Levels of information processing

In the early 2000s, Y.A. Feldman developed the theory of Levels of Abstract Intelligence (LAI), which garnered significant interest for its simplicity, versatility, and wide-ranging potential applications. The theory posits that more advanced intelligence is capable of and inclined towards processing more complex objects.

Further theoretical exploration led Feldman to identify and define various levels of intelligence, demonstrating how LAI can analyze and model numerous scientific, social, and cultural processes. LAI asserts that human activity across all domains is structured into levels.

While there are a total of 10 levels numbered from 0 to 9, in practical terms, levels 0 and 9 are rarely encountered. Thus, typically, eight levels numbered from 1 to 8 are considered in practical applications.

Each level corresponds to a specific degree of attentional capacity.

Level	In the Field of Attention	Pictogram
1	One Object
2	Many Objects
3	One Process
4	Many Processes
5	One Map
6	Many Maps
7	One System
8	Many Systems

In relation to socionic theory, it's intriguing to view the process of information metabolism through the lens of LAI.

At first glance, it's apparent that individuals perceive, process, and generate information based on the quantity and quality of objects their attention can handle. All eight levels can be divided into two groups based on the power of the attention field: odd levels signify "one" and even levels signify "many".

Odd levels introduce a fundamentally new qualitative aspect to the object of attention, while even levels, focusing on "many", introduce new quantitative characteristics. According to the author, transitioning from an odd level to an even one—moving from focusing on a singular quality to managing multiple qualities—represents a qualitative leap.

Consider, for instance, the difference between a homemaker who can cook only one dish versus another who can cook many dishes, both following recipes. In practice, we might regard the latter as a "higher quality" homemaker due to their versatility. However, this quality differs from what enables a third homemaker to create recipes for dishes themselves.

Transitioning from "one" to "many" signifies an enhancement in quality, while moving from an even level to the next odd one signifies a deepening of quality, marking a shift to a qualitatively new level.

Thus, categorizing the levels based on their qualitative characteristics, we observe the following breakdown:

Odd Levels	In the Field of Attention	Pictogram	Even Levels	In the Field of Attention	Pictogram
1	One Object
			2	Many Objects
3	One Process
			4	Many Processes
5	One Map
			6	Many Maps
7	One System
			8	Many Systems

It's evident that the selected odd levels in LAI correspond to parameters of information processing that define the dimension of function. Each level's attention field aligns with specific nuances of information processing related to these parameters.

Let's delve deeper.

Level 1 (focusing on one object in the attention field) correlates with the first parameter of information processing—the parameter of experience.

When processing information through a one-dimensional function, experience is localized as isolated episodes, detached from their contextual relevance. The experience gathered within this framework consists of separate techniques, plots, methods, and evaluations that lack interconnectedness. Retrieving information from such experiences involves searching and attempting to find suitable episodes without the ability to assess the holistic context of the situation.

Imagine a child exploring a heap of toys, examining each one individually rather than considering them all together.

With a one-dimensional function, attention fixates on what is perceived as a distinct object (not always accurately), and the extracted experiences are encapsulated and stored as discrete entities. These capsules of experience can only unify, merge, mutually influence, or transform through new experiences, not solely through internal cognitive processes.

To illustrate, consider a whimsical example of exploring a new neighborhood.

A person arrives in a new neighborhood and inadvertently kicks a hornet's nest, resulting in a series of stings. This incident becomes a capsule of local experience—a lesson that hornet's nests might be found in yards. Thought processes don't extend much further. To understand the presence of hornet's nests and their placements across all yards in the neighborhood, one would need to personally explore each yard. Collecting such capsules of experience involves remembering that in every yard, a hornet's nest might be present.

Level 3 (focusing on one process in the attention field) corresponds to the second parameter of information processing—the parameter of norms.

Norms represent a set of rules, techniques, and conventions that define behavioral traditions within a social group. From an information quality perspective, this level involves consolidating disparate objects from previous levels into overarching trends, forming qualitatively new informational units. Individuals store these behavioral techniques or responses in memory and retrieve them as needed. This level introduces a new level of freedom: one can conform to established norms or act contrary to them.

Continuing with the neighborhood example, the initial experience with the hornet's nest suggests a local norm—that hornet's nests are commonly found in yards. Consequently, when approaching another yard, one prepares for a potential encounter with a hornet's nest. If our explorer decides to settle in the neighborhood and integrate into local society, they already know the expected hornet's nest placement. Alternatively, if they choose to be oppositional, they might remove the hornet's nest to emphasize their dissenting stance.

Level 5 (focusing on one map in the attention field) corresponds to the third parameter of information processing—the parameter of creativity (or situation).

Having a map implies the ability to navigate terrain freely and independently move from point A to point B using various situational approaches: over mountains, across water, taking short or long routes, straight or winding paths. One can experiment with routes, adjust them midway, and even create entirely new ones. Essentially, this describes the creative process that individuals demonstrate through the three-dimensional functions of their TIM (Type of Information Metabolism). Knowing their current position and desired destination, they formulate and test different techniques and multi-step strategies to achieve their goals. The map serves as a metaphor for the circumstances (situation) in which a person develops their creative techniques. Memory stores refined tactical and technical details of past terrain, aiding in plotting future routes (developing creative techniques) more accurately and skillfully. At the previous level, individuals had two movement options: in accordance with or against the trend (process).

However, at Level 5, numerous options exist within a given context.

Returning to our neighborhood example: while it's customary to find hornet's nests in yards, during a neighborhood cleanup day, residents armed with bug spray might not find them there. This situation illustrates that while hornet's nests are typically found in yards, in the current context, they are being removed. Moreover, at this level of information processing, one can foresee what situations could be engineered to achieve desired outcomes. For instance, organizing a cleanup day prompts residents to remove hornet's nests from their yards.

Level 7 (focusing on one system in the attention field) corresponds to the fourth parameter of information processing—the parameter of globality (or time).

Understanding a system's interconnected elements allows individuals to view situations from a higher perspective.

This system describes object characteristics that remain consistent regardless of the immediate situation.

Comprehending system principles enables navigating spaces with incomplete factual information. It's unnecessary to know everything; understanding key facts allows employing system vision to deduce missing information, essentially making forecasts. The phenomenon of forecasting from four-dimensional functions has been explored in my article "Socionic nature of subjective perception of time" and aligns with the perspective of the LAI approach.

System vision, characteristic of the four-dimensional function, provides a comprehensive worldview that encompasses the parameter of globality.

Applying this perspective to our neighborhood, we observe that hornet's nests are consistently found in garage areas, not on footpaths.

Such concise and comprehensive formulations are typical of four-dimensional functions, reflecting the ability to grasp the essence of things through systemic vision.

The essence, by its nature, often requires no verbose or variable explanations. The information from the fourth parameter forms the foundation of interpreting reality within the current information field.

Here, it's more accurate to speak not of a new level of freedom of movement, as seen in previous levels, but of a state where one lives in constant awareness of reality. Having established the connection between odd levels and information processing parameters, the description of even levels becomes pertinent.

Even levels likely describe the impact of what's known as the filling factor—also termed "working through" or "pumping" the function. In simpler terms, this refers to the potential enhancement of information processing quality through methodical, intensive development within the corresponding function's domain.

For instance, at Level 2 with a one-dimensional function, an individual can hold multiple objects in their attention simultaneously. However, these objects remain separate, unrelated entities and do not transform into a unified process. At Level 4 with a two-dimensional function, one can track multiple processes concurrently (where "many" denotes more than one), such as understanding norms across various social groups, yet this level does not yet involve creating a map.

Moving to Level 6 with a three-dimensional function, multiple "maps" allow simultaneous creative processes across different event planes, significantly enhancing efficiency. However, it still doesn't constitute a systemic vision.

Finally, at Level 8 with four-dimensional functions, reality is perceived as a system of interconnected systems. Facts are considered within the influence of multiple systems simultaneously, defining this as the level of true globality.

This approach clarifies:

- the characteristics of information processing within each parameter,
- illustrates the potential and limits of thinking development within each function,
- models the nature of human intellectual activity across different aspects of Model A's blocks.

The theoretical framework presented has been utilized by the author for many years in teaching socionics theory and practice, enabling students to convey a vast array of information about function dimensions figuratively and succinctly.