33. Areas of adaptive-defensive mechanisms.

In this chapter, I will present the areas in which there are adaptive-defensive mechanisms, (or general attitudes, or modes of psychic reaction).

The adaptive-defensive mechanisms include:

• Extraversion,
• Introversion,
• Perceiving (Abstraction), and
• Judging (Empathy).

I will present adaptive-defensive mechanisms on the background of the areas of Rationalism and Realism, that I show in the previous chapter.

I think, first, it will be helpful when I remind where the areas of Rationalism and Realism are.

Below, I remind the area of Rationalism. Rationalism is connected with two basic psychological functions, which are Thinking and Feeling.

In the next diagram, I present an area of Realism. Realism is connected with other two basic psychological functions, which are Intuition and Sensation.

I will now add adaptive-defensive mechanisms (that is, Extraversion, Introversion, Perceiving, and Feeling) to the above two diagrams.

First, I will put these mechanisms on the diagram of Rationalism.

Above, I have placed adaptive-defensive mechanisms in the company of the concept of “Rationalism”. In this way, I want to emphasize that these mechanisms are in the area of Rationalism. Thus, we can see the following inscriptions:

• RATIONALISM, EXTRAVERSION — upper-left corner.
• RATIONALISM, INTROVERSION — lower-right corner.
• RATIONALISM, PERCEIVING — lower-left corner.
• RATIONALISM, JUDGING — upper-right corner.

Please note that in the center we have an area where there are:

• RATIONALISM, THINKING — on the left side, and
• RATIONALISM, FEELING — on the right side.

In this area, therefore, Rationalism is connected with the psychological functions, which are Thinking and Feeling.

In the next diagram, I put adaptive-defensive mechanisms on the area of Realism.

Now we can see that on the Realism area I put the inspirations:

• REALISM, EXTRAVERSION — upper-left corner.
• REALISM, INTROVERSION — lower-right corner.
• REALISM, PERCEIVING — lower-left corner.
• REALISM, JUDGING — upper-right corner.

As in the previous diagram, please note that in the middle there is an area with:

• REALISM, INTUITION — at the top, and
• REALISM, SENSATION — at the bottom.

Thus, in this area, Realism is connected with two psychological functions, which are Intuition and Sensation.

EXTRAVERSION and INTROVERSION

The two adaptive-defensive mechanisms, which are Extraversion and Introversion, I will present in two diagrams. I did so because it makes these diagrams more clear and readable.

So, first, let me present the areas of:

• Introversion and Extraversion,
• and separated areas of Rationalism and Realism, where we can find Introversion and Extraversion.

There where on the previous diagrams were visible:
— Rationalism, which is associated with Thinking and Feeling functions,
— and Realism, which is associated with Intuition and Sensation functions,
now there is an empty space.

In the above diagram, I used shading (gradients) to show where the greatest impact of Introversion and Extraversion is. It means:

• Extraversion is the greatest in the upper-left corner,
• Introversion, in turn, is the greatest in the lower-right corner.

PERCEIVING and JUDGING

Below, I present the areas of:

• Perceiving and Judging,
• and separated areas of Rationalism and Realism, where we can find Perceiving and Judging.

As in the previous diagram, there where on the previous diagrams were visible:
— Rationalism, which is associated with Thinking and Feeling functions,
— and Realism, which is associated with Intuition and Sensation functions,
now there is an empty space.

In the diagram above, I also use shading (gradients) to show where the impact of Perceiving and Judging is the greatest. It means.

• Perceiving is the greatest in the lower-left corner,
• Judging, in turn, is the greatest in the upper-right corner.

Soft versions of ADAPTIVE-DEFENSIVE MECHANISMS.

In the previous two diagrams, there are empty areas between the areas occupied by:
— Introversion and Extraversion,
— and by Perceiving and Judging.

As I mentioned above, these empty areas are occupied by the basic psychological functions of Intuition, Sensation, Thinking and Feeling.

In these areas, adaptive-defensive mechanisms (namely, Extraversion, Introversion, Perceiving, and Judging) have less impact. However, often great attention is paid to adaptive-defensive mechanisms. This is especially the case with Extraversion and Introversion. Since very much attention is paid to these two mechanisms, I also decided to present how these mechanisms look like in the areas occupied by basic psychological functions.

In the diagram below, I present the areas of Introversion and Extraversion on the background of Rationalism’s area.

In the next diagram, I show Introversion and Extraversion’s areas on the background of Realism’s area.

In each of the above diagrams, we have four stripes, two thicker and two thinner.

There are thinner stripes in the areas occupied by basic psychological functions. And as we can see, the shading (or gradient) on thinner stripes is less intense than on areas of thicker stripes. This means that the Introversion and Extraversion in the areas of the thinner stripes are weaker.

On the above stripes, we can also see this:
— which Rationalism or Realism is Extraverted, and
— which Rationalism or Realism is Introverted.

Now, I would like to draw attention to thin stripes. On these thin stripes are also highlighted:
— Extraverted and Introverted Realism, and
— Extraverted and Introverted Rationalism.

In the distinction where on thin stripes there are:
— Extraverted and Introverted Rationalism, and
— Extraverted and Introverted Realism
helped me Myers-Briggs types. Specifically, helped me the arrangement of these type on the Mandala of Characters. Therefore, in the above diagrams, we can see the Myers-Briggs types arranged around the Mandala.

Similarly to the above-mentioned Introversion and Extroversion areas, I also made diagrams to show the Perceiving and Judging areas.

In the diagram below, I show the areas of Perceiving and Judging on Rationalism’s background.

In the next diagram, I show the areas of Perceiving and Judging on the Realism’s area.

In each of the above diagrams, we have four stripes, two thicker and two thinner.

Thinner stripes are occupied by basic psychological functions (Intuition, Sensation, Thinking, and Feeling). And as we can see, the shading (or gradient) on thinner stripes is less intense than on the area of thicker stripes. This means that Perceiving and Judging in the areas of thinner stripes are weaker.

On the above stripes, we can also see this:
— which Rationalism or Realism is influenced by Perceiving, and
— which Rationalism or Realism is influenced by Judging.

Now, I would like to draw attention to thin stripes. On these thin stripes are also highlighted:
— Perceiving and Judging Realism, and
— Perceiving and Judging Rationalism.

Therefore, on the above for diagrams, we could see, among other things, how the adaptive-defensive mechanisms (Extraversion, Introversion, Perceiving, and Judging) look like in the areas of basic psychological functions (Intuition, Sensation, Thinking, and Feeling).

The above four diagrams show exactly where and how intense the functions and mechanisms are. However, there are as many as four of these diagrams. And that is because I use stripes to represent the above functions and mechanisms.

During the development of the Mandala of Characters, however, I also came across the fact that I can also use circular sectors to represent the above functions and mechanisms in addition to stripes.

The use of circular sectors is especially helpful for considering theories such as:
— Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®,
— Socionics,
— “Eight Function-Attitude, Eight Archetype Model” by John Beebe,
— “Personality Parts”, based on John Beebe’s Model, made by Richard Owen.

So below, I will present diagrams where I am using circular sectors.

The diagram above shows the circular sectors marked as Ne, Ni, Fe, Fi, Se, Si, Te, Ti. These elements are one of the main components of the theories mentioned above. These elements are also named differently, or in other words, they have many names. It means these 8 main elements:
— in Myers-Briggs Indicator, they are called—Cognitive Functions,
— in John Beebe’s Model, they are called—Function-Attitudes,
— in Socionics, they are called—Information Elements (or Aspects).

As we can see in the diagram above, the names of the above main parts are as follows:

• Ne—Extraverted Intuition,
• Ni—Introverted Intuition,
• Se—Extraverted Sensation,
• Si—Introverted Sensation,
• Te—Extraverted Thinking,
• Ti—Introverted Thinking,
• Fe—Extraverted Feeling,
• Fi—Introverted Feeling.

In Socionics, other names are originally used. The above names are treated as additional names. I will also mention the original names used in Socionics because, in my opinion, they are very interesting. Here are the names:

• I—Intuition of potentialities
  that is, Ne—Extraverted Intuition
• T—Intuition of time
  that is, Ni—Introverted Intuition
• F—Force (volitional) Sensorics
  that is, Se—Extraverted Sensation
• S—Perceptive (comfort) Sensorics
  that is, Si—Introverted Sensation
• P—Practical, business, (pragmatic) Logic
  that is, Te—Extraverted Thinking
• L—Structural Logic
  that is, Ti—Introverted Thinking
• E—Emotional Ethics
  that is, Fe—Extraverted Feeling
• R—Ethics of relations
  that is, Fi—Introverted Feeling.

The Socionics’ Information Elements placed on the Mandala of Characters we can see in the following diagram.

As we can see in the above two diagrams, in addition to the Eight Function-Attitude (or Cognitive Functions, or Information Elements), namely Ne, Ni, Fe, Fi, Se, Si, Te, Ti, we have four more areas, which are occupied by:
— Intuition (N),
— Sensation (S),
— Thinking (T),
— Feeling (F).

These are the four basic psychological functions distinguished by Jung.

As we can see in the previous two diagrams, the area of basic psychological functions are empty. In the diagrams, where I used stripes instead of circular sectors, we could see what impact on these areas have adaptive-defensive mechanisms (namely, Extraversion, Introversion, Perceiving, and Judging).

In that case, can we also show somehow in diagrams with circular sectors the influence of adaptive-defensive mechanisms in the areas of basic psychological functions?

I think that this can be done by the fact that adaptive-defensive mechanisms (Extraversion, Introversion, Perceiving, and Judging) have a weaker impact in the areas of basic psychological functions.

In earlier diagrams with stripes, we saw that Extraversion, Introversion, Perceiving, and Judging in areas of basic psychological functions had less intense shading (or gradient). This was where the diagrams had thicker and thinner stripes. And the thinner stripes have a less intense gradient.

Let me remind you that the areas where there are thin stripes are the areas where particular basic psychological functions are strongest. That is Intuition, Sensation, Thinking, and Feeling.

So, if the Extraversion, Introversion, Perceiving, and Judging on the thin stripes are less intense, then, I think, we can say, they are just—soft or light.

Now, keeping in mind that Extraversion, Introversion, Perceiving, and Judging in the areas of basic psychological functions are soft, I think it is possible to modify the diagrams in which I showed Function-Attitudes (or Cognitive Functions, or Information Elements). These modifications are as follows:

Above, in the areas where previously were only highlighted basic psychological functions (Intuition, Sensation, Thinking, and Feeling), now we have two areas for each of these functions. Specifically, these divisions are as follows:

• The area of Intuition is divided into:
  — soft Ni, that is, soft Introverted Intuition,
  — soft Ne, that is, soft Extraverted Intuition.
• The area of Sensation is divided into:
  — soft Si, that is, soft Introverted Sensation,
  — soft Se, that is, soft Extraverted Sensation.
• The area of Thinking is divided into:
  — soft Ti, that is, soft Introverted Thinking,
  — soft Te, that is, soft Extraverted Thinking.
• The area of Feeling is divided into:
  — soft Fi, that is, soft Introverted Feeling,
  — soft Fe, that is, soft Extraverted Feeling.

I think the diagram above is just what is missing for consideration about:
— John Beebe’s “Eight Function-Attitude, Eight Archetype Model”,
— Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®, and
— Socionics.

Therefore, the above diagram I am going to use for my modifications of these typologies and for adjusting them to the Mandala of Characters.

I think that in addition to the above diagram, where I showed the impact of Extraversion and Introversion on the areas of basic psychological functions, we can also make another diagram. This diagram will concern the impact of Perceiving and Judging on the areas of basic psychological functions.

Admittedly, we do not need it for considerations about John Beebe’s, Myers-Briggs’, and Socionics’ typologies. However, perhaps it will be useful for something in the future.

In the next diagram, I will show the impact of Perceiving and Judging on basic psychological functions.

Analogically, as in the previous diagram, in areas where earlier were highlighted only basic psychological functions (Intuition, Sensation, Thinking, and Feeling), now we have two areas for each of the functions. Specifically, these division are as follows:

• The area of Intuition is divided into:
  — soft Nj, that is, soft Judging Intuition,
  — soft Np, that is, soft Perceiving Intuition.
• The area of Sensation is divided into:
  — soft Sj, that is, soft Judging Sensation,
  — soft Sp, that is, soft Perceiving Sensation.
• The area of Thinking is divided into:
  — soft Tj, that is, soft Judging Thinking,
  — soft Tp, that is, soft Perceiving Thinking.
• The area of Feeling is divided into:
  — soft Fj, that is, soft Judging Feeling,
  — soft Fp, that is, soft Perceiving Feeling.

And now I think we can still go further, and we can combine the above two diagrams into one diagram.

I made the above diagram in a colored version as well. Perhaps it will make it easier to analyze this diagram.

Above, therefore, I distinguished soft adaptive-defensive mechanisms (namely, soft Extraversion, Introversion, Perceiving, and Judging), which we can find in the areas of basic psychological functions.

As we can also see, in the above four diagrams, in addition to soft versions of adaptive-defensive mechanisms, also appeared light versions of elements marked as Ne, Ni, Fe, Fi, Se, Si, Te, Ti. When we paraphrase the original names, I think we can say that these are:
— light versions of Cognitive Functions in the Myers-Briggs Indicator,
— light versions of Function-Attitudes in the John Beebe’s Model,
— light version of Information Elements (or Aspects) in Socionics.

The light versions of Ne, Ni, Fe, Fi, Se, Si, Te, Ti, as well as the light version of adaptive-defensive mechanisms, we can find in the areas of basic psychological functions. As I mentioned above, the original version of Ne, Ni, Fe, Fi, Se, Si, Te, Ti, among others, are used in Myers-Briggs, John Beebe’s, and Socionics’ theories.

I would like to emphasize here that in the above personality theories, there is no soft (or light) version of Ne, Ni, Fe, Fi, Se, Si, Te, Ti, occurring in the areas of basic psychological functions. This is because these theories do not distinguish areas of basic psychological functions. I have distinguished these areas in the Mandala of Characters. Since I have distinguished them, I have also described them in the way that we can see in this chapter.

Thanks to the soft version of adaptive-defensive mechanisms or the soft version of Ne, Ni, Fe, Fi, Se, Si, Te, Ti, we will be able to analyze more precisely John Beebe’s Model, Myers-Briggs Indicator, Socionics, and other theories that use these elements. It means we will be able to analyze these theories more precisely using the Mandala of Characters.