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- This article is a rough translation of an article in Russian.
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Socionics (a portmanteau word from society and bionics [citation needed]) is a branch of psychology that is based on Carl Jung's work on Psychological Types, Freud's theory of the conscious and subconscious, and Antoni Kępiński's theory of information metabolism. It was founded mainly by the Lithuanian researcher Aušra Augustinavičiūtė in the 1970s and is evolving rapidly.
Socionics is based upon the idea that a person's character acts like a set of blocks called "psychological functions". Different ways of combining and chaining these functions result in different ways of accepting and producing information, which in turn results in different behavior patterns and thus different character types. Socionics also includes an intertype relations theory, based on the interaction of these functions between personalities.
The institute of Socionics - International Institute of Socionics (IIS) - was founded in 1991 in Kiev, Ukraine. The director is Dr. Alexander Boukalov.
[edit] Jung's psychological types
Carl Jung describes four basic psychological functions that are capable of becoming conscious:
- Sensation - all perceptions by means of the sense organs
- Intuition - perception by way of the unconscious, or perception of unconscious events
- Thinking (Logic) - interpretation of information based on whether it is correct or incorrect
- Feeling (Ethics) - interpretation of information based on its ethical aspects
Sensation and intuition referred to as either perceiving or "irrational" functions. They are thus named because unlike the "rational" (also called "judging") functions, thinking and feeling, they tend to the experience of reality rather than the interpretation of it.
One function dominate consciousness and its opposite characterize unconsciousness. Generally there is auxiliary (i.e. secondary) function from other pair of functions.
It is common to refer to both dominant and auxiliary function, for example Intuitive-Thinking or Sensation-Feeling.
Attitude of consciousness is basic direction of conscious interests and energies flow. Two possible directions of flow are introversion (inward to subjective, psychological experience) or extroversion (outward to the environment of objects, other people and collective norms). Opposite attitudes characterize unconsciousness.
So the dominant function of consciousness can be introverted or extroverted. That gives as a result 8 different major psychological types. Mixed types includes also auxiliary function.
[edit] Socionics functions
| function |
acronym |
symbol |
description |
| Extroverted Thinking |
Te |
 |
Te is responsible for efficiency of actions, understanding of technological processes, the organization of work. |
| Extroverted Ethics (Feeling) |
Fe |
 |
Fe is responsible for perception of an emotional condition of the person, expression of emotions, management of an emotional condition of people. |
| Extroverted Intuition |
Ne |
 |
Ne is responsible for understanding of essence of the phenomena and processes, an estimation of potential opportunities of people and the phenomena, vision of variants of succession of events. |
| Extroverted Sensing |
Se |
 |
Se is responsible for perception of space, appearance and the form of subjects, an estimation of an alignment of forces, strong-willed and power methods of achievement of the purpose. |
| Introverted Thinking |
Ti |
 |
Ti is responsible for understanding of logic communications and structures, classification, ordering, the analysis, logic explanations and proofs. |
| Introverted Ethics (Feeling) |
Fi |
 |
Fi is responsible for understanding of mutual relations between people, skill to build attitudes, a moral and moral estimation, aspiration to humanism. |
| Introverted Intuition |
Ni |
 |
Ni is responsible for an estimation of time, timeliness of actions, understanding of a course of processes in time, forecasting. |
| Introverted Sensing |
Si |
 |
Si is responsible for perception of physical sensations, questions of comfort and a cosiness, pleasure. |
[edit] The 16 Types
Classical socionics theory contains a total of 16 different psychological types. These types are described by their two strongest functions, where Jung's functions are used. While Jung restricted his types to only the character of the most dominant function of the psyche, Socionics, like the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator, describes the different types as having a particular dominant function and, depending on the nature of the dominant function, one of two different secondary functions. The secondary function is always opposite the dominant function in extroversion and rationality. For example, if the dominant function is introverted thinking (a rational and introverted function), the secondary function must be irrational and extroverted, which means the only functions which could complement introverted thinking are extroverted sensing or extroverted intuition.
All 16 combinations are considered in the following table:
| ego functions |
description |
name |
person |
type |
| Si Te |
SLI (Sensory-Logical Intratim) |
Craftsman / Artisan |
Gabin |
ISTp |
| Se Ti |
SLE (Sensory-Logical Extratim) |
Legionnaire / Conqueror |
Zhukov |
ESTp |
| Si Fe |
SEI (Sensory-Ethical Intratim) |
Mediator / Peacemaker |
Dumas |
ISFp |
| Se Fi |
SEE (Sensory-Ethical Extratim) |
Politician / Ambassador |
Caesar |
ESFp |
| Ti Se |
LSI (Logical-Sensory Intratim) |
Inspector / Pragmatist |
Maxim Gorky |
ISTj |
| Te Si |
LSE (Logical-Sensory Extratim) |
Director |
Sherlock Holmes |
ESTj |
| Fi Se |
ESI (Ethical-Sensory Intratim) |
Conservator / Guardian |
Dreiser |
ISFj |
| Fe Si |
ESE (Ethical-Sensory Extratim) |
Bonvivant / Enthusiast |
Hugo |
ESFj |
| Ni Te |
ILI (Intuitive-Logical Intratim) |
Critics / Observer |
Balzac |
INTp |
| Ne Ti |
ILE (Intuitive-Logical Extratim) |
Seeker / Inventor |
Don Quixote |
ENTp |
| Ni Fe |
IEI (Intuitive-Ethical Intratim) |
Lyricist / Romantic |
Esenin |
INFp |
| Ne Fi |
IEE (Intuitive-Ethical Extratim) |
Psychologist / Reporter |
Huxley |
ENFp |
| Ti Ne |
LII (Logical-Intuitive Intratim) |
Analyst |
Descartes |
INTj |
| Te Ni |
LIE (Logical-Intuitive Extratim) |
Entrepreneur / Pioneer |
Jack London |
ENTj |
| Fi Ne |
EII (Ethical-Intuitive Intratim) |
Humanist / Empath |
Dostoyevsky |
INFj |
| Fe Ni |
EIE (Ethical-Intuitive Extratim) |
Mentor / Actor |
Hamlet |
ENFj |
[edit] Type Nomenclature
In Russian, the types are classified with three letter acronyms. These acronyms are also used to describe the types in English, an example being ILE, which stands for Intuitive-Logical Extratim. However, many amateur socionists, notably Sergei Ganin, refer to socionics type using MBTI terminologies, given the similarities present between the two theories. In order to distinguish between Socionics and MBTI types using this nomenclature, the tradition of leaving the last letter uncapitalized has been established among some groups. For example, an MBTI Extroverted Sensing Thinking Judging type is often referred to as an ESFJ, while a socionics Ethical-Sensory Extratim is referred to as an ESFj.
[edit] Model A
Aušra Augustinavičiūtė developed an arrangement of socionic functions known as Model A. Included in Model A are all eight functions of the psyche. A function's position in Model A reflects the nature of its usage by a particular type. The following diagram is an example of the positions of the functions as expressed in Model A.
[edit] Nature of Functions
- Function 1 - This function, also known as the program, primary, base, or dominant function, is the strongest conscious function, and the most utilized function of the psyche. A person's outlook and role in life is largely determined by the nature of this function. One is generally very confident in the use of this function, and may defend it when challenged.
- Function 2 - This function, also known as the creative or secondary function, is second in influence only to the dominant function. It assists the dominant function in achieving its goal. One may be somewhat less confident with the use of this function than with his dominant function; as a result, the creative function is sometimes less instrumental when a person is challenged or threatened.
- function 3 - This function, known as the role function, is a weak but conscious function. One generally tries to be at least adequate in areas where use of the role function is necessary. However, generally one has very little control or confidence over the role function, and criticism is painfully acknowledged with respect to it. Tactful assistance is required from one's dual-seeking function to overcome the problems associated with the role function.
- function 4 - This function, known as the Place of Least Resistance (PoLR) or the painful function, is a weak and conscious function, in addition to being the weakest function of the psyche. One painfully perceives his complete inability to use this function, and reacts negatively to its imposition upon him. Tactful assistance is required from one's hidden agenda to overcome the problems associated with the PoLR.
- function 5 - This function, known as the dual-seeking, suggestive, or inspired function, is a weak and unconscious function which is largely lacked. One requires assistance from somebody confident in this function in order to overcome the difficulties it presents.
- function 6 - This function, known as the hidden agenda, estimative function, or actualization function, is a weak and unconscious function which one often understands poorly. Nonetheless, this function has a strong influence over one's activities, and one requires assistance from someone who uses it confidently in order to understand it.
- function 7 - This function, known as the observant function, the function of personal knowledge, or often merely the seventh function, is a strong but unconscious function. One generally has a good grasp of this function, but attempts to limit its use considerably. Arguments calling for restraint are often used to overlook this function.
- function 8 - This function, known as the demonstrative function or often merely the eighth function, is the strongest of the unconscious functions. As a result, it is so deeply rooted into the psyche that one is usually not even aware of its existence or utilization.
[edit] Blocks of the Psyche
According to Augustinavičiūtė, there are four blocks of the psyche: the ego block, the super-ego block, the id block, and the super-id block. The ego block is comprised of the dominant and creative functions, the super-ego block contains the role and PoLR functions, the super-id block contains the dual-seeking function and the hidden agenda, while the id block contains the seventh and eighth functions.
The functions within the ego and super-ego blocks are said to be conscious functions, while those within the id and super-id blocks are said to be unconscious. Similarly, the functions presiding within the ego and id blocks are said to be strong functions which are expressed easily or naturally, while the functions of the super-ego and super-id blocks are weak and expressed with difficulty or support, or are not expressed at all.
[edit] The 16 types in Model A
| ILE (ENTp)
|
SEI (ISFp)
|
ESE (ESFj)
|
LII (INTj)
|
EIE (ENFj)
|
LSI (ISTj)
|
SLE (ESTp)
|
IEI (INFp)
|
| SEE (ESFp)
|
ILI (INTp)
|
LIE (ENTj)
|
ESI (ISFj)
|
LSE (ESTj)
|
EII (INFj)
|
IEE (ENFp)
|
SLI (ISTp)
|
[edit] Intertype Relations
An Intertype Relation is the relation between two psychological types, hence the name. There are 14 different Intertype Relations:
- Identical
- Duality
- Mirror
- Activity
- Comparative
- Semi-duality
- Look-a-like
- Illusionary
- Benefit
- Supervision
- Contrary
- Super-ego
- Quasi-identity
- Conflicting
Some Intertype Relations have better degree of compatibility between the types than other. Additionally, relations of benefit and supervision are asymmetrical relations; one is benefited by a benefactor, and one benefits a beneficiary. However, one's benefactor and beneficiary are not the same types (in fact, they are super-ego types). Similarly, ones supervisor and supervisee are different types (also super-ego types).
[edit] Quadras
A Quadra is a group of four sociotypes in which mirror, activity, and dual relations are experienced by each member of the group. The unique feature of the quadra is that it offers the greatest degree of psychological comfort among all groups containing four types in which functional interaction is symmetrical. The feeling of comfort and harmony produced by the quadra is due to the fact that all types in the quadra are alike in that they seek the expression of the four information elements in their ego and super-id blocks and the repression of the information elements in their super-ego and id blocks.
The Quadras:
Alpha
- The Seeker (ENTp)
- The Mediator (ISFp)
- The Bonvivant (ESFj)
- The Analyst (INTj)
|
Beta
- The Legionnaire (ESTp)
- The Lyricist (INFp)
- The Mentor (ENFj)
- The Inspector (ISTj)
|
Delta
- The Psychologist (ENFp)
- The Craftsman (ISTp)
- The Administrator (ESTj)
- The Humanist (INFj)
|
Gamma
- The Politician (ESFp)
- The Critic (INTp)
- The Enterpriser (ENTj)
- The Guardian (ISFj)
|
[edit] References
- Carl Jung (1968), Approaching the Unconscious (from Man and His Symbols), ISBN 0-440-35183-9.
[edit] External links
