Rankings/Ratings of Intertype Relations

[sarinana]

I'm in love with my identical. I always know what to expect from him so I am 100% secure with him even when he is far away. Also identical relationships are very good for those who want to became 'a better person' because when you are with your identical you can see all your flaws and easily learn from them. As for romance I think Ethic types in identical relationship can be pretty romantical.

[meatburger]

For relationships hmm i dont really know. I would say dual/semi dual aswell. Mirror would also be fairly comfortable. I would date my supervisor over my Conflictor any day of the week. I could handle an INTj girl judging me ok but an ISTj girl ordering me around would end badly. INTj's actually do get attracted to me ive found which is nice.

For friendship the best ive found are duality, activity and mirror. Identical ENFp girls i get on well with fine, but neither of us really gets much out of it. I do know an ENFp guy though and hes actually quite awesome but we are just accquantances. I have some dual friends but i must admit our lifestyles seem to differ. I have fun with my duals but i always feel slightly on edge or something. My mirror is great but theres something underlying that gets to me. Mirror has great potential though, same with duality.

The winner for friendship hands down for me is activity. I grew up with an ESTj and even if we do not see each other for a few months we are friends again instantly. I find him interesting and fun to be around, we share much of the same interests / morals and its very relaxing. No friendship has really ever come close to be honest.

[Hot Scalding Gayser]

I don't think supervision is worse than conflict. Supervision relationships are asymmetrical anyway. Well what does that mean exactly?

The supervisor is nowhere near as annoyed with the supervisee as the supervisee is annoyed with the supervisor. In confliction, there's a mutual hatred and everything around them kind of gets destroyed in the process.

[jewels]

I would say that honestly, most introverts really intrigue me (yeah all of them!). And also extroverts who appear like introverts (ENTps, ENFps...and then I'm SO sad when I find out their type .... Of course, this all crashes and burns later on...*wearing shirt that reads " still haven't met my dual" lol) Anyway...

For romance:

1) I still think duality is best for romance. Dual friendships I think could be good, but I haven't known one that I've been best friends with yet.
2) Activity is also good!!! warm fuzzy-ness
3) Semi-dual is also very good. also warm fuzzy-ness
4) supervision is very interesting, especially at first, and though there is some conflict, it's not all that bad
5) Look-a-like -- not bad! but they must be really interesting as a person for it to work long-term! They lack the "Mystery" factor so must be super cool for it to last.
Note: I don't like identical for romance because there ends up being a lot of either 1) insecurity because you assume they have the same tricks up their sleeve you do 2) annoyance or boredom if you realize they are exactly like you

For friends:

1) Identical all the way! Just make sure you get a non-boring and smart version like yourself...few things are worse than a boring identical I have an identical friend and we say we are clones...we react exactly the same way (obvious, but still surprising every time). Tonight we were both at a movie and both were overly concerned that we find a drinking fountain and bathroom before the show started - I mean, no one else in the group cared...but we have those Si concerns lol, and then we bitched about small Fi things people had done wrong that had upset us, that no one else thought was important, etc.
2) Activity!
3) Semi Dual
4) Mirrors I get "in theory" but I've had one good INFj friends, and honestly she annoyed me (but I think it was just her). She would act like everyone needed to think the same way she did, as far as supporting the exact same humanitarian causes (and sometimes I didn't want to buy a magnet for whatever, etc.) There were some things I really liked too, but in the end I was too annoyed by certain things. I'm sure most INFjs aren't like that though.

For friends you go out w/ and don't talk deeply with, or see a lot:

1) ALL types!! Even conflictors. I've had several ISTj girl friends who I really do admire and like, and because we're not roommates or anything we never have conflicts (mostly because I avoid saying things I know would set them off. I'm always aware that if I say certain things, especially Ne things, it will cause a conflict.

The worst imho: comparative! conflicting, quasi-identical, and illusionary is not all that great either.

[shakealittle]

Long-term relationship

- Dual: the closer you get to them, the harder it is to let them go. Can't beat them in terms of growth, reciprocated appreciation and sidekick to help you achieve everything you want in life. The only problem is life gets to feel a little different when they're not around.
- Activity: i love activity relations SO much. You never feel quite in-sync with them (with duality I feel like part of a whole). HOWEVER, it doesn't matter as you feel like your own person yet satisfied enough with what the other provides for you.
- Look-a-like: they are a bit boring but I could see myself with them long-term. We seem to have similar enough values to feel like we're a team working toward similar goals (unlike activity) but unlike activity, there's less depth there. Could really put illusionary in here as well.

Romance:
- Semi-dual: love relating to semi-duals with all the sensory-ness that comes with it. Sooo awesome in every way except there's a real clash with issues relating to the bigger picture, I think, so I couldn't see them as ideally long-term.
- Activity
- Mirror: the beta ST aggressor thing, I've been there, and it's probably the most intense thing ever. coupled with the sort of instant-knowingness of the other person, it's even more intensely awesome. the fact we're never quite sure of the relationship itself makes it a little hard to see things long-term. however, they are good for personal growth, i reckon.

Friendship:
- Identical: very easy relation until there's other people involved, then there's some competition/frustration/embarrassment. it's good to see where you need to grow but they don't really give you the tools to so
- Activity: they are always refreshing, and i put them above dual because you kinda relate to them on this introverted level

- Semi-dual and dual: dunno, introverts seem more stable in friendships or something?? I like all other types too for friendship, I also don't mind my conflictors

[07490]

Long-term relationship

- Dual: the closer you get to them, the harder it is to let them go. Can't beat them in terms of growth, reciprocated appreciation and sidekick to help you achieve everything you want in life. The only problem is life gets to feel a little different when they're not around.
- Activity: i love activity relations SO much. You never feel quite in-sync with them (with duality I feel like part of a whole). HOWEVER, it doesn't matter as you feel like your own person yet satisfied enough with what the other provides for you.
- Look-a-like: they are a bit boring but I could see myself with them long-term. We seem to have similar enough values to feel like we're a team working toward similar goals (unlike activity) but unlike activity, there's less depth there. Could really put illusionary in here as well.

Romance:
- Semi-dual: love relating to semi-duals with all the sensory-ness that comes with it. Sooo awesome in every way except there's a real clash with issues relating to the bigger picture, I think, so I couldn't see them as ideally long-term.
- Activity
- Mirror: the beta ST aggressor thing, I've been there, and it's probably the most intense thing ever. coupled with the sort of instant-knowingness of the other person, it's even more intensely awesome. the fact we're never quite sure of the relationship itself makes it a little hard to see things long-term. however, they are good for personal growth, i reckon.

Friendship:
- Identical: very easy relation until there's other people involved, then there's some competition/frustration/embarrassment. it's good to see where you need to grow but they don't really give you the tools to so
- Activity: they are always refreshing, and i put them above dual because you kinda relate to them on this introverted level

- Semi-dual and dual: dunno, introverts seem more stable in friendships or something?? I like all other types too for friendship, I also don't mind my conflictors

[Jarno]

Long-term relationship

- Dual: the closer you get to them, the harder it is to let them go. Can't beat them in terms of growth, reciprocated appreciation and sidekick to help you achieve everything you want in life. The only problem is life gets to feel a little different when they're not around.
- Activity: i love activity relations SO much. You never feel quite in-sync with them (with duality I feel like part of a whole). HOWEVER, it doesn't matter as you feel like your own person yet satisfied enough with what the other provides for you.
- Look-a-like: they are a bit boring but I could see myself with them long-term. We seem to have similar enough values to feel like we're a team working toward similar goals (unlike activity) but unlike activity, there's less depth there. Could really put illusionary in here as well.

Romance:
- Semi-dual: love relating to semi-duals with all the sensory-ness that comes with it. Sooo awesome in every way except there's a real clash with issues relating to the bigger picture, I think, so I couldn't see them as ideally long-term.
- Activity
- Mirror: the beta ST aggressor thing, I've been there, and it's probably the most intense thing ever. coupled with the sort of instant-knowingness of the other person, it's even more intensely awesome. the fact we're never quite sure of the relationship itself makes it a little hard to see things long-term. however, they are good for personal growth, i reckon.

Friendship:
- Identical: very easy relation until there's other people involved, then there's some competition/frustration/embarrassment. it's good to see where you need to grow but they don't really give you the tools to so
- Activity: they are always refreshing, and i put them above dual because you kinda relate to them on this introverted level

- Semi-dual and dual: dunno, introverts seem more stable in friendships or something?? I like all other types too for friendship, I also don't mind my conflictors

Yep.

[Hot Scalding Gayser]

Does comfort always mean best? That just seems like the middle class fantasy that nothing should ever be hard. But childbirth is hard- and it brings forth new life. Sooo...

I'd imagine some conflicting relationships are comfortable, but are a 'slow suicide' ya know?

[redbaron]

Does comfort always mean best?

this is a really good question.

[717495]

Does comfort always mean best? That just seems like the middle class fantasy that nothing should ever be hard. But childbirth is hard- and it brings forth new life. Sooo...

I'd imagine some conflicting relationships are comfortable, but are a 'slow suicide' ya know?

Duality isn't the most comfortable relation, but it's comfortable enough for its weakness-strength impacts to build on each other. That's why it's the best relationship for growth. Didn't anyone actually read this or know what duality means? Shit...

A couple I know very well is LSI m - ESI f - kindred, and aggressor-aggressor. He seems sometimes a bit depressed due to the lack of Fe but overall they're ok.

I happen to know even a quasi-identity couple - SEI f, ESI m. That's not really favorable but in their case it seems to work due to their being both in their second marriages, and already rather old - so they just accept each other as they are and avoid open sources of disagreements. I talk a lot to the ESI guy, and he essentially accepts her SEI-ness as "just the way she is" - even as he clearly doesn't understand it - but in a good-humored way.

My basic point is that while it doesnt' affect the broad duality-> conflict worsening progression, I think that those factors make the precise ranking more complicated.

Exactly. +4.5

Comfort is only one piece of the puzzle. It's a distraction to think it's the whole concept, and the ignoring of all the other factors might as well delay your growth like any conflictor relationship.

[munenori2]

Assuming I'm an ISFp (I know some of you will disagree :wink, I'd say mirror, semi duality, and of course duality not in that order. Mirror is really really easy to start but seems almost too fun and shallow. Semi Duality isn't too hard to get started but goes deeper than I want and feel comfortable with. Duality is about the right mix, but also a little harder since there's generally less immediately in common I think.

[pluie]

Duality being the most comfortable inter-type romantic relation--I think most would agree--what, in your personal opinions, are the other most and least comfortable relations?

E.g. Is activity more comfortable than mirror, or vice versa? Why?

E.g. Is supervision worse than conflict?

please tell about your experiences so we can all learn

maybe you already know
but its posted on socionics.com

4-star and down.
best to worst.

[Jarno]

maybe you already know
but its posted on socionics.com

4-star and down.
best to worst.

yeah, but that's probably ganin's idea. Not that it's bad.

We've had a similar thread a couple of years ago and 'identical' was the most surprising because it was rarely seen in the top 3.

[Joy]

1.) Duality (duh)
2.) Semi-Duality (almost as good, but missing something... fun times together with 2nd and 8th functions though)
3.) Activation > Identical > Mirror (theoretically, but I haven't ever actually been in a romantic relationship with any of these types, or activity, though I get along with them fabulously)
4.) Illusionary, Supervisee, Contrary, Benefactor (they can be very attractive to me, but the relationships end up being troublesome)
5.) Beneficiary (same as above, but not quite as attractive to me, generally speaking)
6.) Look a like, Comparitive, Superego, Quasi Identical, Supervisor, Conflict (No romantic attraction to these types at all)

[BlackCat]

1. Duality
2. Activator
3. Semi Dual
4. Beneficiary
5. Supervisor

All of the others pretty much fail. But at the very bottom is extinguishment/contrary, and above that is conflict. I can't see a mirror relationship happening, but I enjoy them as friends. Identical and Comparitive pretty much fail as well. Super Ego isn't THAT bad, but I never seem to get past the initial attraction when it comes to them. I'm open to any relationship if I am with someone who is compatible with me, regardless of type.

[1981slater]

1) sexual

2) non-sexual

[Jarno]

1) sexual

2) non-sexual

the fifth dichotomy.

[Joy]

1.) Duality (duh)
2.) Semi-Duality (almost as good, but missing something... fun times together with 2nd and 8th functions though)
3.) Activation > Identical > Mirror (theoretically, but I haven't ever actually been in a romantic relationship with any of these types, or activity, though I get along with them fabulously)
4.) Illusionary, Supervisee, Contrary, Benefactor (they can be very attractive to me, but the relationships end up being troublesome)
5.) Beneficiary (same as above, but not quite as attractive to me, generally speaking)
6.) Look a like, Comparitive, Superego, Quasi Identical, Supervisor, Conflict (No romantic attraction to these types at all)

I would change this now to this:

1. Dual followed closely by activity
2. Comparative and Identical
3. Mirror, semi dual, illusionary, beneficiary, supervisee, benefactor (I have great experiences with all of these)
4. Contrary
5. Conflictor
6. Super ego and look a like
7. Quasi and Supervisor

These low look a like and supervisor rankings may be because of a few very specific people though. Also, I just realized that this was supposed to be about romantic relationships, and I just wrote it about how much I like or get along with people of these types in general (comparative and identical would be further down the list for romantic relationships). Also, my conflictor experiences have been mostly online or in long distance friendships. I'm not sure about the IEIs I know in day to day irl. Either there aren't any/many or they avoid me. They probably avoid me. lol

[Pa3s]

Hello,
at socionics.com you get some information about intertype relations. I actually don't know if the descriptions are okay, but they rated your inter-quadra realtions, and that was what I thought would be interesting to have from the whole socion.

They did it like this:
Relations of Duality: ++++
Identical Relations: +++
Relations of Activity: ++
Mirror Relations: +

Okay, this was more or less obvious, because all of them are part of your quadra, that means you'll get along quite well. But what about the rest? I personally don't know which relation theoretically is better than the other, apart from the chart above. Of course, all this is relative, but I'm just asking if anyone has done a complete rating before.

[Exodus]

There are a lot of different aspects of relationships that you can rank. For general compatibility, having complementary ego functions is best. If they are the same it helps too. Also (generally) within-quadra > adjacent quadra > opposite quadra. It's hard to rank them because often I like my conflictors, for example, but if we had a closer relationship it would go terribly wrong.

Also, I un-recommend Ganin's site. He oversimplifies certain aspects of socionics and totally ignores others. His articles hardly even talk about information elements.

[Creepy-male]

Wouldn't it be

Same quadra > adjacent quadra w/ same valued P IMs > etc?

[Exodus]

Wouldn't it be

Same quadra > adjacent quadra w/ same valued P IMs > etc?

Why? As for me, I get along better with EIEs than LSEs but worse with IEIs than SLIs.

[Creepy-male]

Why? As for me, I get along better with EIEs than LSEs but worse with IEIs than SLIs.

I have consistently poor interactions or relationships with Betas, in particular Beta NFs. There's some superficial harmony with IEIs at least due to the Fe, but any degree of closeness usually causes mutual feelings of the other being right off their rocker.

I find that EIEs are typically histrionic, obnoxious, and invasive (um, subjective opinion of course).

I chalk it up to misunderstandings around Judicious/Decisive, but I could be wrong.

First thought: Different Static/Dynamic > Same Judicious/Decisive > Same Static/Dynamic > Different Judicious/Decisive.

Second thought: <I forgot what it was...>

Third thought: Mix J/P into that, and you have the intraquadra rankings, and then that funnily enough expands to all four quadras. Could work, maybe.

[Pa3s]

There are a lot of different aspects of relationships that you can rank. For general compatibility, having complementary ego functions is best.

You are probably right. These relations are probably too complex to be ranked 1-dimensionally.

Also, I un-recommend Ganin's site.

I already heard from others that it would be crap. Maybe I should stop reading stuff there.

[Hot Scalding Gayser]

I tried to do a complete rating once but I got frustrated and gave up. also a lot of relations are asymmetrical. Meaning, the other person values YOU more than you value him (or vice-versa).

Like, Supervisors tend to like Supervisees a lot more than Supervisees like their Supervisors. So you can't just say 'Supervision' you have to split it into 'Supervisor' and 'Supervisee' which at the time just made my head hurt.

Eventually you say 'fuck it' and drag your weird socially isolated self with the rest of the human race whether you like to or not. =/ noooo i can't be part of them I was made fun of too much in high school for being weak and faggy, noooooooooooooooooooooooo I'm above humans! Silly little straight boys talking about things I don't care about why do I have to interact with you 'in real life' when we have nothing in common lol this is so awkward. please don't call the cops when I talk about fisting! EWWWWWWWW the only thing straight boys care about is joining the army!!! because real life is overrated. the only thing 'real world' people like talking about it seems is the army, nascar, and conservative politics. but maybe I'm just being snooty and faggy and overly intellectual and judging them. but I can't be all that wrong, cuz I've been disllusionsed too many times by 'real life' to think that it's anything other than this bleak, shitty illusion. I just want to write about how life should be in my faggy fairytale books with me and dolphin!

[Blaze]

we've done this before:

Excellent:

• Dual
• Activity

Very Good:

• Illusionary
• Semi dual
• Benefit
• Identity

Good to OK
mirror
quasi
contrary
lookalike

OK to not that good
comparative
supervision

terrible
superego
conflict

who knows though. i nearly always have a close friend who is a supervisor or supervisee. i have no dual friends, so in that sense it's totally theoretical.

[yellow82]

Best relationships? Hmmm, since I don't know socionics very well or the whole way that different personalities work together I'm simply going to post those that I get along with best (in my life). I do happen to believe however that who you get along with best does not necessarily mean that you are getting along well because of personality - it simply means that your goals in life are similar and you both work at keeping the relationship good.

A lot of what makes a friendship what it is is through the commitment of those involved/how much time and effort they will put into the relationship to make it work.

But anyways just a thought from me. :wink:

I am an ESE or ESFj

My best friend at church is an: INFj
The person I am attracted to/close friend is an: INTj
My best friend from high-school/adopted brother is an: ESFj
My best friend for all of my life/twin brother is an: ENFj
My best friend from college is an: INFp

And every one else I'm not sure as to what their personality actually is.

I have noticed that I generally get along well with all of these personalities. (Except; I know an INTj that is absolutely horrendous.)

People I generally don't get along with are usually ISTj. (Sorry ISTj's you really just bug me. )

So question, what kind of relationships are these according to socionics?

[Nowisthetime]

So question, what kind of relationships are these according to socionics?

You can use this chart: http://www.socionics.us/relations.shtml

[Aiss]

I am an ESE or ESFj

My best friend at church is an: INFj
The person I am attracted to/close friend is an: INTj
My best friend from high-school/adopted brother is an: ESFj
My best friend for all of my life/twin brother is an: ENFj
My best friend from college is an: INFp

And every one else I'm not sure as to what their personality actually is.

I have noticed that I generally get along well with all of these personalities. (Except; I know an INTj that is absolutely horrendous.)

People I generally don't get along with are usually ISTj. (Sorry ISTj's you really just bug me. )

So question, what kind of relationships are these according to socionics?

If you're ESE (ESFj):
INFj is illusionary
INTj is dual
ESFj is identical
ENFj is kindred
INFp is supervisor
ISTj is semi-dual

If you're IEE (ENFp):
INFj is mirror
INTj is supervisor
ESFj is illusionary
ENFj is quasi-identity
INFp is mirage
ISTj is conflictor

So, if these typings were correct, relationships could point towards IEE over ESE, not that it matters much.

Edit: and MD has a good point about Gammas, too. I was thinking mostly of supervision and potential conflict, fwiw. It would be easier if you mentioned them.

[Marie84]

I don't really feel comfortable giving solid ratings, since they would differ by person, but overall my experiences have gone something like this...

Very good to extremely good
Duality
Mirror
Identical
Activity

Good to very good
Semi-duality
Business
Mirage

Okay to good
Beneficiary
Benefit
Kindred

Uncomfortable to okay
Supervisor
Quasi-identical

Uncomfortable to horrible
Extinguishment
Supervisee
Super-Ego
Conflict

[Pa3s]

Thanks for your effort.

[Nowisthetime]

This link might have been posted before, but it can be interesting here also: Socionics.org

It's a little different way to rate compatibility.

[Exodus]

I was good friends with an SEE for a while, but after a while the relationship crashed and burned. Also, I definitely like supervisors more than supervisees. I like most ESEs, but I don't relate to my ESE aunt at all.

Any list like this has to have a huge YMMV stamped at the end. There are so many different aspects to relationships, I hardly know where to begin. I could probably write a 10,000 word essay on how socionics has played into my personal relationships.

[Satan]

this is the lamest thread ever.

[Codie]

..I can't find much info on this concept. What makes an intertype attractive/ repulsive, like, in terms of functions or whatever? How does it effect the relationship?

Attractive
Duality
Activity
Semi
Mirage
Quasi
Extinguishment
Benefit (both ways)

Repulsive
Id
Mirror
Kindred
Look-a-like
Super ego
Supervision (both ways)
Conflict

[EyeSeeCold]

I don't know where Aushra explained the terminology, but the claims are as follows:

Information Based - Two statics or two dynamics. Functions of each partner's mental loop correspond to those of other partner's mental loop, and likewise for vital loop. More interchange of conscious, verbalizable information than subconscious impact. Termed "relations of repulsion" by Augusta.

Energy based - One static and one dynamic. Functions of one partner's mental loop correspond to functions of other partner's vital loop. More subconscious impact than exchange of verbalizable information. Termed "relations of attraction" by Augusta.

- http://socionics.us/theory/relationships.shtml


This article may also be helpful:

http://www.socioniko.net/en/1.3.rels/index.html

"Balance" is Ep + Ip / Ej + Ij
"Acceleration" is Ep + Ej / Ip + Ij
"Monotony" is Ep + Ep / Ej + Ej / Ij + Ij / Ip + Ip
"Slowdown" is Ep + Ij / Ej + Ip

[Beautiful sky]

People are attracted to all types, repulsion comes after finding out who they are.

[silke]

I'd put duality, activity, semi-duality, mirage, and mirror relations as ranking at the top, followed by benefit and then everything else.

--- Favorable Intertype Relations ---

Dual relations - when it works out most often there is a feeling of surprise at how naturally things have come together; those used to "trying to make relationships work" may feel disappointed and even apprehensive due to an expectation that there should be something more to it, there has to be, but there isn't, so then it feels like "and now what? what is supposed to happen? ... is this even real?". Most often duality is appreciated for a feeling of calm and "de-neurotization", as well opportunities to learn from one another and improve one's confidence and self-esteem (even if it lasts a few months, not a lifetime). This dual calm will alternate with arguments, which give these relations a certain spunk; however, these conflicts are typically not destructive and instead help keep things perceptually interesting and afresh.
Often times "Mirage" relations are mistaken for "Dual" one due to that same feeling of calm, ease, relaxedness, and smoothness of interaction they provide, where both people become submerged into a kind of a pleasant dream-like state where they become disinclined to fight and argue and can talk about anything. To contrast, in "Dual" relations agreements and conflicts alternate, which gives Dual relations certain liveliness and a sense of being engaged, as opposed to Mirage where feelings of boredom and non-caring start to settle in. Conflicts between duals are usually not scathing but reformative; there is often a deep visceral understanding as to where your dual is coming from even if you happen to disagree.

Semi-duality - generally attractive, each appreciates the other's "main bearing", "core attitude", way of being, behavior and lifestyle; this is predicated by compatible temperaments and suggestive-base attraction; however, periodically unresolvable arguments arise between semi-duals' *creative* and *activating* functions, where the activating function of one semi-dual, the way of evaluating the world around them, poses an antagonistic attitude to the creative function of the other person, effectively rubbing them the wrong way; given greater familiarity, one of the semi-duals eventually "flips out" and criticizes the activating function of the other semi-dual from their own creative-activating worldview (ex: EII's Ne criticizing LIE's Se-hidden agenda for giving too much attention to external appearance and other external static qualities, that in EII's view should be dismissed in favor of intrinsic personality-based factors); it seems like there is some latent pull that draws you together, but in conversation your creative-activating functions periodically extinguish each other: when one partner gives their assessment of the situation, their semi-dual can criticize and shoots it down in favor of his own interpretation. in one of the articles it was mentioned that semi-duality is less than half a duality and this seems to be true. Semi-duals experience difficulty with providing situational advice that the other will listen to and resolving each other's problems on hidden agenda, which leads to absence of feeling of camaraderie and lapses in sense of humor due to different quadra values.
Semi-duality nevertheless is still an attractive and enduring relationship type that helps keep both people "on their toes", not relaxing, and improving themselves as well as achieving common goals. Romantic "semi-duality" is more frequent among Rational types than Irrational ones, because it's only among Rationals that one semi-dual is "ethical" type and the other is "logical" type (ex. LSI-ESE pairs are more commonly encountered than ILI-SLE couples).
Most often Semi-dualiy is mistaken for Duality, in part due to superficial similarity of partners on creative functions and the wish to meet someone similar to oneself. One way to tell Semi-dual relations from Dual ones is that in Semi-duality both people will either be positivists or negativists, while in Duality these traits are balanced (positivist type semi-dualities seem to be more frequent).

Activity - the other person is pleasantly energizing, zesty, funny, attention-drawing; there is some strange desire to tell them what to do and give them instructions on how to adjust their behavior on their 1-dimensional dual-seeking function where you can see their lapses, but they seem strangely unresponsive to your guidance, so the advice coming from your creative onto their d.s. is intensified in your semi-futile attempts to get through to them and again these attempts don't hit their mark; thus it becomes difficult to influence and modify activity's behavior on situational basis, they seem to be somehow un-malleable and impenetrable; activity's leading function seems like it's "too strong" and "overloaded", there's a desire to "soften it" and "pull it down", but this desire is never realized and becomes a source of hidden concerns for the other activity partner; plentiful lapses in communication due to Rational/Irrational differences and conflicting cognitive styles; difficulty in explaining yourself in the way that your activity is convinced; on this basis suspicions may arise, but even in case of arguments it's usually easy to forgive one another.

Mirage / Illusionary - Oft mistaken for Dual relations for their peace, calm, and relaxation, unlike Dual realtions, however, here you won't be inspired to do anything great and won't feel a certain emotional "activating" zest. In a way these relations feel more comforting and smooth-running than Benefit, Activity, or Semi-Duality, and even Duality relations, but that comfort just as easily turns into apathy, boredom, and indifference for oneself and the other. Mirage types find it incredibly easy to make contact and converse just about anything, and it's just as easy to go your separate ways, with the other person seeming like a light, non-obliging, non-threatening yet potentially interesting friend. On the bright side, Mirage relations make for a great "safe harbor" for those who are feeling stressed, who suffer from excessive anxiety and neuroses, since the temporary quiet and relaxation they induce can be very beneficial to someone who is lacks in this.

I'd rank mirage higher but it feels like nothing happens in these relations, like there is no outcome, no advancement anywhere; Mirage partners could be compared to two ice cubes that melt down and sit there in a puddle until they evaporate; the average "positive span" of mirage relations is longer than that of benefit relations imo: 5-7 years before indifference begins setting in, leading one or both of the partners to question their commitment. Victor Gulenko, however, includes Mirage relations in the group of four highest ranked, most beneficial, and most suitable for long term partnership relations; his group also includes duality, activity, and semi-duality.

Benefit - I remember reading somewhere that one's Beneficiary and Benefactor types are closest to one's dual, likely so because they share the same cognitive style and two of the IEs; there is usually a sense of partial understanding of where the other person is coming from, they seem to be engaged in something interesting and beneficial overall, but what the are saying seems to need adjustments from one's base+creative; the beneficiary resists these adjustments, feels like they are a devaluation of a sort; in general, Benefit seems to be a very frequent combination for friendship and romance, and much more common than duality; typical cycle of benefit relations goes something like: initial strong interest spike that lasts 1-2 years (and it's not true that it's always the Beneficiary pursuing the Benefactor, sometimes it's the reverse), this is followed by a cooling period, some arguments where one or both may reprimand the other for not being more like their dual, disenchantment, the rose-colored glasses melt away, here relations may fall apart forever, though just as often they become rekindled later on when one person seeks out the other to get in touch again; for lasting relations, it's best to take breaks from one another same as in Supervision.
** One advantage of Benefit relations over Semi-Duality, Activity, and Mirage is that partners have similar expectations of how to approach relationships and communication based on being "on the same side" of Process/Result dichotomy.

Business - it's easy to find a common language due to shared creative functions - not so when it comes to agreeing on the key content; there's general lack of understanding when it comes to understanding each other's "main" orientation towards life and periodic friction over "program" functions that pull Business types in different directions; this opposition of program functions is initially hard to notice, such that things may start on an amiable and friendly note, later, however, the chills running through conversations as things profess further; Business partner is perceived as pleasant but somewhat boring relation sharing some of the key weakness of one's temperament, which is why imo there's a need here for a significant external incentive for Business partners to get serious in getting together; not much danger in hitting each other's polrs but no help provided for resolving ha/polr area either, here Business partners may only sympathize with one another, which is emotionally reassuring but in practical sense it's a dead end. Business romantic pairings are more frequent among Rationals than Irrationals.

--- Less Favorable Intertype Relations---

Supervision - there seems to be some kind of yo-yoing love-hate effect in place here that is similar to the love-hate that happens in conflict relations, which for the most part is felt by the Supervisee; this can be alright if there is enough space to yo-yo around (ways to distance), but in close quarters, daily and hourly contact things get progressively worse; some socionics authors claim that Supervision is worse than Conflict, however, ime this isn't true as there are valuable exchanges of information/energy happening under Supervision that don't occur in Conflict - Supervisee learns from Supervisor, Supervisor is supported and energized by presence of Supervisee; so at best both support one another; however, it's crucial that both have a way of departing and recharging with new impressions and energies somewhere else for this relationship to be endure; for family relations, russian socionists usually advise that either one or both take frequent vacations; in my experiences Supervisee starts feeling a lot of discomfort within just 2 weeks of cohabitation, which makes Supervision especially heavy in close family relations where it's impossible to part frequently for long periods of time.

Extinguishment - I found these relations to be much more attractive than would be expected from how they are usually described; Extinguishment friendships are quite common - most likely because one's Extinguishment partner has the same cog. style as one's Dual, that is, one's Dual and Extinguishment types have the same "mental framework" and same temperament, but completely different values; thus there's often a short-term romantic spark and mutual interest of Extinguishment types, as well as feelings of surprise and bemusement; good for doing research, delving into shared hobbies, but things periodically will get awkward; there is occasional undermining of one another's initiatives and points of view, difficulty with taking each other seriously; arguments lead to mutual deflation similar to quasi-identity; feelings range from fascination to slight aversion. The few Extinguishment marriages that I've seen seemed to be strained and their union felt fragile (ripe ground for divorce and/or cheating).

Identical - the best part of these relations is the learning potential; one's identical is often nearly idealized if they happen to seem more advanced and have many insightful and useful points to share; however, there is also a build-up of internal tensions the more time is spent together as one's internal issues are not resolved; Identicals aren't equipped to provide each other with resolutions and useful criticisms, thus each keeps to their own previously solidly engrained attitudes and ideas not receiving the much needed balancing or correction from the other; feelings of pleasant surprise mix in with mild irritation when Identical says something you were just thinking about; interest that alternated with coldness and indifference; similar deficiencies as in kindred relations but brief attempts to compensate and "play dual" for one another are usually welcome.

Quasi-identical - somewhat attractive relations, at least initially; similar to Extinguishment relations, Q-I is good for sharing information and researching common areas of interest as being on the same side of Democratic/Aristocratic dichotomy and same club quasis have some intersecting interests and view points; there's a sense of familiarity; however Quasi-Identicals propositions and arguments seem to be difficult to grasp, it's like they are saying many words but what do they mean? there's certain "mutedness", difficulty to completely engage each other, eventually may come a sense of dismissiveness, a perception that most of what quasi-identical is saying is not really worth the effort to figure it out; prolonged interactions feel moderately draining, like you've invested a lot of time and effort explaining your view point but you didn't "get through" to them; arguments flare up here and there, but most of it is forgiven and forgotten the next day or week; similar to extinguishment there is difficulty with taking one another seriously and periodic discreditation of the other.

Superego - I've never seen two people misinterpret and misunderstand one another so thoroughly, from half a sentence, as in these relations; communication lapses, bumps, and hiccups everywhere; of all the intertype relations this one is where the partners are most "muted" to each other; being unable to get through to each other, they start thinking that the other isn't listening to them, raising their voices while explaining themselves over and over again, even shouting at the other to make their point; due to differences in quadra values, attempts at diffusing the situation, jokes and friendly prods, are often misunderstood and an inappropriate reaction follows; from a distance, however, one's Superego usually seems more attractive and likable somehow than one's Kindred; I'd rank superego slightly higher than kindred relations due to higher degree of complementation over all functions; and unlike Conflict relations, there is no active undermining of each other's initiatives here.

Kindred - all too similar kinds of needs and deficiencies with almost total inability to resolve each other's problems; in conversation Kindred's may try to provide advice for each other's HA/PoLR area clearly seeing the each other's lapses and mistakes here; while at it, each feels like he/she is giving valuable advice from their creative function, and is then perplexed to find out that all of it fell on deaf ears, since Kindred's advice falls on the PoLR and typically sounds inapplicable and/or incomprehensible, and ultimately boring and beyond the point; ime my Kindre's advice has been useful, but it takes a lot of mental energy to think around it, reinterpret and adopt it in the "language" of my HA; periodic "hitting" of each other's PoLRs that leads to a build-up of grudges and hurt feelings; once things hit a low point, the arguments go round and round with no resolution; the good point of these relations is the similarity of general wordviews, but no agreement on how to proceed further from there and handle daily situations; it's like two people who see the same object but "grab it" from different ends and each thinks that his end is more justified while the other's way is wrong, faulty, and ultimately deceptive, which is where the merry-go-round arguments usually start; more respectful at a distance, but in the long run quite meh.

Conflict - this relation oscillates from admiration for their seemingly unusual areas of competence and way of thinking to a desire to scream and yell at this person to make them stop doing all those annoying things that they are doing; respectful contact at a distance and within some kind of routine where both do their parts separately; at closer contact there is unintentional undermining of each other's initiatives and opinions; lashing out and actual conflict are actually rare, but do occur if Conflictors have to interact closely and for a while, such as living together as family; nevertheless, according to Russian socionics forums, there are socionics "Conflict" marriages that have lasted for over 20 years though not with much happiness.

[Park]

@silke, which type pairs (aside from two identicals) are most often perceived as similar from outsiders or when being interacted with separately, by other types who aren't their identicals?

[TheWholeEnglish]

@silke, which type pairs (aside from two identicals) are most often perceived as similar from outsiders or when being interacted with separately, by other types who aren't their identicals?

I'm not silke, but I always feel like my benefactor relations and I are mistaken one another.