Rationality / Irrationality

Definition: rational types have logic or ethics as their leading function (, , , or ), while irrational types have intuition or sensing (, , , or ). In addition, all accepting functions of rationals are rational and all producing functions are irrational, and vice-versa for irrationals.

Be sure to read the discussion below the chart as well.

	RATIONAL TYPES	IRRATIONAL TYPES
perception	attention focused on correct actions and emotions (logic and ethics), which produce certain states of mind and body (intuition and sensing) act according to their expectation of a situation; form an expectation or plan, then act during communication attention is focused on words and speech immediate reactions to words, actions, and emotions are drawn to stable, reliable systems and situations	attention focused on correct states of mind and body (intuition and sensing), which produce certain actions and emotions (logic and ethics) act according to their current state of mind (impulsiveness) during communication attention is focused on mental images react not to words, actions, and emotions but to changes in their inner state created by others' words, actions, and emotions are drawn to systems and situations with uncertain outcomes
physiology	angular, discrete movements internal tension (readiness) straight lines and angles in face and body linear biorhythms, actions, emotions, and moods more stable psychic states flourish in structured environments	smooth, unbroken body movements and gestures internal relaxedness gentle lines in face and body cyclical biorhythm, actions, emotions, and moods greater range of psychic states flourish in unstructured environments
emotions	sharper, brighter emotions as immediate response to others' emotions, actions, and words less moody, but moods last longer	'softer' emotions that are adapted to situation tend to be moodier with more impulsive emotions, but moods change more quickly
strengths	act decisively and keep correct course in stable circumstances keeping things under order completing one task before starting another	act decisively in unstable circumstances improvisation; changing plans midstream doing several tasks at once
weaknesses	easily disoriented when put in situations with quickly changing rules often have difficulty relaxing after tasks are over	become passive and lose interest in unchanging environment often have difficulty getting revved up sufficiently for task at hand until there is a crisis
behavior in relationships	like to discuss their actions, emotions, attachments, and rules of relationship sequential relationship development: “we're dating;” “we're together now;” “we're living together now;” etc. emotional and physical closeness increases or decreases linearly	like to discuss their states of mind, sensations, understanding of themselves and each other nonsequential relationship development; structure emerges only in hindsight emotional and physical closeness evolves nonlinearly, in waves