Type names

From Wikisocion

Navigating through competing terminology in socionics can be difficult. Here is a chart with all type naming systems that the reader is likely to ever encounter. The most official and universally recognized names are the names in bold (with links to type descriptions).

[edit] Chart

Functional name	3-letter name	4-letter name	Type symbols	2-letter name	Nickname	Russian pseudonym
Intuitive logical extrovert	ILE	ENTp		IL	Seeker, Inventor	Don Quixote
Sensing ethical introvert	SEI	ISFp		SE	Mediator, Peacemaker	Alexandre Dumas
Ethical sensing extrovert	ESE	ESFj		ES	Enthusiast	Victor Hugo
Logical intuitive introvert	LII	INTj		LI	Analyst	Maximilien Robespierre
Ethical intuitive extrovert	EIE	ENFj		ET	Actor, Mentor	Hamlet
Logical sensing introvert	LSI	ISTj		LF	Inspector	Maxim Gorky
Sensing logical extrovert	SLE	ESTp		FL	Conqueror, Legionnaire, Marshal	Zhukov
Intuitive ethical introvert	IEI	INFp		TE	Romantic, Lyricist	Sergei Esenin
Sensing ethical extrovert	SEE	ESFp		FR	Politician, Ambassador	Napoleon, Julius Caesar
Intuitive logical introvert	ILI	INTp		TP	Critic, Observer	Honoré de Balzac
Logical intuitive extrovert	LIE	ENTj		PT	Enterpriser, Pioneer	Jack London
Ethical sensing introvert	ESI	ISFj		RF	Guardian, Conservator	Theodore Dreiser
Logical sensing extrovert	LSE	ESTj		PS	Director, Administrator	Stirlitz, Sherlock Holmes (rare)
Ethical intuitive introvert	EII	INFj		RI	Humanist	Fyodor Dostoevsky, Dr. John Watson (rare)
Intuitive ethical extrovert	IEE	ENFp		IR	Psychologist, Reporter	Thomas Huxley, Tom Sawyer (rare)
Sensing logical introvert	SLI	ISTp		SP	Craftsman, Artisan	Jean Gabin

Note: extrovert/introvert can be replaced with extratim/introtim.

In the English-speaking socionics community, the 3- and 4-letter names are used almost exclusively.

[edit] Functional name

The functional name for each socionic type is based on the first two functions of the type.

For instance, a Sensing logical introvert's first function is sensing, the second is logic, and the individual is introverted, meaning that the base function is introverted. Hence, we know that the second function is extroverted, and the type symbol must be .

[edit] Three-letter names

The three-letter names simply take the first letter of each word in the functional name to create an abbreviation -- for example, SLI for "Sensing logical introtim."

[edit] Four-letter names

English-speaking socionists sometimes use the four-letter names instead of the more orthodox three-letter names. The letters derive from the dichotomy names used in the MBTI, which are in turn based on Jung's original dichotomies. "j/p" stand for Judging and Perceiving, the MBTI names for the rational/irrational dichotomy. "T/F" stand for Thinking and Feeling, Jung's original terms for Logic and Ethics.

The four-letter names are very often found in English-speaking socionics websites, and less frequently on Russian-speaking socionics websites, in English most often with a small "j" or "p" to distinguish them from MBTI types (although Reinin used all capital letters). The popularization of this system of nomenclature among the English-speaking socionics community is widely accredited to Sergei Ganin.

Since the four-letter name system is taken from the MBTI, it can lead to confusion between the two typologies, which, if not addressed, may result in erroneous conceptions regarding the nature of socionics. (See J/P switch.) Also, it is said to encourage dichotomous typing, which can cause misinterpretation of type and can lead to the establishment of contradictory properties.

But unlike the three-letter names, the four-letter names do not use the same letter to mean two different things (namely, I for both intuitive and introvert, and E for both ethical and extrovert). This allows one to specify dichotomies and groups of types more concisely (e.g., IJ for introverted rationals, or simply N for intuitives). This also makes it easier to work with the Reinin dichotomies.

[edit] Type symbols

The symbols denote the first two functions (the ego functions) of the type. Augusta chose the symbols to reflect certain qualities of perception associated with each element.

• Sensing (     /     ) is portrayed by a circle, representing the entirety of reality
• Intuition (     /     ) is portrayed by a triangle which fits inside the circle, but has sharp points of "insight"
• Logic (     /     ) is portrayed by a square, representing logical thought and reason
• Ethics (     /     ) is portrayed by a square with a 'chip' taken out of it, representing partiality and a rejection of reason alone

Extroverted elements are shaded in, representing characteristics of objects, while introverted ones are empty, representing the inner space of the subject.

[edit] Two-letter names

The two-letter names were created by Viktor Gulenko. They are even shorter than the traditional three-letter names and denote the first two functions of the type. This is the most concise type naming system in socionics that uses letters or words and is essentially equivalent to using the symbols associated with the first two functions. The letter associated with each element is the first letter of a Latin word that represents the element. The other advantage of the system is that it can be used internationally, since the names are in Latin letters and are derived from Latin roots.

Elements are denoted by the Latin letters F, I, P, E, S, T, L and R.

[edit] English nicknames

These names are translations of similar type names used by many Russian socionists (especially Gulenko and associates). The idea behind these names is to capture a common social role or common characteristics displayed by people of the type. These names have not caught on very well in English-language socionics, in which the three- and four-letter name systems are much more popular.

[edit] Russian pseudonyms

Type pseudonyms are very popular in the Russian speaking socionics community, but are generally avoided in research articles. Originally, Augusta assigned literary and historical figures to each type to make them easier to remember, and this practice quickly caught on in the more literature-aware Russian-speaking society. Later many socionists came to question the typings behind a couple of the pseudonyms, namely "Napoleon" (most now consider him SLE instead of SEE, as Augusta typed him).

Some socionists question the appropriateness of type pseudonyms, since the types of historical figures and literary characters are always open to dispute. Gulenko proposed his own system of pseudonyms using common social roles of each type similar to those used in Myers-Briggs Typology.

When describing the types, Augusta and fellow socionists thought of pseudonyms, or nicknames, for them based on historical or fictional figures supposedly of that type. These names, with a few variations, remain popular with Russian-language socionists, who often use them in articles. The disadvantage of this system is that it is based purely on memorization, and lacks any theoretical content.