Socionics is a psychological theory that suggests the typing of individuals into specific categories. It is based on the principles proposed by the Swedish psychiatrist C. G. Jung in his work
Psychological Types. He decided to consider a human being in the system of coordinates "extraversion-introversion" and identified four basic functions in the psyche - thinking, feeling, feeling and intuition. Based on his typology, the Lithuanian psychologist and sociologist Aushra Augustinavichiute in the 1970s. developed a theoretical model, which she called "Model A" (conceptual provisions are presented in the works "Dual nature of man" 1978, "Theory of intertype relations" 1981).
Socionics: types of informational metabolism (TIM)
According to Augustinavichute, any person exists in the context of
energy exchange with the environment and other individuals: gives, receives, processes and interprets information flows in a certain way. This continuous process of interaction of the individual psyche with information has been called "informational metabolism." In this psychological concept called Socionics, the types of informational metabolism are understood as the inborn
structure of the psyche that determines the way in which individuals exchange energy with their environment. A certain type of information security (otherwise, the socionic type) is inherent in any person from birth and does not change throughout his life. According to Augustinavichyute’s theory, there are 16 types of information security distinguished by four opposite categories (dichotomies): logic and ethics; sensory and intuition; extraversion and introversion; rationality and irrationality - this is the basis of socionics. Types determine how individuals receive and process information, as well as their capabilities when interacting with their environment, and the strengths and weaknesses of the psyche. Socionics allows a person to better understand their characteristics, the reasons for their behavior.
Socionics. Types of information security
16 socionic types are distributed in four quadras - systems with a high degree of comfort, consisting of 4 sociotypes each. The quadra maintains a balance of temperaments. The first quadra ("alpha") has the greatest cognitive potential and is designed to disseminate new knowledge. This quadra includes: intuitive-ethical and ethical-sensory extroverts, sensory-ethical and logical-intuitive introverts. The second quadra ("beta") is designed to introduce new ideas and organize projects. It includes the following sociotypes: logical-sensory and intuitive-ethical introverts, ethical-intuitive and sensory-logical extraverts.
The third quadra (“gamma”), business and dynamic, serves to reorganize society. It includes such TIMs: sensory-ethical and logical-sensory extroverts, intuitive-logical and ethical-sensory introverts. The fourth quadra (“delta”) completes the “deeds” of all previous quadras and brings the reformed society to a stable state. This quadra includes: logical-sensory and intuitive-ethical extraverts, as well as ethical-intuitive and sensory-logical introverts.
Socionics: types. Test or observation?
There are several methods for studying the sociotype, but none of them can boast of one hundred percent reliability. The most reliable tools for this interesting concept, which is called Socionics, have not yet been developed. Determining the type of informational metabolism is now possible with the help of tests, typing on the forums and the observation method. Many sites on the Internet offer to undergo online testing to determine TIM. Unfortunately, such a research tool is not highly reliable. You can pass the same test several times and get completely different results. This happens for a number of reasons, including subjectively incorrect information about oneself, a desire to seem better, etc.
The next way to determine TIM is typing in socionic forums. There, "knowing" people, experienced "forum users" will take up the definition of your type. They will certainly offer to fill out an extensive questionnaire, and will ask additional questions, and then will issue a verdict. Another way to determine the type is self-diagnosis. By carefully studying the descriptions of the 16 types, you can subjectively determine which one is closer to you. Unfortunately, this method is far from objective. Also, a
method of observation is used to study the socionic type
, but it can also “fail” the researcher. It is only possible to carry out several types of typing in succession under the guidance of a competent psychologist - a follower of socionics - that will allow you to correctly determine the type of metabolism of the subject.