I'll get what I want any way I can. If I control you or don't allow you to control me, then I won't be harmed or controlled.