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    Introduction to Socionics


    Socionics is a theory of information processing and personality type, distinguished by its information model of the psyche, called Model A, and a model of interpersonal relations. It incorporates Carl Jung's work on Psychological Types with Antoni Kępiński's theory of information metabolism. Socionics is a modification of Jung's personality type theory that uses eight psychic functions. These functions process information at varying levels of competency and interact with the corresponding function in other individuals, giving rise to predictable reactions and impressions—a theory of intertype relations.


    Socionics was developed in the 1970s and '80s, primarily by the Lithuanian researcher Aušra Augustinavičiūtė, an economist, sociologist, and dean of the Vilnius Pedagogical University's department of family science. A. Augustinavičiūtė has later shortened her last name from "Augustinavichiute" to "Augusta" to make it easier to spell for foreigners. The name "socionics" is derived from the word "society", because A. Augusta believed that each personality type has a distinct purpose in society, which can be described and explained by socionics. Augusta created symbols to represent the functions described by Carl Jung and — together with a circle of fellow researchers/hobbyists — eventually created what is known as the "socionic model of the psyche" — a description of the psyche where each of the 8 information elements has its place in each person's psyche.


    The central idea of socionics is that information is intuitively divisible into eight categories, called information aspects or information elements, which a person's psyche processes using eight psychological functions. Each sociotype has a different correspondence between functions and information elements, which results in different ways of perceiving, processing, and producing information. This in turn results in distinct thinking patterns, values, and responses to arguments, all of which are encompassed within socionic type. Socionics' theory of intertype relations is based on the interaction of these functions between types.


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  • silke

    by Published on 10-26-2011 05:18 AM  Number of Views: 26061 
    1. Categories:
    2. Socionics,
    3. Reinin Dichotomy,
    4. Semantics
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    Original article.
    References to dichotomies referenced in this article: Process/Result, Negativist/Positivist, Static/Dynamic


    Defining Specialized Logical Functions by V. Gulenko

    Notes: This is Gulenko's early work that preceded his writing on cognitive styles.

    Introduction

    General logic, structuring, will be denoted by function L. Its varieties will then be called specialized logical functions. If one considers that not a single sociotype is same as the other in its logical thinking, from this follows that there must be as many specialized functions as there are sociotypes - sixteen. Specialized functions I will denote with + and - signs as well as make use of operations from propositional logic. In this article when the word "logic" carries the meaning of structural logic rather than business logic.

    1. Sign dichotomies

    Originally I have assigned the positive and negative signs of communicative functions, including logic, to the dichotomy "left/right" [also known as process/result]. "Right" logic I have denoted with symbol +L and left logic by -L. What is the difference between these two logic types?

    Right/Process/Evolutionary logic: straight and absolute, has no reverse feedback. This type of logic as if delineates contours of forms on some background that is then discarded as insignificant. It is characterized by absence of context and is categorical, explicit in judgements.

    Left/Result/Involutionary logic: inversive, derived from straight logic using the operation of subtraction. It is reflexive and considers not the upfront side as much as the back side of the coin. It underlines the background, contextual dependencies of judgements.

    Right logic (process): ILE, SEI, EIE, LSI, SEE, ILI, LSE, EII
    Left logic (result): ESE, LII, SLE, IEI, LIE, ESI, IEE, SLI

    However, there is another way of assign + and - signs that is no less substantiated: using the dichotomy of negativism/positivism. Then +L will denote the logic of positivists while -L will denote the logic of negativists.

    Positivist logic: unified, accordant in all parts. This kind of logic comes closest to what is known as formal logic. An example of this kind of logic is syllogism - inferential sequence of arguments described by Aristotle in "Organon".

    Negativist logic: logic of contradictions. Dialectic, containing in itself oppositions and contradictions. This logical instrument works best when analyzing complicated multilayered systems.

    Positivists: ILE, ESE, LSI, ...
    by Published on 10-24-2011 07:03 AM  Number of Views: 25652 
    1. Categories:
    2. Socionics,
    3. Jung
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    Back to C.G. Jung main page


    CHAPTER X:
    GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE TYPES


    A. INTRODUCTION

    In the following pages I shall attempt a general description of the types, and my first concern must be with the two general types I have termed introverted and extraverted. But, in addition, I shall also try to give a certain characterization of those special types whose particularity is due to the fact that his most differentiated function plays the principal role in an individual's adaptation or orientation to life. The former I would term general attitude types, since they are distinguished by the direction of general interest or libido movement, while the latter I would call function-types.

    The general-attitude types, as I have pointed out more than once, are differentiated by their particular attitude to the object. The introvert's attitude to the object is an abstracting one; at bottom, he is always facing the problem of how libido can be withdrawn from the object, as though an attempted ascendancy on. the part of the object had to be continually frustrated. The extravert, on the contrary, maintains a positive relation to the object. To such an extent does he affirm its importance that his subjective attitude is continually being orientated by, and related to the object. An fond, the object can never have sufficient value; for him, therefore, its importance must always be paramount.

    The two types are so essentially different, presenting so striking a contrast, that their existence, even to the [p. 413] uninitiated in psychological matters becomes an obvious fact, when once attention has been drawn to it. Who does not know those taciturn, impenetrable, often shy natures, who form such a vivid contrast to these other open, sociable, serene maybe, or at least friendly and accessible characters, who are on good terms with all the world, or, even when disagreeing with it, still hold a relation to it by which they and it are mutually affected.

    Naturally, at first, one is inclined to regard such differences as mere individual idiosyncrasies. But anyone with the opportunity of gaining a fundamental knowledge ...
    by Published on 10-24-2011 05:51 AM  Number of Views: 29631 
    1. Categories:
    2. Socionics,
    3. Philosophy
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    Published by V.V. Gulenko, Kiev, 13.06.1992. Original article.
    Notes: Only part 6 of this article titled "Philosophy of Types" has been translated.


    6. Philosophy of Types


    The problem of incentives is closely related to the problem of existential motifs. This is a deeper and more abstract category, which I, as a representative of intuitive thinker class, would like to address in conclusion of this article. Each sociotype has its own existential outlook - a philosophically-oriented generalized concept of the driving force that directs other people and the world at large. From this particular interpretation it will follow how a type chooses to solve the question of the primacy of the material and the ideal. Those sociotypes whose motivation is primarily of material nature, I will conditionally call "materialists". All sensing types fall under this category. The opposing group of types, whose inner motivations are predominantly idealistic in nature, I will call "idealists". This group is comprised of all of the intuitive types.

    As is known in philosophy, idealism can be divided into two branches - objective idealism, which recognizes in one shape or form the idea of god - external supra-material instance that governs the world, and subjective idealism, which supposes that our notions of the world are that which gives rise to it.

    According to Jung, objective-oriented types are extraverts, subjective-oriented types are introverts. Consequently objective idealism is the philosophy of intuitive extraverts while subjective idealism - of intuitive introverts. In analogous manner this can be applied to the "materialist" sensing group: sensing introverts are thus subjective materialists while sensing extraverts are objective materialists. Different philosophical schools of thoughts will be treated rather loosely here, however, I am doing this for one purpose - to systematize existing observations about motivation of behavior on 16 levels.
    ...
    by Published on 10-13-2011 05:01 AM  Number of Views: 74680 
    1. Categories:
    2. Socionics,
    3. IEI - INFp
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    Intuitive Ethical Introvert: The Lyricist



    General description

    Romantic dreamer and visionary. Curious: not indifferent to anything that is novel, unusual, and fascinating. Leaves an impression by his unexpected, sometimes extravagant behavior and statements. Has a refined sense of humor. Knows how to comfort a person, how to uplift the mood.

    Emotive and charming; may smile even when he is saying something unpleasant. Insistent in his requests when he is strongly motivated. Knows how to pick a good moment to approach a person with his request. Freely manages his ...
    by Published on 10-11-2011 06:43 AM  Number of Views: 31457 
    1. Categories:
    2. Socionics,
    3. ILI - INTp
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    Intuitive Logical Introvert: The Critic


    General Description

    Has a good eye for noticing contradictions and omissions in actions and words. Skeptical about the prospects of hasty initiatives. Can provide a characteristic for someone, predict his main reactions. Patiently leads a person along towards taking the necessary step, preparing him or her in advance.

    Takes up only those tasks that ensure reliable returns. Thrifty with money. Does the job scrupulously, slowly, attentively examines details. Calculates everything in his mind. Tries to control the process. Able to capitalize on information that he or she has accumulated. ...
    by Published on 10-07-2011 05:33 PM  Number of Views: 24674 
    1. Categories:
    2. Socionics,
    3. Reinin Dichotomy,
    4. Social Progress
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    Translator's notes: This article is a follow-up of Gulenko's work and most of the text in quotes was taken from his earlier publications. Original article.

    "Left/right" dichotomy is also known as Process/Result or Evolution/Involution.

    In typing, distinguishing types of same or similar temperament can be challenging. The Right/Left dichotomy can be used to distinguish between Kindred, Bussiness, and Quasi-identical relations. For example, type EII is Process while types similar to EII, its Kindred (ESI), Quasi-identical (IEI), and Business (LII), lie on the Result side of this dichotomy. Whether someone's sociotype is Process or Result can be established by inspecting the flow of information present in this person's writing. Check the comment at the bottom of this article to see examples of its application.

    This method does not work for distinguishing types in Benefit relations. In such cases, Static/Dynamic dichotomy can be used (link).


    Part One: "Two vectors of social progress"

    1. Evolution and involution as two vectors of social progress.

    The founder of Socionics, Aushra Augustinavichiute, introduced the concept of social progress as the essence of the functioning of the collective mind of the socion. According to her opinion, "every type carries out its own part of the social request - the social function of its own intellect." The four rings of the benefit are ...
    by Published on 10-06-2011 09:07 PM  Number of Views: 20501 
    1. Categories:
    2. Socionics,
    3. SEI - ISFp
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    Sensing Ethical Introvert: The Mediator


    General Description

    The SEI is usually friendly and pleasant in communication. Very considerate of his own conveniences and those of others. Attentive and caring in relation to his close ones. Often takes the position of the "golden mean" in a work group. Loves beautiful objects and images, and a familiar, comfortable atmosphere.

    Emotional, internally attuned to others, responsive. Seeks to cheer up others with jokes, games, witty comments, and clever retorts. Tries not to get drawn into debates and arguments, wants to be in good ...
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