Information Elements

One of the most fundamental concepts in socionics is the idea of information elements, or facets of reality. The idea is that reality can be divided into categories that different individuals perceive with differing degrees of clarity and precision. These information elements correspond to Jung's 8 psychic functions, but have been given a new meaning. If there are 8 possible different "leading functions" that perceive different aspects of reality, then reality can itself be described in terms of these 8 different aspects. This was a critical step in the development of socionics that led to everything else. Socionics makes a distinction between information elements (facets of external reality) and psychic functions (positions in the socionic model of the psyche).

Socionics founder Augusta and her associates viewed reality as consisting of both objects and fields (interrelationships between objects), statics and dynamics (rest and motion), and internal and external qualities. The most abstract possible simplification of the 8 information elements is given here (with the symbols that were given to them):

= internal statics of objects
= external statics of objects
= external dynamics of objects
= internal dynamics of objects
= internal dynamics of fields
= external dynamics of fields
= external statics of fields
= internal statics of fields

These descriptions, like many other logical reductions in socionics, are probably useful only at the most abstract level — in order to see that the 8 information elements are 'deep' characteristics of reality that go beyond easily quantifiable categories. Below is a more extended description of the information elements and how they translate into human perception. To gain an additional, perhaps more fundamental understanding, read Augusta's description of the information elements and "The Semantics of the Information Elements." Also, I have written decent descriptions at The Socionist blog.

(breakdown of elements)		symbol	name of element	code	description
characteristics of objects and their motion — "extraverted" elements	static, irrational elements (objects at rest)	extraverted intuition	potentiality intuition	internal content of objects	potentiality of objects: inherent possibilities, purpose, abilities, talents, content, values Link: as leading function
		extraverted sensing	volitional sensing	external situation of objects	outward traits of objects: form, shape, strength, power, readiness, willpower, mobilization, the location of objects in space
	dynamic, rational elements (objects in motion)	extraverted logic	algorithmic logic	external activity of objects	external activity of objects: events (what, how, where), activity, behavior, algorithms
		extraverted ethics	emotive ethics	internal activity of objects	internal activity of objects: internal processes, mood, emotional activity and arousability, emotional content Link: - extended description
characteristics of fields (interaction between objects) and their motion — "introverted" elements	dynamic, irrational elements (fields in motion)	introverted intuition	temporal intuition	abstract processes of fields	intangible connections between processes separated in time and space: sense of when things might happen, patterns of events, abstract representations of processes
		introverted sensing	experiential sensing	concrete processes of fields	tangible connections between processes happening in one place and time: how events affect one's inner state; sensations, what one experiences physically Link: and pleasure
	static, rational elements (fields at rest)	introverted logic	structural logic	objective situation of fields	logical relationships between objects: systems of rules and categories, hierarchies, comparisons of quantifiable properties, logical judgments
		introverted ethics	relational ethics	subjective situation of fields	subjective relationships between objects: feelings of attraction and repulsion, like and dislike, need and antipathy; morals, subjective judgments

The socionic model of the psyche has 8 psychic functions for all 8 information elements. In other words, all 8 kinds of information are perceived by every type, but with different degrees of clarity and objectivity. This is reflected by the positioning of each information element in the socionic model of the psyche, i.e. which function relates to which information element. This is an improvement over Jung's typology and the MBTI system, which only talk of four functions per type. The presence of all 8 functions in each type model means that an individual's perceptual range is not limited to only 'objects' or only 'fields,' but includes each facet of reality. For example, the "ego block" — or "self-realization block" — of each type consists of one extraverted element and one introverted element.

That being said, perception is dominated by the leading function, which provides the basis for much of personality. The leading function is paradoxically taken for granted and not particularly prized by the individual, since it requires little effort to develop. Only by performing increasingly complex tasks with the leading function can a person come to recognize its worth and gain satisfaction from using it.

The concrete content of the 8 information elements can best be understood by studying people who have these elements as their leading functions. Each information element is the leading function of two socionic types. For example, black sensing is the leading function of both SEE and SLE (sensing ethical extravert and sensing logical extravert). Read Augusta's descriptions of the eight different leading functions.