Discovering your Socionic Type

This site doesn't yet have a mechanized online test, but I plan to create one within the next few months and post it here. This test will be the first place to go to begin looking for your type. However, no self-diagnostic test can produce 100% accurate results. In fact, most socionists agree that even the better tests don't get more than 60% of types right. I have some ideas about creating a more accurate test, but most likely, mine won't break above that level either, unless I make some "ingenious" breakthrough.

For now, the first stop in discovering your socionic type should be the brief description of the four socionic dichotomies, from where you will want to follow the links to the in-depth descriptions of each dichotomy. Once you have chosen the descriptions that best apply to you, use the pop-up chart for finding your type to see which type has your particular combination of socionic traits. I am satisfied with the the depth and accuracy of these descriptions, enhanced by the discussion of main points below each chart. If you can clearly choose between each of these dichotomies, then chances are you have found your type.

Self-diagnosis pitfalls

Even with my in-depth dichotomy descriptions there is a chance for error. When people self-diagnose themselves, they go by what they think about themselves (their self-concept), which is not always completely in line with reality. In fact, sometimes self-concept can be grossly inaccurate. This seems to occur as a result of difficult family relationships or other traumatic experiences that forced one to develop compensatory behavior styles as opposed to developing his or her real strengths.

Even in the absence of traumatic experiences, self-concept is influenced by one's idols and by family values: is it "better" to be logical or ethical? extraverted or introverted? What are your role models like? Such desired traits influence self-diagnosis as well. People who diagnose their type on their own almost never reach unexpected conclusions!! This is one of the difficulties of psychological testing, and it is socionists' job to come up with tests and descriptions that minimize the influence of people's self-concept to the greatest possible degree.

Ideally, one should have contact with experienced socionists who can give qualified type diagnoses. Next, one should gain experience interacting with people whose types have been determined accurately to get a feel for intertype relations. It can be especially enlightening to get to know people of your own type. It is hard to understand socionics in isolation with only a bunch of texts to go by.

Type consultations

If you would like my assistance in discovering your type, please write to me for a consultation (I am the author of Socionics.us). Before setting up a time for an online chat, I will need from you a set of 10 different electronic photographs from different situations, each of which should show your face straight-on and not be more than 150 Kb apiece. Photos convey a lot of information about temperament, emotionality, and states of mind that lies deeper than a person's self-concept. During our chat I will ask you a lot of things related to your pictures, your previous testing results, and your interests, sentiments, and values until I have gained a complete view of you as a socionic type. Then we will discuss my conclusions until you are satisfied with what you have learned.

This service, like any qualified psychological consultation, costs money. I accept payments through PayPal, a secure Internet payment system. Write to me for more information. You will find many people on the Internet willing to give you a 30-second type diagnosis for free based on one low-quality photo or a few paragraphs of text, but in almost all cases they lack the experience that I have and will certainly not spend a few hours studying you carefully like I do, or sign their name under their diagnosis. My methodology involves several stages and angles of study and requires sincere and thoughtful responses on the client's part.

So I know my socionic type. Now what?

Knowing your socionic type provides a lot of useful information about yourself — inherent strengths and weaknesses, recommendations for choosing and developing a profession, and knowledge about what psychological qualities one tends to look for in other people. At this point you can decide whether you'd like to study socionics further and learn about other types and your interaction with them. Some people are satisfied just to know their own type, others want to be able to recognize duals and learn how to build relationships with them, or solve some other specific need or situation, and yet others want "the whole hog." What you decide to do depends on your personal needs and interest in the subject.