Ignoring the teleology of complementing elements, practically, they add something valuable without inhibiting their opposite.
Elements that are the same Jungian function (intuition, sensing and logic, ethics) but opposite direction (extroverted or introverted) exponentially expand each other. Using an example I am familiar with, Ni+Ne would be following every possibility, at every step in their path in time. In gigantic groups, like science or culture, both antethical paths can be followed and synthesized, but it is annoying to deal with someone who is pushing your antithesis, because it is distracting from what you are trying to do, and it takes way more time and effort to work out a solution together than by yourselves.
A similar thing happens with elements that are the same temperament, but opposite strength. Jung said in psychological types that pursing any strength engenders a weakness because it is impossible to do both intuition-sensing or logic-ethics at the same time. Since temperament elements are in the same domain, doing one means neglecting the other. That is the base of the socionic super-ego: something that society may require you to do that cannot do while being yourself.
This is where the complementing element comes in. Theoretically, there is nothing stopping both element being pursued at once, except one person cannot do both. The solution is have partners! Now this person is going to be very different from you because they are your polar opposite, but you can work together by letting the other person process there dominant information and then accepting their judgements and perceptions.
To summerize with a metaphor, imagine four people holding hands around a tree. If you were one of these people, you could move but only by pulling or pushing the two people next to you. If you wanted to move the group, you'd like the two people next to you to follow your lead. But the third person that you cannot see through the tree is not limiting your movements and can basically move freely with you as long as the two intermediate people are subordinate. This is like your dominant and complementary element. If you both work together, you have the best control over the group.
Hope that helps
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Originally Posted by ajsindri
