Rationality and irrationality

From Wikisocion

Rationality / Irrationality is one of the 4 Jungian type dichotomies. Rational information elements (   ,    ,    , and    ) are how we understand actions and emotions. In contrast, irrational elements (   ,    ,    , and    ) are how we understand states of mind and body. Rational types have rational accepting information elements, whereas irrational types have irrational accepting information elements.

Rational types: ESE, LII, EIE, LSI, LIE, ESI, LSE, and EII.

Irrational types: ILE, SEI, SLE, IEI, SEE, ILI, IEE, and SLI.

In four-letter code, a rational type is any type with a "j" on the end, while irrationals have "p".

Each quadra has two rational and two irrational types.

[edit] Jung's original definitions

Jung was the first to divide psychic functions into rational and irrational. In his groundbreaking work entitled "Personality Types", Jung says that rationality is:

• "The reasonable, that which accords with reason."
• "I conceive reason as an attitude as a reason whose principle is to shape thought, feeling, and action in accordance with objective values."
• "Objective values are established by the average experience of external facts on the one hand, and of inner psychological facts."

On the other hand, Jung declares of irrationality:

• "It does not denote something outside of the providence of reason."
• "Elementary facts belong in this category, such as the Earth has a moon, that Chlorine is an element, that the greatest density of water is to found at 4.0 centigrade."
• "That thinking or feeling which is directed according to accidental perceptions and is therefore irrational."

Socionics has remade the original Jungian idea of the rational/irrational dichotomy.

[edit] Typical characteristics

[edit] Rationals

(Sometimes called 'shizothymes' in early socionics literature)

1. Focus on what they think should be said or done in each particular situation
2. Try to change their state of mind to fit their activity
3. Respect, honor, and initiate traditions (repeating activities involving other people)
4. Try to 'civilize' life by introducing good traditions, habits, and structure
5. Like to take on obligations in advance so that they can prepare for them
6. Intellectually, usually believe that things should be a certain way and that mankind should strive to materialize that
7. Tend to act a certain way until circumstances stop them

[edit] Irrationals

(Sometimes called 'cyclothymes' in early socionics literature)

1. Focus on their own moods and states of mind and what they feel like saying or doing
2. Try to change their activity to fit their state of mind
3. Tend to neglect and forget traditions (repeating activities involving other people) and instead act on their impulses
4. Try to make life spontaneous by breaking traditions and habits for the sake of spontaneity
5. Dislike long-term obligations but freely take on short-term obligations if they feel like it
6. Intellectually, usually believe that things are naturally the way they are, and that mankind should recognize and accept that
7. More artful at "going with the flow" and change their strategy more quickly

[edit] In intertype relations

This dichotomy plays a particularly important role in intertype interaction. Of the main four dichotomies in socionics (the so-called "Jungian foundation"), rationality/irrationality is the only one that dual types have in common.

[edit] See also

• Rationality-Irrationality by Viktor Gulenko

[edit] External links

• Rationality / Irrationality by Rick DeLong