V.L.Taranov · Neurophysiological Socionics

Taranov Theory

A Unified Guide to Taranov's Works

The Russian psychologist V.L.Taranov (Vyacheslav Leonidovich Taranov) gave socionics function theory its neurophysiological foundation. Starting from Model T in 2006 and continuing through a three-paper series published between 2012–2016, socionics functions evolved from psychological description into a quantitative model grounded in neuroscience. This page serves as a guide-index to Taranov's four major works.

Introduction

Who is Taranov?

V.L.Taranov, starting from Jungian psychology and Aushra Augusta's socionics, investigated the neurophysiological basis of each psychological function. The distinguishing feature of his research is large-scale statistical analysis of psychological-trait questionnaires (eventually reaching 6,663 items answered by thousands of respondents), which made it possible to describe each function's properties as a quantitative profile independent of individual subjectivity. Model T uses two neurophysiological parameters — excitatory and inhibitory filters — and the later 12-function system incorporated the functional differentiation of right/left-brain frontal and temporal regions. His works form the direct foundation of the Japan Socionics Association's Model K framework (64 function codes via 4 parameters × 4 positions).

Timeline

Timeline of Major Works

2006Model T: Proposes excitatory/inhibitory filters and balanced/unbalanced structure
2012Part 1: Statistically extracts position-independent basic properties of the 8 functions
2015Part 2: Analyzes how the same function's properties shift between program (①) and creative (②) positions
2016Part 3: Introduces the 12-function system by adding Questim/Declatim functions (Qi/Qe/Di/De)

Papers & Models

Guide to the Works

MT 2006 · Model T

Model T

A Neurophysiological Model of Socionics Functions

A neurophysiological model that describes each position of Jung's four functions using two parameters: excitatory filter (H/L) and inhibitory filter (H/L). It discovers the structural law that "the program function is always unbalanced, the creative function is always balanced." This is the direct foundation of Model K's two-parameter extension.

Base model 4 positions H/L filters
Read Model T
01 2012 · Part 1

Basic Properties of the 8 Functions

Basic Properties of the 8 Functions

Statistical analysis of 6,663 psychological-trait questionnaire items (with 320–7,700 respondents each) extracts the basic psychological properties most uniquely characterizing each function. Organizes the essential (position-independent) properties for each of the 8 elements Ni/Ne/Si/Se/Ti/Te/Fi/Fe.

Part 1 8 elements Statistical analysis
Read Part 1
02 2015 · Part 2

Program & Creative Position Semantics

Program & Creative Position Semantics

Analyzes how the same element's properties differ when placed in the program (①) vs. creative (②) position. The program function, being unbalanced (ex≠inh), exhibits autonomous and extreme properties, while the creative function, being balanced (ex=inh), appears as flexible and adaptive. Part 2 extends into physiological background, evolutionary-advantage hypotheses, and conditional positive/negative properties.

Part 2 Position semantics Physiological basis
Read Part 2
03 2016 · Part 3

Questim & Declatim Functions (12-function system)

Questim & Declatim Functions

Adds four functions (Qi/Qe/Di/De) derived from the Questim/Declatim cognitive-style axis on top of the existing 8 functions, proposing a 12-function system. White/black questim functions correspond to right-brain frontal/temporal regions, white/black declatim functions to left-brain temporal/frontal regions. The paper is the first to articulate the neuroscientific basis of democracy/aristocracy as cognitive styles.

Part 3 12-function system Questim/Declatim
Read Part 3

External Sources

Original Papers