Socionics

8.8. Sociotypes, that is types of characters in Socionics

There are 16 types in Socionics.

In the beginning, I think, it is worth explaining what the ways of naming particular types (or sociotypes) are?

First, I will explain how the original names of sociotypes are formed in Socionics. The original naming method may seem quite complicated at first glance.

So, what is the way of this naming?

In general, we only need to know that the names of sociotypes are created based on Ego block in the Model-A. Ego block plays a leading role in information metabolism. It is analogical to the naming of types in a Mandala of Characters. In the Mandala, the names of types I created based on the Conscious States of particular types. It means, from the place where Conscious State of a given type is located on the Mandala of Characters. Here, however, the analogies in creating names of the types in the Socionics and Mandala are already over. Therefore, I will try to explain the methods of naming sociotypes in Socionics one after another.

For sociotype marking in Socionics are used four information functions, or main types (or sources) of information:

• Logic, marked as—L,
• Ethics—E
• Intuition—I
• Sensorics—S

Let me remind that each of the four information functions includes two information elements. I show it in the table and diagram below.

In the table above, four information functions we can find on the left side. In Socionics they are used to naming sociotypes.

Below, we can see a graphical representation of the above table.

Thus, we use four information functions or four types (kinds or sources) of information. These four kinds of information are derived from Jung’s basic psychological functions (namely, Thinking, Feeling, Intuition, and Sensation).

In addition to the above four kinds of information (namely, L—Logic, E—Ethics, I—Intuition, S—Sensation), in Socionics, when naming types, we use two other kinds of information. That is:
— Extratics, marked as—E, and
— Introtics—I.

The above kinds of information create the following dichotomies in Socionics:

• Logic (L) — Ethics (E),
• Intuition (I) — Sensorics (S),
• Extratics (E) — Introtics (I).

And basically, these are information that we use to naming sociotypes in Socionics.

Then, how is the type naming in Socionics carried out?

To determine the name of a type, we look at its Ego block in Model-A. Ego block in Model-A consists of:
— program function, which in Model-A is marked as—1,
— creative function, which in Model-A is marked as—2.

The names of sociotypes in Socionics contain three letters, for example, ILE.

So, how do we form these three letters?

1. First letter.
   To specify the first letter.
   • we look at the program function in the Model-A of a given sociotype (in Model-A marked as—1).
   • further, we look at what this program function (1) has the main kind of information. (It means, the main kind of information among Logic—L, Ethics—E, Intuition—I, and Sensorics—S).
   For example, when it comes to the ILE sociotype, its main kind of information in the program function (1) is Intuition—I. Therefore, the first letter describing ILE sociotype is—I.


2. Second letter.
   To specify the second letter:
   • we look at the creative function in the Model-A of a given type,
   • further, we look at what this creative function (2) has the main kind of information. (It means, the main kind of information among L—Logic, Ethics—E, Intuition—I, and Sensorics—S).
   For example, when it comes to the ILE sociotype, its main kind of information in the creative function (2) is Logic—L. Therefore the second letter of the ILE sociotype is—L.


3. Third letter.
   To specify the third letter:
   • we look back at the program function in the Model-A of a given type,
   • further, we look at what kind of information this program function (1) has from the dichotomy:
     — Extratics—E, or
     — Introtics—I.
   For example, when it comes to the ILE sociotype, its program function is Extratic—E. Therefore, the third letter describing the ILE sociotype is—E.

In addition, to the above naming of sociotypes, we have one more, which is analogical to the MBTI® typology. For example, the ILE sociotype is also labeled as ENTp. Similarly to MBTI®, names of sociotypes are created. It means, by selecting one letter in each pair of the following dichotomies:

1. First letter:
   • E—Extratics (Extraversion), or
   • I—Introtics (Introversion).
2. Second letter:
   • N—Intuition (iNtuition), or
   • S—Sensorics (Sensing).
3. Third letter:
   • T—Logic (Thinking), or
   • F—Ethics (Felling).
4. Fourth letter:
   • p—irrationalism (perceiving), or
   • j—rationality (judging).

To distinguish between Socionics and MBTI® names of the types, the last dichotomy is denoted by lowercase. For example, ENTp (that is—ILE).

Besides, to the above two kinds of letter naming of Sociotypes, we have two more verbal ways of naming individual sociotypes. It means:

• professions and roles in society,
  for example, sociotype ILE is—Inventor or Seeker,
• famous figures or characters representing the characteristics of a given sociotype:
  for example, sociotype ILE is—Don Quixote.

The above word names of sociotypes are treated in Socionics as auxiliary names to letter names. Word names have the advantage that they are relatively easy to remember. On the other hand, word names are often interpreted in many different ways. Therefore, word names can be over-interpreted.

Now, when we know how the names of sociotypes are created, I will move on to presenting individual sociotypes:

I will present them in two ways:
— an original way that uses the Model-A in Socionics,
— and I will place individual sociotypes on the Mandala of Characters.

Each sociotypes is presented separately because they cannot be shown in one diagram.

In the sociotypes diagrams, I will show below, the individual eight information elements I present using eight circle segments, marked as:

• I (Ne),
• T (Ni),
• E (Fe),
• R (Fi),
• P (Te),
• L (Ti),
• F (Se),
• S (Si).

The mental and vital rings I presented using functions numbers in Model-A and using arrows, that is:
— Mental ring I presented using black arrows. It means the movement between the relevant information elements in the mental ring is marked with black arrows.
— The movement between the relevant information elements in the vital ring is marked with gray arrows.

Summarizing:
— black arrows—refer to the mental ring,
— gray arrows—refer to the vital ring.

Speech bubbles with letter names of sociotypes indicate a place on the Mandala of Characters where more or less individual sociotypes can be found. These places are identical to those we can find in the MBTI® (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator ®). However, the approach to and analysis of each personality type in the MBTI® is different than in Socionics.

This shows, for example, that, as we have seen above, in Socionics, the sociotype names are formed differently than the type names in MBTI®.

Besides, Socionics takes into account the unconscious (that is, Socionics’ vital ring) in descriptions of particular types. In MBTI®, we have no reference to the unconscious. (In the Mandala of Characters, the unconscious is also represented. That is, in Mandala, the unconscious represents the Unconscious Triangle).

Another difference between Socionics and MBTI® is that:
— in MBTI®, so-called preferences are used to describe personality,
— in Socionics, in turn, to describe personality are used information elements, which take part in information metabolism.

Apart from the differences that we have between MBTI® and Socionics, I think two important facts are worth paying attention to:
— Socionics is a typology younger that MBTI®,
— MBTI® is one of the foundations on which Socionics is built.

Other foundations of Socionics are Sigmund Freud’s and Carl Gustav Jung’s ideas, and the concept of information metabolism created by Antoni Kępiński.

I think it is worth mentioning here that both MBTI® and Socionics are developing increasingly. More and more works about them are published. Both have a growing group of enthusiasts and supporters. So, both theories have more and more to offer.

Let me then return, to the Socionics’ types, (that is sociotypes), and show how they look like on the Mandala of Characters. Personally, I am glad that I can also use the Mandala to present sociotypes. Thanks to this, Mandala becomes a handy model for presenting itself as well as other personality theories.

Therefore, please take a look at the following sociotype diagrams, which I arranged on the Mandala of Characters.

8.8.1. Sociotype – ILE – Intuitive(I)-Logical(L) Extratic(E), also marked as ENTp, (Seeker, Inventor), (Don Quixote) on the Mandala of Characters

The diagram below shows the Socionics’ Model-A for ILE sociotype.

On the Mandala of Characters, the above Model-A for ILE sociotype looks as follows.

8.8.2. Sociotype – LII – Logical(L)-Intuitive(I) Introtic(E), also marked as INTj (Analyst, Scientist), (Robespierre) on the Mandala of Characters.

The diagram below shows the Socionics’ Model-A for LII sociotype.

On the Mandala of Characters, the above Model-A for LII sociotype looks as follows.

8.8.3. Sociotype – IEE – Intuitive(I)-Ethical(E) Extratic(E), also marked as ENFp (Psychologist, Reporter, Adviser), (Aldous Huxley, Tom Sawyer) on the Mandala of Characters.

The diagram below shows the Socionics’ Model-A for IEE sociotype.

On the Mandala of Characters, the above Model-A for IEE sociotype looks as follows.

8.8.4. Sociotype – EII – Ethical(E)-Intuitive(I) Introtic(I), also marked as INFj , (Humanist, Empath), (Fyodor Dostoevsky) on the Mandala of Characters.

The diagram below shows the Socionics’ Model-A for EII sociotype.

On the Mandala of Characters, the above Model-A for EII sociotype looks as follows.

8.8.5. Sociotype – EIE – Ethical(E)-Intuitive(I) Extratic(E), also marked as ENFj , (Mentor, Teacher, Actor), (Hamlet) on the Mandala of Characters.

The diagram below shows the Socionics’ Model-A for EIE sociotype.

On the Mandala of Characters, the above Model-A for EIE sociotype looks as follows.

8.8.6. Sociotype – IEI – Intuitive(I)-Ethical(E) Introtic(I), also marked as INFp , (Romantic, Lyricist), (Sergei Yesenin) on the Mandala of Characters.

The diagram below shows the Socionics’ Model-A for IEI sociotype.

On the Mandala of Characters, the above Model-A for IEI sociotype looks as follows.

8.8.7. Sociotype –ESE – Ethical(E)-Sensorical(S) Extratic(E), also marked as ESFj, (Enthusiast, Bon Vivant), (Victor Hugo) on the Mandala of Characters.

The diagram below shows the Socionics’ Model-A for ESE sociotype.

On the Mandala of Characters, the above Model-A for ESE sociotype looks as follows.

8.8.8. Sociotype –SEI – Sensorical(S)-Ethical(E) Introtic(I), also marked as ISFp, (Mediator, Peacemaker), (Alexandre Dumas) on the Mandala of Characters.

The diagram below shows the Socionics’ Model-A for SEI sociotype.

On the Mandala of Characters, the above Model-A for SEI sociotype looks as follows.

8.8.9. Sociotype –ESI – Ethical(E)-Sensorical(S) Introtic(I), also marked as ISFj, (Guardian, Conservator), (Theodore Dreiser) on the Mandala of Characters.

The diagram below shows the Socionics’ Model-A for ESI sociotype.

On the Mandala of Characters, the above Model-A for ESI sociotype looks as follows.

8.8.10. Sociotype –SEE – Sensorical(S)-Ethical(E) Extratic(E), also marked as ESFp, (Politician, Ambassador, Caesar), (Napoleon I) on the Mandala of Characters.

The diagram below shows the Socionics’ Model-A for SEE sociotype.

On the Mandala of Characters, the above Model-A for SEE sociotype looks as follows.

8.8.11. Sociotype –LSI – Logical(L)-Sensorical(S) Introtic(I), also marked as ISTj, (Inspector, Pragmatist), (Maxim Gorky) on the Mandala of Characters.

The diagram below shows the Socionics’ Model-A for LSI sociotype.

On the Mandala of Characters, the above Model-A for LSI sociotype looks as follows.

8.8.12. Sociotype –SLE – Sensorical(S)-Logical(L) Extratic(E), also marked as ESTp, (Conqueror, Legionnaire), (Georgy Zhukov) on the Mandala of Characters.

The diagram below shows the Socionics’ Model-A for SLE sociotype.

On the Mandala of Characters, the above Model-A for SLE sociotype looks as follows.

8.8.13. Sociotype –SLI – Sensorical(S)-Logical(L) Introtic(I), also marked as ISTp, (Craftsman, Artisan), (Jean Gabin) on the Mandala of Characters.

The diagram below shows the Socionics’ Model-A for SLI sociotype.

On the Mandala of Characters, the above Model-A for SLI sociotype looks as follows.

8.8.14. Sociotype –LSE – Logical(L)-Sensorical(S) Extratic(E), also marked as ESTj, (Director, Administrator), (Sherlock Holmes, Stierlitz) on the Mandala of Characters.

The diagram below shows the Socionics’ Model-A for LSE sociotype.

On the Mandala of Characters, the above Model-A for LSE sociotype looks as follows.

8.8.15. Sociotype –ILI – Intuitive(I)-Logical(L) Introtic(I), also marked as INTp, (Critic, Observer), (Honoré de Balzac) on the Mandala of Characters.

The diagram below shows the Socionics’ Model-A for ILI sociotype.

On the Mandala of Characters, the above Model-A for LSE sociotype looks as follows.

8.8.16. Sociotype –LIE – Logical(L)-Intuitive(I) Extratic(E), also marked as ENTj, (Enterpriser, Pioneer), (Jack London) on the Mandala of Characters.

The diagram below shows the Socionics’ Model-A for LIE sociotype.

On the Mandala of Characters, the above Model-A for LIE sociotype looks as follows.

So, above I showed 16 sociotypes on the Mandala of characters.

At the end of this chapter, I show the diagram with the word names of all 16 sociotypes.

I placed the above sociotypes around the Mandala. However, please remember that in Socionics, the name of individual sociotypes comes from their Ego-blocks. The Ego-block consists of the program and the creative function. Generally speaking, the name of sociotype comes from the conscious and leading part of the psyche of a given type.

The analogical principle I also used to name types in the Mandala of Characters. That is, in Mandala name of a given type comes from its Conscious State.

Therefore, the points corresponding to the sociotypes that I indicated in the diagram above are approximate equivalents of Ego-blocks in Models-A for particular sociotypes.

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