Unknowns of the Psyche's 8 Functions · Part 1 · 2012
Basic Properties of the 8 Functions
8 Functions · Basic Properties · V.L.Taranov 2012
Research Methodology
Experimental basis: A diagnostic psychological questionnaire was administered to 5,450 individuals (6,663 in follow-up studies). Each subject's socionics psychotype was identified, and a "type profile" was built quantifying similarity to all 16 types. In parallel, various psychological traits were measured and trait-type correlations were analyzed.
To identify each function's "marker traits," correlation coefficients between psychological-trait type profiles and each function's type profile were used. The higher the correlation, the more distinctive (exclusive) the trait is for distinguishing that function from others. Tables 7.1–7.8 contain only those traits with the highest correlation coefficients for each function.
Position of This Chapter (Chapter 7)
Chapter 7 is positioned as a "sample of substantive content" within the Part 1 series as a whole. This chapter outlines the basic, indicative, and characteristic psychological properties of each of the 8 functions. These properties are essential properties of each function, independent of function position (program, creative, etc.). The semantics that depend on position are covered in Part 2 (funkcii2).
Each table contains the traits most exclusively related to the function in question among the 8 socionics functions. Many of the traits shown in the tables are deeply related to brain biology (neurotransmitters, genes, brain regions), providing the first systematic data toward exploring the physiological basis of socionics functions.
Element Sign (Black/White) and Trait Relationship
Each element forms a pair of "black (extraverted)" and "white (introverted)." For example, Ni (white intuition) and Ne (black intuition) belong to the same "intuition" domain yet have completely different trait profiles. Black elements are strongly oriented toward external reality, objects, and others; white elements are strongly oriented toward internal states, processes, and the self. This contrast is directly reflected in each function's trait list, and is one of the most clearly readable patterns from this paper's data.
- Tendency toward aimless contemplation (thoughts simply drifting)
- Tendency to observe slow processes and changes
- Deep reverie detached from the world, contemplation accompanied by emotional depletion
- Capacity to lazily wait for opportunity
- Weak vital drive, listlessness
- Tendency toward depersonalization episodes (surroundings feel deathlike)
- Lack of active organization and responsibility
- Difficulty controlling body musculature
- Escape into reverie and imagination, difficulty engaging with reality
- Observer/bystander role with emotional submersion
- Depressive mood as everyday backdrop
- Unfocused gaze toward "infinity"
- Subtle humor based on nuance and association
- Inclination toward past experience, nostalgia
- Lack of optimism and cheerfulness
- Capacity to follow slow processes of change
- Passive contemplation that ignores the material world and its troubles
- Dislikes strong emotions, prefers middle tones
- Poor at work requiring great muscular load
- Difficulty initiating action (functional weakness of prefrontal cortex)
- Forgets and confuses people's names
- Weakness of will (anorgia)
- Tendency to fantasize about gradual transformation/change
- Tendency toward depressive rigidity and listlessness
- The role of "stepping forward as the boss" does not fit at all
- Resistance to conservatism in viewpoint or habits
- Strong desire for novelty and curiosity
- Acceptance of plurality and pluralism ("there is no single right answer")
- Weak orientation toward the familiar/traditional
- Generally low irritability
- Experiences own fantasies as supremely important — "concentrated distraction"
- Prioritizes change over stability
- Disinclined to strict deadline observance
- Insight into opportunity
- Ability to see the extraordinary in the ordinary
- Politically sympathizes with the left (in the European sense)
- Conversations often end with ideas branching but never converging
- Leaves many things unfinished
- Hates rote memorization more than understanding
- Persistent muscle tension is uncharacteristic (relaxes easily)
- The present moment is always more important than past or future
- Low interest in thoughts about the future
- Good sense of body position and the coordinates of each organ
- Easy to halt and redirect movement (flexible motor control)
- Orientation toward comfort, practicality, and high standards
- Inability to foresee the future
- Inability to integrate or compare different points in time
- High awareness of bodily sensations
- Short sentences, concise speech
- Ability to fix coordinates of objects in space and direct attention to them
- High valuation of comfortable environments and sensory pleasures
- Precision of fine motor action
- Enjoyment of food
- Tendency to aggression toward the weak (tendency to dominate/exploit)
- Tendency toward impulsive aggression
- Likes to display aggression and assert superiority
- Childlike tearful expression is uncharacteristic
- No problems of clumsiness or stiffness in movement (movements are smooth)
- Physical aggression occurs more readily than verbal aggression
- Arrogance, contemptuous gaze toward others, drive to establish superiority
- Considers aggression, violence, threats, and humiliating others as important life values
- Complete lack of social sensitivity (does not feel awkward)
- Lacks moderation/patience-tempered prudence; tendency toward excess and rashness
- Strong biological drives and life instincts
- No problems of motor clumsiness or coordination disorder
- Love of classification and organization
- Self-control / non-impulsiveness in keeping conversations on topic
- Avoids talking about acquaintances' relationships
- Sensitivity to small logical (not ethical) details
- Emotions do not show on the face at all
- No tendency toward impulsive reactions without prior evaluation and control
- Shyness, difficulty with effective contact with others
- Does not like comedy programs
- No tendency toward boasting, lying, or showing off
- Cannot emotionally rouse an audience
- Imagination consisting of static, motionless images
- Clear lack of emotionality / extraverted emotional expression
- Orientation toward saving time-resources and efficiency
- Long-term strategic career planning
- Continuous evaluation and optimization of financial/material gain (profit, expediency, calculation, efficiency are key concepts)
- Lacks lyrical/poetic/sentimental orientation toward the introverted ethical world (not flexible, not influenced)
- Excellent organizer and leader in work and large structures
- Fast, brisk speech with little intonation
- Ideal stress tolerance, no anxiety, no fear
- Cannot relax, cannot endure idle time-wasting, very motorically excitable
- Blunt; likes to point things out to others; often rude with sharp, direct, contemptuously caustic words
- Very little anticipation of pleasure or feeling of hope
- Coarse-grained structural logic that extracts the main and discards the secondary
- Difficulty assimilating news / logical-analytical information through hearing
- Tendency toward shame and pangs of conscience
- Lyrical/poetic/sentimental orientation toward the introverted ethical world (flexible, easily influenced; rates own knowledge/abilities low)
- Frequent fear
- Dependence on others' opinions; vulnerability; vulnerable self-esteem
- Sensitivity to weak emotional nuances in others' behavior
- Psychasthenic / anxious-excitable ethics
- Love of bread, high consumption
- Thoughts about spirituality, morality, God, and fate
- Sensitivity, vulnerability, fear of losing face, tendency toward social phobia
- Anxious emotional sensitivity
- Attention to others' emotions (especially positive ones)
- Active and showy, lacking modesty (does not step forward only when needed)
- Marked emotionality, tendency toward extraverted "release" of emotion
- The world appears to constantly evoke surprise as new and unfamiliar
- Emotions show strongly on the face
- Likes comedy programs
- Does not consider self an indifferent person
- Can emotionally rouse an audience
- Emotional instability with tendency toward hard-to-control aggressive/irritated explosions
- Sustained or frequent muscle tension
- Becomes excited when constructing speech sentences
- Tolerance toward others' emotions; does not flee from them
- Frankness and open sociability (opposite of introverted closure)
- Tears come easily
- Short sentences are uncharacteristic (talkative)
- Weak or almost no control of own emotional behavior
- Intonational expressiveness of own speech
- Prefers strong, clear emotional language