Viktor Gulenko's Descriptions of the DCNH Subtypes

Viktor Gulenko's Descriptions of the DCNH Subtypes

This article contains Viktor Gulenko's descriptions of the four DCNH subtypes that have been translated from one of his blog entries. These are the links to his original posts: Dominant subtype, Creative subtype, Normalizing subtype, Harmonizing subtype.


See also:
- Book: 64 DCNH Profiles for Each Socionics Type by V. Gulenko
- Subtyping Systems in Socionics
- DCNH Subtypes: Empirical Portraits by Vera Borisova
- DCNH subtypes Empirical Portraits discussion thread
- Identifying DCNH subtypes
- Observations and comments on DCNH subtyping system
- How each DCNH types dominates the other - DCNH benefit relations
- How do u even go about finding someone's DCNH type?
- DCNH Creatives and discussion of other subtypes


Gulenko's symbols for the IEs are as follows: S = sensus/sensing (Si); I = intueor/intuition (Ne); L = lex/law/logic (Ti); E = emoveo/emotion (Fe); T = tempus/time (Ni); F = factor/force (Se); R = relatio/relations (Fi); P = profiteor/profit/production (Te).


DCNH Dominant Subtype Profile - The Functional States of the Dominant Subtype

First, an overview of the psychic functions. I treat the functions of the psyche not as information aspects, but as an intentional act of a reflective nature - i.e., a specialized act of perception and the psyche's reaction to stimuli, requiring the consumption of energy for its implementation. The "Functional state" is a specific manifestation of a psychic function under given conditions in a given carrier[*]. Thus, we do not observe the psychic function directly, but only via the functional state generated by the psyche of the carrier.

[*Note: carrier = the carrier of the function, i.e., the person who has that function in their psyche. -Krig]

Even though the psychic function is always congruent, the functional state can be mismatched between the different levels of communicative space. Most often this mismatch manifests itself as a disparity between words and actions, verbal statements and nonverbal signals. For example, someone claims that he is a man of strong personality, a leader, but his gestures, his pose, the intonation of his voice betray a weak character, an easily offended man, who does not come across as described.

Such a dichotomy allows us to compare the Man of Words against the Man of Deeds. A man who is talking is drawn to informational socionics, while a man who is doing is drawn to energetic socionics.

Let us now examine the functional states characteristic of the Dominant personality.

The main characteristics of the Dominant: an expression of purposefulness with a prevalence of terminal action over reflection. D-personality is obsessed with a difficult goal, which is constantly “itching” in his brain, haunting him. Drawn by strong desire, he tries to reach his goal once, twice. He cannot. But his hand does not descend. On the contrary, he desires it even more greatly. In him is that which is sometimes called the “fighting spirit”, occasionally “playing hardball”. P is supported via E, a functional resonance appears. Sometimes this obsession reaches fanaticism. Maximum motivation for achieving goals. He tries a third time, in another way. Versatility and resourcefulness emerge (it is connected to force sensing, F). Getting stuck, as we see, does not end with dull repetition. Dominant tries another angle, puts aside action for a while. Sooner or later, with such concentrated energy and mobility, changes begin. Supporters appear, ready to follow the leader. Satisfaction is awakened. After the result is reached, it is desirable to set new difficult goals, and so forth. In practical psychology there are well-known techniques for the achievement of a goal: for this one must visualize the goal clearly and palpably, and regularly verify progress. However, the Dominant personality need not be taught, he wields this ability wonderfully.

PEFI is its ideal functional profile. Such people are respected and taken into consideration.

The energy of movement towards a goal, as we see, is the main resource of a brilliant leader. Despite the fact that they are carriers of individual types, people are parts of a whole, although they are in no great hurry to be united into a socion. This requires special conditions, in particular strong motivation.

For example, to justify teamwork it is necessary to have an specific difficult goal under conditions of tight resources. Even animals are united into a flock in order to survive. But if the conditions of the environment are favourable, each individual wants total freedom and does not want to subordinate his actions to a collective goal. The flock is scattered into separate groups. And if we survive quite simply, a society of loners predominates. But behold, the climate catastrophically changed, enemies attacked or something like that and the stark reality of life forces unification. At first everything happens spontaneously and through self-organization, as a result of which leaders arise -- those who can direct the energy of the group. But then they grow Normalizing, Harmonizing and Creative. And behold, we are already on the way from quaternion to socion.


DCNH Creative Subtype Profile - The Functional States of the Creative Subtype

The main characteristics of the Creative person are paradoxical thinking and nonstandard behavior, which make it possible to solve problems of particular complexity, which are impervious to the normal, standardized methods.

The main secret of Creative energy is internal concentration to such an extent, that the external situation is completely ignored.

I want to recall in this connection an anecdote from ancient history about Archimedes, who drew geometric figures in the sand, not paying attention to the Roman soldiers who at that very moment were breaking into his hometown of Syracuse.

This state of internal compression and painful contractions, which accompanies the psychological “birth” of new ideas, is quite heavy. In this state it is not desirable to eat or drink, the world loses its color and temptation, and only one thing is desirable -- to quickly eject this idea which turns inside.

However, in the formula of the Creative it is necessary to write more and the function E, by which the generated idea is presented to public in a vivid and memorable form. Archimedes, as you remember, shouted “Eureka!”. It is difficult to deny the special magnetism and mania inherent in the Creative.

Lo and behold we derive the formula IFE. However, it is not possible to confuse the Creative inspiration with the emotional pressure of the Dominant personality, which uses this tool much more effectively and by far exceeds the Creative in strength of influence on people's psyche.

The inevitable sequel to the merits of the Creative are his deficiencies, which greatly annoy those nearby. First of all, talk goes on about his uneven fitness for work and his extreme individualism. Periods of inspiration alternate with periods of stagnation, or even depression. Individualism arises from the unwillingness to accept the group standards. The Creative's superior is forced to make concessions to him, otherwise he risks to be deprived of the uniquely talented one-of-a-kind (you will recall series about Dr. House).

The Creative subtype in a specific person, of course, can be combined with additional accentuations (any at all). For example, Leo Tolstoy, although he was Creative (function I in him fully maintained by F), at the same time he was preoccupied with nonviolent resistance to evil, which attests to accentuation on the function +R. Such a combination of functions, in which one function reduces another, takes much energy away from a man.


DCNH Normalizing Subtype Profile - The Functional States of the Normalizing Subtype

Let us examine the ideal formula for Normalizing behavior - LRT. In reality the person who carries out the role of the normalizing participant in a group, of course, merely approaches this formula. Moreover to approach the model is possible in two ways - through R (ethical standards) or through L (logical standards).

Normalizing by ethics is primary. It arises for the first time when people are just beginning to stick together, not yet having any formal organization. The psychological state R is expressed as anxiety and conscientiousness, affection for his own, loyalty to traditions. Normalizing by structural logic is secondary, because it is formal in character and arises later.

At its foundation lies the knowledge and observance of laws (“dura lex sed lex”), which requires certain psychological qualities - composure and indifference. Functions L and R reliably support each other: the law-abider is stable not because of the fear of punishment, but from conscientiousness.

A third, additional function for the normalizing behavior is T (intuition of time). The Normalizing man brings stability, since he is measured and systematic, and therefore quite predictable. He has a good memory, which suggests which traditions have stood the test of time. Society is very interested, so that the people with the N-behavior are many. This is especially true of a society which is in a state of Anomie.

Normalizing people, in this way, form the foundation of any society. Without them there would be no order and civilization. The civilized man is, before all else, one who respects laws and standards. Why do you think Robinson Crusoe did not go wild on that uninhabited island? The main reason (although not the only one) should be sought in the fact that, he forcefully kept standards - sensory-hygienic, housekeeping, religious-ethical, and even kept a calendar!

By the way, his prototype - the real British sailor Alexander Selkirk, who spent more than four years on the island of Mas a Tierra, was clearly not Normalizing. Rather, he was Piratical-Creative (primary Creative - from excitable F). Indeed it is well known that in fact Selkirk escaped to the sea because he killed his alcoholic father and he was trying to hide from justice. So that Defoe rewrote Robinson's personality in his didactic way. And he was right. Because ruffians and adventurers are in the end only stories, the inevitable compensation for the strict and boring regularity of prosperous societies.


DCNH Harmonizing Subtype Profile - The Functional States of the Harmonizing Subtype

The Harmonizing type variant (also known as H-subtype) is formed as a result sustained strengthening in the functional profile of any sociotype of the receptive-adaptive functions S and T. And if we use three functions, then STR. That appears to be the ideal formula for Harmonizing behavior. But why?

First of all, again, the primary harmonization is on S. Remember the magic Latin phrase “Mens sana in corpore sano” (a sound mind in a sound body), indicating a progressive relationship between these functions to achieve a harmonious state of mind. Secondly, it is a more natural path of growth from sensory to intuition, rather than vice versa. Thus, in yoga you first pass the lowest step - Hatha, sensory, and then the spiritual-intuitive - Raja.

We will also take into consideration the third function. Although it is additional, it yields important nuances. “R” as the third component of profile will ensure a more adequate harmonization than L. Indeed L is composure and indifference, which blunts the nuances and fine adjustments. And where is Harmonization without them?

The equivalence ([vzaimoobuslavlivanie]) of sensory and intuition (it is written “S ↔ T”) frequently is achieved by means of immersing a person in a trance. Great successes in this matter was reached by well-known psychotherapist Milton Erickson. He was able to immerse people in a trance state by skillful suggestion through relaxation and calling up images from memory (so-called “Ericksonian" hypnosis).

True, there are more radical, but at the same time more dangerous methods. In particular, the representatives of various psychedelic practices attempt to artificially induce altered states of consciousness (T) by means of chemical drugs (S).

Internal harmony not as a method of treatment, but as a holistic mode of existence, was developed long ago in the East. It is based on the principle of non-action (in Taoism it is called Wu-wei). The rationale here is similar. Any purposeful activity disrupts the natural course of things. Any action causes an equal and opposite reaction. All places in the system are already occupied. If system is complex and variable, then we cannot know the long-term consequences of our actions. Consequently, to thrash about and push yourself forward is pointless.

In the western culture, the rejection of the expenditure of effort for the goal of external change has emerged as social phenomenon known as escapism, i.e., escape from real life into the world of dreams, fantasies, and thoughts. In addition to escapism there has always been a more primitive, but in practice easier embodiment of the lifestyle of the Harmonizing personality - Apathy. It is quite common now among young people.

A few words about the indispensable role of the harmonizing personality in a stable group. The Harmonizer is designed to ensure feedback in the communicative system. It sends the signals of correction, being an indicator of the psychological atmosphere. H-subtype at first sharply and even violently resists forcible demands, but then gradually submits and adapts to it. On the one hand, he is the weak link, but on the other hand, without his contribution the system loses vitality under conditions of the lack of energy resources.

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