Alpha Quadra Analysis
(This post is currently a rough draft and includes my perspective of the Alpha quadra, hopefully being as consistent with Classic socionics as possible, paragraphs may have mild disorganization, but will be renovated to better fit the more accurate descriptions of the Alpha Quadra)
The Alpha quadra values the IM elements of,
,
and
. While the subdued IM elements of the Alpha quadra will be
,
,
and
. Within the Alpha quadra, you have the ILE, SEI, ESE and LII types.
Alpha quadra types value positive emotionality and universal inclusiveness; as a result of valuing extroverted ethics. In terms of emotionality, they will be oriented towards changing the external emotional attitudes of those around them. Alpha SF types in particular will also value satisfying bodily and sensory experiences, looking to prioritize short term action in the here and now; often lacking in ability to forcefully change the world to reach their goals, but still being somewhat concerned with long term impact. The Alpha SFs will have a greater field of competence in reaching these goals, though the Alpha NTs will often be unaware of these developments most of the time, but still are appreciative in receiving light-hearted emotions and sensory experience from others. Alpha SF types, in contrast with Beta NF types that strive to create meaningful emotions that are enveloped with passion (which I personally could care less about) the Alpha SF types seek to create pleasant and nurturing emotions that do not have an emotional permanency towards long-term meaning, but instead encourage optimism and jollity in others.
Alpha SF types also have a higher regard for expressing positive emotions and tend to avoid negative emotions, to the point of being fearful or anxious towards being affected by this “darkness”. Alpha types value
The valuing of
The Alpha quadra can be subdivided into the Alpha extroverts/introverts, Alpha NTs/SFs and the Alpha rational/irrational. Among the activator pairs, there is a difference in the expression of the IM elements, specifically the vulnerable and ignoring functions. (4 and 7) For instance, in contrast to the Alpha extroverts emphasizing the extroverted IM elements of their quadra, (
While still examining the activator pairs, the expression of the role and demonstrative functions will be partially valued as a result of the boldness (albeit weaker expression) of the role function and the strength (despite being unvalued) of the demonstrative function. The presence in the individual psyche of these IM elements. The role and demonstrative functions in general are partially present in the individual’s psyche, while the vulnerable and ignoring functions are overshadowed and are expressed the least within the psyche. In this sense, the ILE and ESE (for example) can appear similar externally or superficially, despite being from entirely different clubs and having different levels of competence in IM elements. When looking at the creative and suggestive functions, the creative function in particular is expressed most of the time, but is not always “on”.
Compared to the base function, which is a rudimentary part of the type’s psyche and is expressed without any sort of filtering.
The suggestive function or dual-seeking function is a key component of the individual’s psyche, an area of weakness that occupies a lot of conscious attention to that individual. Within the suggestive function, there exists a more neurotic response that almost automatically carries the connotation of being a weakness and does not experience much fundamental growth from this response. One reason for this is a deep lack of awareness in the appropriateness of the response in this area and striving to improve this function in some form, which may lead to a more enlightened response. For instance, the LII may have be emotionally unaware of how they appear to others and may have difficulty trying to fluently express themselves emotionally, often so coming across as absent-minded/serious as a result.
Visually speaking, the vulnerable function reflects the same dimension as the suggestive function, but is generally seen as a “sore spot” in Augusta’s writing. Although the vulnerable function isn’t exactly a “sore spot” for the person, but since it’s ordered within Model A within the super-ego block and ignored arguably more so than the ignoring function; “blind spot” or general lack of awareness and strength in this area. The closest in similarity to the vulnerable function in terms of axis, would be the mobilizing function, since it reflects the same domain as the vulnerable function.
(For future reference, when I compare functions using the word “dimension”, I am referring to the function’s strength, when I use domain, I am referring to the placement of the type of information element in one functional placement that reflects the function of another IM element) (The base and ignoring functions both containing different types of logic, ethics, etc.)
It is clear that the mobilizing function is more conscious than the suggestive function, it makes sense that the purpose of the mobilizing function is in the super-id block and is a weaker function overall. Particularly in terms of quadra values, as a person ages, typically in adolescence, they become more aware and it becomes easier to use the mobilizing function as the individual’s brain develops and gets another step closer to enlightenment. There is a large difference, in my opinion, between functional strength and awareness, because it creates a grey-area of confusion about “What does it mean to be strong?” or “How do you know you’re aware of that?” Since the ignoring function is competent and above average in skill, but is used just as much as the vulnerable function in that both functions are practically ignored in entirety. Saying that a function is “strong” and “weak” does not create or allude to an instantaneous understanding of that function, which is almost immediately recognized in Russian communities where the common focus will often be only on the functions in the ego block and the vulnerable function; while simultaneously conducting misconceptions about the rest of the functions. But I digress.
The central theme of the Alpha quadra is positive emotionality, not to say that Alpha types cannot express negative emotions. Though there is a general idea that negative emotions are not desired or actively expressed, in fact, Alpha types have a tendency to avoid these negative emotional states when in group settings, worrying that their personal sentiments will spoil the overall upbeat attitude the quadra possesses. For instance, the type in particular that has the greatest difficulty in presenting themselves as negative is the SEI, worrying that they will burden others by being negative. This may be a more conscious issue for the SEI as they may be optimistic internally and be able to act joyfully, which reflects their personal difficulties with being optimistic in general. Internal optimism is a common theme shared in some, but not all Alpha types, particularly the SEI will be more disposed to internal optimism compared to other Alpha types. This common theme is shared by all Alpha types to a certain extent, though it can be much easier for Alpha types to drift away from this sensitivity and optimism, particularly ILEs. ILEs can sometimes come across as relatively insensitive towards the way that other people around them respond to the joyfulness or lack thereof in their messages.
It’s an acquired trait in terms of quadra values for Alpha types to maintain a jovial atmosphere, but this is not equally expressed within all Alpha types. For instance, creating an atmosphere of positive emotionality and appreciating an atmosphere of positive emotionality are somewhat different qualities. ESEs for example, are often focused on actively on creating atmospheres of positive emotionality and occasionally ILEs may do this as well. Although, this skill will be very weak for an LII, they will find great difficulty in creating positive, emotional atmospheres though will often appreciate these atmospheres. The LII however, may not even be aware of the emotional atmospheres created in the first place and this lack of awareness might result in the LII dismissing the idea of the atmosphere around them being positive. The ILE, in contrast to the LII, will have much less difficulty in recognizing the quality or presence of an emotional atmosphere being positive. We can conclude from this that the Alpha quadra types that are all disposed to expressing positive emotionality, only through different types of emotional strength or confidence in this emotionality.
The Alpha and Gamma quadras have opposite values, the messages of the Alpha quadra are mutually exclusive with the messages of the Gamma quadra compared to the values of the adjacent quadras. The adjacent quadras to Alpha is Beta and Delta, sharing rational IM elements with the Beta quadra and irrational IM elements with the Delta quadra.
As stated earlier, the quadra values of logic and intuition within the Alpha quadra are valued
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