how to: understand socionics
Socionics (Model A) is simpler than it seems! It’s like if you got Jung and psychosophy, and stirred them together.
LESSON 1: IME and Jung
IME stands for Information Metabolism Elements. The concept of IM originated from Polish psychiatrist Antoni Kępiński. EM is energy metabolism. In his words, EM is the exchange of energy with the environment. IM is the exchange of information, including cognitive processing.
Augusta merged IM with Carl Jung’s typology system to create socionics. She suggests that all the 16 types in socionics differ based on how they process the same information.
LESSON 2: Functions (IME)
Your functions make up your type. If you know cognitive functions, this should be somewhat simple since all the functions have the same names as MBTI’s functions. If not, the functions include:
Introverted Intuition (Ni)
Extroverted Intuition (Ne)
Introverted Sensing (Si)
Extroverted Sensing (Se)
Introverted Logic (Ti)
Extroverted Logic (Te)
Introverted Ethics (Fi)
Extroverted Ethics (Fe)
In Socionics, there are irrational functions ([labile / “cyclotymes”] Si, Se, Ni, Ne) and rational functions ([rigid / “shizotymes”] Fi, Fe, Ti, Te). Irrational functions focus on states of mind and body, whereas rational functions focus on the state of actions and emotions. Rationals often have a lower stress tolerance. In four letter-types, rationals are noted with a lowercase “j” at the end, whereas irrationals are noted with a lowercase “p” (e.g. ILI = INTp; LII = INTj). This is NOT the same as MBTI.
The Four Jungian Dichotomies:
1. Extratim / Introtim (Extraversion / Introversion)
2. Sensing / Intuition
3. Ethics / Logic
4. Irrational / Rational
LESSON 3: Functional Properties and Dichotomies
The functional dichotomies illustrate how strong-weak your function placement is. We’ll get into placements and blocks later.
This is all related to the dimensionality of your functions; with 3D + 4D considered strong, and 1D + 2D considered weak.
There are also inert vs. contact functions.
Your inert functions are your 1st, 4th, 6th and 7th functions, while your contact functions are your 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 8th.
Inert: passive, indecisive (manifested more melancholic/phlegmatic)
Contact: initiative-taking, active, confident (manifested more sanguine/choleric)
Functions either have an introverted or extroverted attitude.
An introverted attitude signifies importance on interpersonal relationships in that specific aspect (ex. intuition, sensing, thinking, feeling).
An extroverted attitude signifies importance on the environment in that specific aspect.
LESSON 4: Blocks
Blocks use Freudian terminology to express how the functions within that block are manifested. Blocks are essentially classifications on how your function behaves within you.
1st Block: Ego
“This is what I do best.”
Confident, effortless. You’re recognized by these functions; they make you shine.
This block consists of your leading (1st) and creative (2nd) function.
Leading: how you see the world, your lenses
Creative: complementary to your leading function, flexible, good for shaping things.
2nd Block: Super-Ego
“I can do it… but it drains me”
Unnatural, tiring, and it feels like you’re putting on a performance. Illusion of confidence.
This block consists of your role (3rd) and PoLR (4th) function.
Role: pretending, fake competence
PoLR: most painful topic/area, blind spot
3rd Block: Super-Id
“I crave this from others.”
Unknown, confusing, needing guidance.
This block consists of your suggestive (5th) and mobilising (6th) functions.
Suggestive: emotional “food”, your deepest structural need
Mobilising: slowly awakens if/when supported by others
4th Block: Id
“I can definitely do this, but I can’t be bothered to.”
You’re good at these but you don’t show them.
This block consists of your ignoring (7th) and demonstrative (8th) functions.
Ignoring: possible but not desired (“I can, but I don’t want to.”)
Demonstrative: extremely strong, subconscious (a hidden superpower)
LESSON 5: Glyphs
Not too important, but these are the symbols for your IMEs.
White = Introverted (difficult to read, seemingly calm)
Black = Extroverted (open book, seemingly chaotic)
Triangle = Intuition
Puzzle piece = Ethics
Circle = Senses
Square = Logic
I’ll expand upon the 8 functions.
Ni: development over time, history, cause and effect, consequences, reason, archetypal themes, past / future, rhythm, forecast
Ne: potential, permutations, semblance, essence, the unknown, mysticism, new possibilities, opportunities, diversity of interests
Si: pleasure, leisure, relaxation, homeostasis, convenience, life quality, aesthetics, hedonism/sloth
Se: immediate reality, immediate qualities of objects, external appearance, form, impact, direct physical effect, span, extent, scope
Ti: coherence, structure, analysis, consistency, contingency, order, commensurability, understanding
Te: efficiency, method, calculation, benefit, logic of actions, expediency, pros and cons, reasoning
Fi: internal harmony, resonance/dissonance of personal sentiments, support, condemnation, judgement, sympathy, pity, +/- emotions
Fe: emotional atmosphere, romanticism, idealism, ethics of actions
Easy trick to remember:
Extroversion = […] of action (e.g. senses of actions for Se)
Introversion = […] of relations (e.g. ethics of relations for Fi)
LESSON 6: TIM ( Type of Information Metabolism)
These are the 16 different personality types in Socionics. Your first letter + your last letter = your leading IME. Your second letter + the opposite of your last letter = your creative IME.
e.g. ILE —> Intuition + Extroversion = Extroverted Intuition … —> L + I (opposite of E) = Introverted Logic. Ego block = NeTi.
Here are all the different possible types:
Your IME stack is always leading and creative. Then, your 3rd function is the opposite dichotomy but same introversion/extroversion as your 2nd function. Your 4th function is the opposite dichotomy but same introversion/extroversion as your 1st function. Finally, your super-id and id function is your ego and super-ego but reversed vertically, and opposite introversion/extroversion.
I’ll go over DCNH subtypes and IME subtypes in my next Socionics post!