"Accentuated Functions" by Gulenko

[Krig the Viking]

Original Article in Russian

Accentuated Functions

The concept of accentuated functions, from psychology, is alien to socionics. The term “accentuation” was introduced by the German psychiatrist Carl Leonhard, who wrote the book “Accentuated Personalities” (1976). In it he presented his classification of accentuations, and gave examples of their manifestations in real people, as well as examples of characters in classical literature.

What is accentuation? It is an emphasized, sharpened personality trait, which distinguishes a person from other people by clearly discernable peculiarities of behavior. Accentuation is not a pathology, although it gives a person many inconveniences in life. To be fair, we must note that there is a possibility of accentuation transitioning into a pathological state under unfavorable conditions.

A study about accentuation was used by Aushra in the development of socionics typology. In particular, in the work “On the Dual Nature of Man” she conducted a simple comparison of Leonhard and Licko's accentuations with the 16 sociotypes. There turned out to be more types than accentuations, so Aushra left several lines of the table blank.

In Humanitarian Socionics it is believed that there is no such linear relation; therefore accentuation is not determined by type or its first function. In other words, in each type any function may be accentuated.

Based on my practice, I present the following necessary symptoms of an accentuated function:
· a strong manifestation in behavior,
· an energy imbalance,
· situational inadequacy.

The painfully sharpened function is commonly accompanied by anxiety, and even complexes. To wit, what you are fixated on, what gnaws at you, what you worry about and inopportunely attempt to actualize in your behavior, that is your accentuation. If you systematically and stressfully think about money and get involved in unproductive commercial projects, it's an accentuation of , if you think about unmotivated aggression, which you find difficult to restrain within yourself, it's an accentuation of , etc.

Attention! Do not fall into the error of the supporters of the informational paradigm, who believe that constant concentration of thought on some object or event leads to accentuation. On the contrary, already emergent accentuation is reflected in obtrusive thoughts.

Many especially talented representatives of the abstract sciences (mathematicians, computer programmers) have strong -accentuation (autism, deep sinking into their mental imagery to the point of ignoring of external reality). By all appearances, Russian mathematician Grigori Perelman (see photo) has this accentuation, to whom the Clay Institute (USA) awarded the Millenium Prize for his proof of Poincare's hypothesis.



If accentuation leads to genius, should we fight it? I think not. But in other cases, if one desires to remain in the community, it makes sense to change something, to correct it. One can "treat” unstable-excess mental functions, primarily, by balancing them. , for example, requires its equivalent . How does one establish balance between harmony of the abstract-mathematical and harmony of the concrete-aesthetic? Simply by not allowing slovenliness of clothing and neglect of the body. See this report about the lifestyle of a scientist, resembling the homeless: eg.ru/daily/melochi/9823/

Another way is to vent one's problematic energy outward. An example of this way may be the characteristic behavior of today's young people in many online communities, where many of its members present themselves in a sort of caricature, an exaggerated manner, having little in common with their real selves. In this manner, they remove stress from their accentuated functions for a while.

[Nowisthetime]

So is this the same as "strengthened" functions in DCNH?

[Words]

Great find Krig, I'll try and post more later.

[Airman]

This is very interesting, I do have accentuated although being Delta.
Factors were mainly living among Betas all my childhood/adolescence so I got traumatized and had to become a sort of aggressor.

[pianosinger]

So, if I have accentuated Te, then I can balance it with Fe? So, combat my anxiety about being inefficient and disorganized with some sort of emotional release? Would that really help? Or would it just make me more emotional?

[Trevor]

Is Gulenko implying here that Si is the opposite of Ni? If so then thumbsup.

[Krig the Viking]

So is this the same as "strengthened" functions in DCNH?

No, an accentuated function is more like a painful, hypersensitive function. From what I've seen, it seems to come from bad experiences in childhood, primarily. It's like an obsession or fixation on a particular function, which can result in increased skill in that function relative to others of your type, but it also results in a psychological imbalance and social problems.

Gulenko later expanded his "strengthened" functions in DCNH to a whole second layer of type, so it's a different thing entirely. Essentially, the DCNH type represents the type of your "Persona", while the base type represents your core personality.

So, if I have accentuated Te, then I can balance it with Fe? So, combat my anxiety about being inefficient and disorganized with some sort of emotional release? Would that really help? Or would it just make me more emotional?

Yeah, I think the idea is that if you're fixated on trying to be efficient and practical, the way to balance that out is to relax and "have fun" emotionally, and "let go" of your need to be efficient all the time, at least a little bit.

[pianosinger]

Yeah, I think the idea is that if you're fixated on trying to be efficient and practical, the way to balance that out is to relax and "have fun" emotionally, and "let go" of your need to be efficient all the time, at least a little bit.

Wouldn't there be a bit of Si in there too, then? Maybe that explains my ESTj resemblance...

[Krig the Viking]

Wouldn't there be a bit of Si in there too, then? Maybe that explains my ESTj resemblance...

Not necessarily, though I can see how my description might give that impression.

[pianosinger]

Not necessarily, though I can see how my description might give that impression.

But isn't it true that two functions usually have to work together-- one rational function and one irrational (of the opposite orientation)? So, Te would have to be paired with either Si or Ni? So, when I'm "using" Te, I'll automatically be "using" Si or Ni with it?

I believe this is a tangent from my original question...sorry...

[Creepy-male]

If accentuation leads to genius, should we fight it? I think not. But in other cases, if one desires to remain in the community, it makes sense to change something, to correct it. One can "treat” unstable-excess mental functions, primarily, by balancing them. , for example, requires its equivalent . How does one establish balance between harmony of the abstract-mathematical and harmony of the concrete-aesthetic? Simply by not allowing slovenliness of clothing and neglect of the body. See this report about the lifestyle of a scientist, resembling the homeless: eg.ru/daily/melochi/9823/

This is my only nit to pick with the above writing. I don't think shabby living is related to accentuated . I think I have accentuated , yet I'm almost certainly going to wind up being one of those slovenly scientist types, I'm pretty sure

Question, how would I balance out accentuated with ?

[tcaudilllg]

Krig have fun leading this forum over a cliff.

Oh and the rest of you... I do see rocks down there!

[Cuddly McFluffles]

This is an interesting concept. I would probably fall under accentuation.

[Krig the Viking]

I had a thought on the nature of accentuated functions. Essentially, it's a fear of *not* being good at whatever the function is. Accentuated Fi is a fear of not being nice and likeable. Accentuated Te is a fear of not being useful and productive. Accentuated Fe is a fear of not being fun and entertaining. Etc. To me, anyway, this clarifies the exact nature of the phenomenon.

[mu4]

I think thinking about accentuated functions ultimately leads to some sort of dual type representation of a person.

Base Type - TIM Type, perfect theoretical wave form description of a person's function strengths and values

Accentuated Type - Actual measurable functional strength and mental focuses based on environmental and developmental circumstances.

I'm not sure if fear is necessarily something that is necessary for someone to focus on a accentuated function, love, joy, any passion can also lead a person to pursue the a interest related to this function diligently.

I think that accentuated functions also tend to be evaluatory functions because these functions are where strong judgement are made.

Evaluatory functions are 1/4/5/8 and are the Base, PoLR, Suggestive, Demonstrative functions, which are our weakest and strongest functions.

I think that human personality is best described as a complex waveform which would be able to account for different functional accentuations within that metabolism.

[krieger]

How many words are we going to invent to denote infinitely divisible subtype with until we have the phenomenon properly covered..?

[tcaudilllg]

How many words are we going to invent to denote infinitely divisible subtype with until we have the phenomenon properly covered..?

Let it go. ;_;

[The Reality Denialist]

Let's lift this up.


So:

Baseline person should fit in a model. Usually there happens some sort of divergence hence DCNH can be applied. DCNH does not make the person weird.


Accentuation:
This person is not a great stereotypical fit to a model. They usually have some weirdness to them. You could tease out their fitting to a model but it will not be apparent by any means. AFAIK these weirdos may even have the normalizing subtype.



So I got this Ni accentuation. Great, I have great mental imaginary thing going on. It however consumes my energy. Energy imbalance.

[ILoveChinchillas]

Let's lift this up.


So:

Baseline person should fit in a model. Usually there happens some sort of divergence hence DCNH can be applied. DCNH does not make the person weird.


Accentuation:
This person is not a great stereotypical fit to a model. They usually have some weirdness to them. You could tease out their fitting to a model but it will not be apparent by any means. AFAIK these weirdos may even have the normalizing subtype.



So I got this Ni accentuation. Great, I have great mental imaginary thing going on. It however consumes my energy. Energy imbalance.

I think the typing makes sense. You strike me as the kind of person who plays with images and may even create personas readily like an actor.

It's kind of strange that an accentuation can be of a function you already value and have proficiency in. Do you think you developed the accentuation due to any unusual circumstances?

Your accentuation kind of sucks because it means you may have to develop your PoLR function in order to balance things out. If you wish, that is.

[Manatroid92]

Let's lift this up.


So:

Baseline person should fit in a model. Usually there happens some sort of divergence hence DCNH can be applied. DCNH does not make the person weird.


Accentuation:
This person is not a great stereotypical fit to a model. They usually have some weirdness to them. You could tease out their fitting to a model but it will not be apparent by any means. AFAIK these weirdos may even have the normalizing subtype.



So I got this Ni accentuation. Great, I have great mental imaginary thing going on. It however consumes my energy. Energy imbalance.

So, for example, what would an LSI with an Ne accentuation look like? Would they outwardly be more like an LII, or would they just be a very strange, and maybe unhealthy, LSI?

[Ave]

So, for example, what would an LSI with an Ne accentuation look like? Would they outwardly be more like an LII, or would they just be a very strange, and maybe unhealthy, LSI?

I don't think they would look like an LII. Probably like a strange LSI.

[Lesri]

So, for example, what would an LSI with an Ne accentuation look like? Would they outwardly be more like an LII, or would they just be a very strange, and maybe unhealthy, LSI?

I had a LSI friend with an accentuated Ne. He is very unstable and unhealty.
He has all LSI characteristics, but he is also way more nerd than others LSIs. His Ne looks also more vulnerable than an average LSI.
He is still more similiar to a normal LSI rather than LIIs. LIIs are more kind and genuine and doesn't like rage (Se PolR), while LSI get angry very easy. Also, suggestive Fe of LSIs looks more fake/advantages seeking rather than genuine as LIIs.

[Ave]

I would recommend [Ave] to pay attention to the adjusting the balance of aesthetic
and fine sensing (S) on the one hand, and the coarser power sensing (F), on the other
hand. Unbalanced power sensing (F) gives excitability and clumsiness, as well as
creates difficulties in personal relationships. After all, a long stay in F for the Inspector is
equivalent to stress. Obviously, [Ave] needs acting to get new sensations and relieve
stress.

I wonder if Gulenko was implying (or at least, suspected) that I have accentuated F/Se. @Rune @Sanguine Miasma what do you guys think?

[The Reality Denialist]

I wonder if Gulenko was implying (or at least, suspected) that I have accentuated F/Se. @Rune @Sanguine Miasma what do you guys think?

I don't know. Creative is the most out of the box sub.

[Metaphor]

I don't know. Creative is the most out of the box sub.

*Unconventional

[ILoveChinchillas]

I wonder if Gulenko was implying (or at least, suspected) that I have accentuated F/Se. @Rune @Sanguine Miasma what do you guys think?

It kind of seems like it, but maybe it's not full blown.

You're C subtype, so there's an emphasis on Se in your personality.

I think if it was really an accentuation on Se, he'd be asking you to improve your Ne, since N balances out accentuations in S, not S.

[EUDAEMONIUM]

I thought the accentuation was just a further elaboration on the subtype. So it is strange to me to have an EIE-C with accentuated Ni. Does Gulenko not like to do the two subtype thing anymore? It sounds like he could have just used that.


Edit: I read back to the beginning (skimmed). So from what I remember, the accentuation is not all that important, more a byproduct of the environment you are in. Not really sure how you could actually identify this.

[The Reality Denialist]

I thought the accentuation was just a further elaboration on the subtype. So it is strange to me to have an EIE-C with accentuated Ni. Does Gulenko not like to do the two subtype thing anymore? It sounds like he could have just used that.


Edit: I read back to the beginning (skimmed). So from what I remember, the accentuation is not all that important, more a byproduct of the environment you are in. Not really sure how you could actually identify this.

I have cyclothymic qualities and I have seen visual hallucinations. I think the most optimal state for ENFx type is hypothymia. Cyclothymic tendencies such as having serious depressive episodes is not very optimal. Apparently I do not come off very harmonizing (body language and stuff) but my interest have been around Ni.

[Ave]

The accentuation is neither an extension of the subtype nor a product of the environment.

The subtype is the subtype and the reaction to the environment is functional state. The accentuation is in between those two. The functional state is not that important.

1) Type
2)DCNH subtype
3)Functional accentuation
4)Functional state

[Nephilthoth]

I didn't get any information on my accentuated functions, I'm not particularly concerned. It's probably Ne. I would be flattered if it was Se, but I doubt it. I guess I could ask.

[Ocean Man]

My subtype in Model G was changed from CH to DC upon further investigation, as far as I know. "Individuated" to a large degree.

[The Reality Denialist]

https://socioniks.net/consultation/?id=228

It is unlikely that during intensive work a person will immediately develop a different accentuation for himself. Your state may change, but this state is not fixed for a long time. We often refer to such phenomena as displacement. The most well known are the semi-dual and superego displacements.

For example, if you are a rational logician, then your role function is ethics and you can behave like your superego. For example, a Humanist, doing accounting work or programming, transfers his mental energy to logic, weakens ethics, and accentuation of structural logic may occur. But this is unlikely to happen, this is nothing more than a displacement.
There is a semi-dual displacement. For example, Critic was appointed to a leadership position. To cope with the task, he begins to develop authoritarian inclinations and often shows rigidity, intractability and brute power sensing. This does not mean that he has an accentuation in force sensory (F). This is the so-called semi-dual shift, it works when a person gets into someone else's attitude to the type of activity and must gain a foothold there.

Another thing is that all this can be a path to the development of accentuation. But in 1-2 months, as stated in the question, accentuation will not develop. It requires much more time and effort. In addition, accentuation is such an aggravation of a function that even strangers begin to notice it in you, even if you are no longer in the place for which this function is needed, but in another. Everywhere accentuated function begins to work. Moreover, accentuations are explicit and latent. If we are talking about the social level, then these are obvious accentuations, others should notice this. If you find yourself in a situation where you have to show a function intensively, but people don’t see it in another place, then you don’t have accentuation.

[Ikite iru]

Accentuations are a bit tricky to explain. In real life, if you have two people, one 6'2, the other 5'7, you will quickly see who is the dominant and who is the normalising subtype. In working environments it's more difficult to see and the line can be blurry. Normalising subtypes can be in leading positions not because of their physical strenght, but because the structure and rules of their environment allows them to give dominant subtypes orders, so the dynamic can be reversed. Normalising subtypes are very passive in relationships. They usually do whatever their partner wants from them. This is quite paradox when both are partners are N-subs, because they both expect the other person to give orders or lead/make decisions