Update 1.36 — Soft versions of adaptive-defensive mechanisms.

In this update, I will come back to areas where we can find adaptive-defensive mechanisms. I would like to show additional diagrams. I made these diagrams thanks to the inspiration that appeared while studying the following personality theories:
— Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®,
— Socionics,
— Eight Function-Attitude, Eight Archetype Model, created by John Beebe.

The diagrams that I will present in this update make it easier to analyze these typologies.

Before I move to the new diagrams, let me first recall the diagrams of adaptive-defensive mechanisms I made earlier. It means I made them in the following updates:
— Update 1.22 — Areas of basic psychological functions, and mechanisms of adaptation and defense.
— Update 1.24 — Realism instead of Irrationalism.

Let me remind you that in the Mandala of Characters, based on Jung’s and Myers-Briggs’ typology, I distinguished the following adaptive-defensive mechanisms:

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

I presented the adaptive-defensive mechanisms on the background of rationalism and realism.

Below I recall the area of Rationalism. Rationalism is related to the basic psychological functions of Thinking and Feeling.

In the next diagram, I present the area of Realism. Realism is related to the basic psychological functions of Intuition and Sensation.

Now, to the above two diagrams, I will add adaptive-defensive mechanisms (namely, Extraversion, Introversion, Perceiving, and Judging).

First, I will add these mechanisms to the Rationalism area.

Above I have placed the adaptive-defensive mechanisms in the company of the inscriptions “Rationalism”. I did it so to emphasize that these mechanisms are in the area of Rationalism. It means I put the following inscriptions:

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

Please note that between the above-mentioned areas, there are also areas occupied by:

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

In this area, therefore, Rationalism is related to the basic psychological functions of Thinking and Feeling.

In the next diagram, I placed the adaptive-defensive mechanisms to the area of Realism.

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

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

Please note that as in the previous diagram, between the above areas, there are also areas occupied by:

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

Thus, in the area, Realism is related to the basic psychological function of Intuition and Sensation.

EXTRAVERSION and INTROVERSION

The mechanisms of Extraversion and Introversion I previously presented using the following diagram.

Above we can see in which areas we have:
— Rationalism and Realism, and
— Introversion and Extraversion.

Where on the previous diagrams we could see:
— Rationalism, which is related to the functions of Thinking and Feeling, and
— Realism, which is related to the functions of Intuitions and Sensation,
now there are empty areas.

Thinking, Feeling, Intuition, and Sensation are distinguished by Jung—basic psychological functions. In the area of these functions, Introversion and Extraversion have weaker influence. This is because, in these areas, basic psychological functions have the greatest influence. Therefore, in the diagram above, I showed that these areas are empty.

However, I will come back to these empty areas later in this chapter.

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

• Extraversion in the greatest degree appears in the upper left corner, and
• Introversion in the greatest degree appears in the lower right corner.

PERCEIVING and JUDGING

The mechanisms of Perceiving and Judging I have previously presented using the following diagram.

Above we can see in which areas we have:
— Rationalism and Realism,
— Perceiving and Judging.

There, where on the previous diagrams we could see:
— Rationalism, which is related to the functions of Thinking and Feeling, and
— Realism, which is related to the functions of Intuition and Sensation,
now there are empty areas.

In the diagram above, I used shading (gradients) to show where the influence of Perceiving and Judging are greatest. It means:

• Perceiving in the greatest degree appears in the lower left corner, and
• Judging in the greatest degree appears in the upper right corner.

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

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. And earlier (that is in updates 1.22 and 1.24), I graphically presented this in the way that we can see in the next four diagrams.

First, let me remind you of two diagrams in which I showed areas of Introversion and Extraversion. As before, in these diagrams, we can also see the areas of Rationalism and Realism.

In the below, I show the areas of Introversion and Extraversion in the area of Rationalism.

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).

However, as I mentioned at the beginning of this chapter, to show the above areas differently inspired me the following personality theories:
— Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®,
— Socionics,
— John Beebe’s—Eight Function-Attitude, Eight Archetype Model.

One of the differences between these theories and the Mandala of Characters is that the above theories do not use the areas of basic psychological functions like in Mandala. It means these theories make extensive use of these functions (Intuition, Sensation, Thinking, Feeling) when analyzing personality types. However, they have not treated these functions as separate areas. I will return to this issue later in this chapter to explain this issue in more details.

Because the three theories mentioned above do not treat basic psychological functions as separate areas, there are 8 main areas in these theories. In turn, in the Mandala of Characters, we have 12 main areas. I will show this difference in the following two diagrams.

Let me start with the theories:
— Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®, and
— John Beebe’s—Eight Function-Attitude, Eight Archetype Model.

In these theories are distinguished 8 main parts, which:
— in the Myers-Briggs theory are referred to as—Cognitive Functions,
— in John Beebe’s “Eight Function-Attitude, Eight Archetype Model” are referred to as—Function-Attitudes.

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

The areas of the above Cognitive Functions or Function-Attitudes on the Mandala of Characters are as follows.

In turn, when it comes to Socionics, in this theory, there are eight so-called Information Elements (or aspects), which are:

• 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

Information Elements placed on the Mandala of Characters I show in the next 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 I mentioned above, John Beebe’s model, Myers-Briggs and Socionics, does not consider these areas. It means, in these theories, according to Jung’s typology, basic psychological function are also distinguished. And these theories use these functions in various ways to analyze personality types. However, there they do not talk about the areas where these functions occur.

Admittedly, in Socionics are distinguished various kinds of areas. But in Socionics, the greatest emphasis is placed on Information Elements, of which is eight. In total, therefore, in Socionics, to the analysis of personality types are used mainly these 8 Elements. In turn, in Mandala of Characters, to analyze types are used 12 main parts or areas.

So, in general, when it comes to usage of:
— basic psychological functions (Intuition, Sensation, Thinking, Feeling), and
— adaptive-defensive mechanisms (Extraversion, Introversion, Perceiving, Judging),

we can say that the Mandala of Characters is 12-partial. In turn, in John Beebe’s, Myers-Briggs’, and Socionics’ theories are 8-partial. So, there are four parts in the Mandala that have no direct equivalent in John Beebe’s, Myers-Briggs’, and Socionics’ theories. It means, in these theories, basic psychological functions are used in other ways.

What, then, we can do with these four areas of Intuition, Sensation, Thinking, and Feeling so that we can use them for considerations about John Beebe’s, Myers-Briggs’, and Socionics’ theories?

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, which we can find in the areas of basic psychological functions.

This is a big novelty for me because I have not met yet anywhere, something that would be analogical to the soft adaptive-defensive mechanism (or soft Function-Attitudes, or soft Cognitive Functions, or soft Information Elements).

However, thanks to the soft version of adaptive-defensive mechanisms, we will be able to analyze John Beebe’s Model, Myers-Briggs, and Socionics more precisely.