Hey everyone,
Over the last few days, I have started getting really confused about my Sociotype (and even my subtype). If you look below, you will see that I currently consider my type to be ESE with a Creative/ subtype (DCNH).
I consider myself to be a very friendly, warm, open type of person who often wears my emotions on my sleeve (very ESE'ish).
On the flip side, I also consider myself to be very curious, analytical, theoretically motivated, scientifically driven person (very ILE'ish).
It is almost as if there are two mikesilbs...and I am starting to wonder which really is my type and which one is either a subtype or doesn't even belong within the Socionics system.
Now, the thing is that all my life, I have had this curious, analytical side that simply wants to learn as much as I can and engage my curiosity to the fullest. This drove me at age 4 to study and interpret all types of maps (from the US Interstate Hwy system to the NY Subway Map). To me, the act of engaging in my curiosity towards complex, theoretical subjects is natural to me, and has allowed me to obtain a doctorate degree in a biological/biochemical area. The thing that makes me think that ILE could be my type and not ESE is the fact that cognitively, it is second nature for me to remain open minded and curious towards some fascinating and thought-provoking subject matter. Keep in mind, that Socionics is a subject matter that I find theoretically very rich with these abstract IM Elements, their placement within Model A/B/etc., the subtyping systems, and all other aspects. To me, it is almost as if I am studying quasi-neuroscience in terms of assessing how each IM element matches with how each person naturally and cognitively processes his/her IM Metabolism. It feels like an abstract code that I simply want to understand to the fullest degree and to master.
On the flip side, I am ESE-like. What I mean by that is that I am friendly, warm, enthusiastic, caring. I am certainly reading into and interpreting all types of people-signals in the way that people describe . I deeply care about being liked and I am often nervous about taking an interpersonal risk that might jeopardize friendships, relationships, etc. I am also very passionate, enthusiastic, and like to live life at this level. So, I consider myself to be a man of the heart as much as I am a man of the mind. I will also say that unlike many ESEs, I probably not a natural caretaker and host. I do like seeing people happy and making people happy. However, it is often through my spontaneous interaction with each person rather than through efforted hosting and caretaking that I ensure the happiness of the people in my life.
People have seen in me and have debated as to whether I am an EIE or ESE. ESE feels more right in terms of a softer/friendlier emotionality, and I relate much closer to alpha than beta. However, I am way more abstract/theory (N) driven than concrete (S).
Anyways, so lately the debate of ESE (alpha SF) vs. ILE (alpha NT) has emerged.
I will say that leaning towards IEE or EIE (two types that are somewhat in the middle of ESE and ILE), both feel as if there is an averaging going on, where I simply do not feel like either an IEE nor an EIE at the core. I feel like either an alpha NT or an alpha SF more than a beta type or a -based delta type. To me, the academic/scientific (/pure logic-driven) style of the ILE fits better than the IEE. Likewise, I do not feel that I have the edgy-beta aspects of the EIE (in other words, I don't think that my theoretical interests equate to the EIE's style as much as it is more of a alpha-NT'ish phenomenon).
So does anyone have any feedback about this? Sociotype? DCNH Subtype? What do you think?