Talk:Two Views on Extroversion-Introversion

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This article describes a very minor part of the theory behind background functions. The main theme of the article is that opposite aspects (eg. Ne/Ni, Te/Ti) can interact with each in the psyche to form one element, despite being opposites. It doesn't go into any detail about how background functions are used, but it was the best article I could find. Help would be appreciated locating other articles.

Gulenko gives some very theoretical definitions of the IM elements, and flips the "vertness" of each one with respect to his new system. He also makes the claim that all his results are consistent with Jung's views on extraversion/introversion. He also adds a bit of a soap-operish political diatribe at the end against a Beta and some Gamma socionists, based on some dispute they've been having.

An interesting thing to note is that the there are differences in interpretation among the Kiev school and Vilnius school about which function in the Id is stronger, the 7th or 8th.

[edit] Article Summary

(first draft)

• disclaimer: The article should be approached as a purely theoretical exercise... don't expect any practical socionics information.
• disclaimer: lots of this is necessarily personal interpretation of the article

Part 0 - Introduction

• There are two ways to understand introversion/extroversion:
  • The Jungian way, introversion - directed towards the subject (internal reality) vs. extraversion - directed towards the object (external reality)
  • As it is used in the modern sciences, subject (the quantitatively larger entity) vs. object (the smaller slave entity on which action is performed).

Part I - Vertness

• Gulenko reorients the "vertness" of all the IM elements in this new model.
• All introverted IMEs are considered "extraverted". All extraverted IMEs - "introverted".
• Why? Because he's trying to take into account that an IM element includes more than just an information aspect. The entire "installation" of an IME includes the information aspect as well as the subject's role in using the aspect.

• So take    , it deals with logical data centered directly on the object - this part is the information aspect. But the selection of which object to work on is determined by the subject - the time, place and object of Te are therefore "objectively" fixed. But the decision to utilize Te on that particular time, place and object is a decision by the subject. Hence, the Te "module" as it relates to how the individual uses it can be considered introverted.

• Take    , it deals with subjectively perceived bonds between people - this part is the information aspect. But the presence or absence of relational bonds between people is something that exists regardless of any attempt by external circumstances to change it - Fi perceives relational bonds as inalienable and objectively fixed. It reacts vehemently to external conditions that try to change this. Hence the Fi module can be considered as extraverted in the sense of how it is used - as a reactionary or policing device for external data.

• An analogy:              elements are flexible and proactive, which requires active mediation by the user.              elements are reactive to objects that coarse into their radar screens, and this requires little mediation by the user, but the reaction is usually determined by the nature of the intruding objects.

• Under this new synthesis:

             have an extraverted information aspect but introverted (subjective) manipulation of that aspect.

             have an introverted information aspect but extraverted (objective) manipulation of that aspect.

• Then, recalling what was said in Part 0, introverted aspects are objective under the second definition of introversion/exraversion. And vice versa for extraverted aspects.

• But let's push it further. In the modular sense of subjective/introverted talked about above, Fi is more subjective than Ti; Ne is more subjective than Se, etc. So he introduces a new system of classifying elements based on their individual order of introversion/extraversion.

• The order of the elements from most introverted to most extraverted is...     <     ≈     <     <     <     ≈     <    

• Why is Si more introverted than Ni, when Si is more involved in the physical environment? Because it reacts to environmental stimuli according to fixed subjective criteria like (eg.) the energy level of the organism. It is more attuned to some specific internal criterion than Ni, which plots the change of an object in time free of internal obfuscation.

• This way of looking at functions and IM elements is consistent with the theory of temperaments.

EP/EJ are defined as flexible and proactive, respectively.

IJ/IP are defined as reactive and go-with-the-flow, respectively.

Part II - Jung

• According to Jung,
  • Introverts unconsciously (meaning naturally) assimilate into their introverted state, but interaction with the external world is conscious and deliberate.
  • Extraverts naturally assimilate into their extraverted state, but their internal dialogue is conscious and deliberate.

• Hence,
  • Introverts have an introverted id and extraverted ego.
  • Extraverts have an extraverted id and introverted ego.

• Which is consistent both with Gulenko's vertness flip, and unites the two different views of introversion/extraversion summarized in Part 0.

Part III - Opposite Aspects

...