Model A in Socionics

Introducing socionic aspects allowed for the development of a more detailed model of informational metabolism, known as Model A, named after the founder of socionics, Aushra Augustinavichute. Model A consists of eight functions, each working with one aspect.

Metaphorically, Model A can be represented as a round tower with eight windows facing different directions, where each side corresponds to one socionic aspect. Some windows are large and bright, allowing a clear and detailed view of the surroundings—these are the strong functions. Others are small with foggy glass, providing a blurry view, if any at all, of whether it is light or dark outside—these are the weak functions.

The sizes and positions of the windows on the tower are unique to each individual. However, there are certain rules and patterns that allow us to identify socionic types.

Drawing the tower is not always convenient, so Model A is typically depicted as a 2×4 matrix with the following cell numbering:

The rules for filling Model A are as follows: the first aspect can be any, and the next three cells contain aspects with the same static/dynamic attribute as the first, but alternating "color" and rational/irrational attribute. For example, if the first aspect is L (white, static, rational), the second aspect could be F or E (black, static, irrational), the third aspect would again be white, static, and rational (since L is already placed in the model, it could only be R here), and then again E or F. Thus, if the first aspect in Model A is L, there are only two possible combinations: L-F-R-E (corresponding to LSI) and L-E-R-F (corresponding to LII).

The fifth cell is filled with an aspect that matches the rational/irrational attribute of the first but is opposite in color and name (i.e., according to Jungian dichotomies: logic is opposite to ethics, sensing to intuition). Specifically, if the first cell of Model A contains L, then the fifth cell will be E. For the sixth, seventh, and eighth functions, the described rules of alternation apply, but the aspect of the sixth function must be opposite in name to the second function (i.e., if the second function is E, the sixth will necessarily be S), the seventh to the third, and the eighth to the fourth.

Thus, for any aspect in the first function, there are only two possible ways to fill Model A. Given that there are eight aspects in total, we get the same 16 socionic types:

Properties of Functions

All functions of Model A can be grouped by several characteristics:

Mental (I-IV) / Vital (V-VIII). Mental functions are constantly conscious, and a person uses them consciously. With mental functions, it is possible to solve specific life tasks and think abstractly, generalize between different tasks, and compare them with each other. Vital functions work unconsciously most of the time and are aimed at solving some local tasks here and now. Although it is possible to switch consciousness to the functions of the vital ring, it requires deliberate effort and conscious control and is only possible for a short time. As soon as control weakens, consciousness switches back to the functions of the mental ring.

Valued (I,II, V, VI) / Non-valued (III, IV, VII, VIII). A person actively and willingly engages in information exchange with aspects that fall into valued functions, although this process may be asymmetric: predominantly giving information through I and II, and predominantly receiving through V and VI. Communication through non-valued functions is conducted only when necessary and causes discomfort and a desire to end it as soon as the task is completed.

Strong (I, II, VII, VIII) / Weak (III, IV, V, VI). Strong functions are those where confident independent activity, finding effective solutions, or adapting existing ones to the current situation is possible. Through weak functions, a person acts uncertainly, may perceive information very distortedly, and activity represents either reproducing previously learned patterns without the possibility of targeted changes and improvements or actions "in the dark," completely random searches for an acceptable solution.

Features of Model A Functions

All functions of Model A have their names and individual manifestation features:

I – Base (sometimes called the program). A strong conscious function that forms the basis of a person's worldview, with the perception of the world through it seeming so natural that it is often difficult to understand that the world can be perceived differently. The function is quite inflexible, changing the worldview reluctantly; information capable of causing such changes is met with resistance or rejection.

II – Creative. Also a strong conscious function but more flexible than the base one. There is no holistic picture with this function; it is ready for experiments, to consider and try different options to choose the most suitable solution for the situation or the most satisfying for the person from the point of view of their base function.

III – Role. Also a fairly flexible function but weak. It can be called a reserve that is activated in situations where the capabilities of the creative and base functions are insufficient or in new situations for a person that require comprehensive information perception. However, unlike the creative one, the role function does not seek new solutions but selects the most suitable from already developed templates. Moreover, prolonged activity through this function leads to discomfort and fatigue. At the same time, there may be a desire to prove oneself, to be reassured "I am not worse than others in this area."

IV – Painful (sometimes called the "point of least resistance"). The most problematic of all socionic functions. Very weak, and this weakness is recognized and often perceived by a person as their flaw. The painful function often leads to distorted information perception (e.g., painful intuition leads to exaggerating the significance of some unlikely developments and taking excessive measures to prevent them, while painful sensing leads to constant fears for one's health). Facing the need to act according to the painful function, a person feels extremely uncertain because they cannot assess the adequacy of actions to the situation and their effectiveness. Activity through it takes a lot of energy and leads to very rapid fatigue, but if any positive result is achieved, it is perceived as a major accomplishment. The function is quite conservative and has difficulty accepting new information, especially if it does not fit the existing experience.

V – Suggestive. The weakest of all Model A functions. Information through it is perceived uncritically, but unlike the painful function, it does not cause discomfort or rejection and does not tire; on the contrary, the person experiences unconditional trust in the world and gratitude for the help and information through it, perceiving this information as something very valuable and important. It is possible to quickly change a person's inner state by impacting this function, but the person themselves can hardly affect it.

VI – Activating (sometimes called Referent). Also a weak but valued function, willingly accepting help. However, unlike the suggestive one, information through it is checked against an internal benchmark, assessing "does this suit me or not." In fact, the entire unconscious evaluation of a partner in terms of their suitability goes precisely through the activating function.

VII – Restrictive. A strong function capable of independently searching for new solutions, but most of the time aimed at tracking what not to do, warning the partner of possible consequences, recommending possible actions, and, if necessary, helping them get out of a negative situation. Prolonged constructive activity through it seems boring and unworthy of attention. Like all vital functions, it is oriented toward specific situations experienced by the person here and now, without tracking any generalizing moments.

VIII – Background. The hardest function to consciously perceive, aimed at preventing the negative development of situations for oneself and one's partner. Unlike the restrictive function, the background one does not warn the partner of possible consequences but takes the necessary measures to prevent them without unnecessary words. Despite being a strong function, active discussion of information through it causes almost the same rejection as through the painful one and a desire to switch communication to valued aspects.

The properties of the functions are shown in the following scheme:

Dimensionality of Functions

It is important to note that each function can be characterized by two parameters: the volume of accumulated experience and the ability to process new information, i.e., the strength of the function. As a result, there may be confusion when identifying a type if a weak function, which for various reasons has accumulated much more experience than the average representative of the type, may seem strong to an observer, and vice versa, a strong function with insufficient filling may initially appear weak. This is the cause of many typing errors. To partially overcome this confusion, socionicist A. Bukalov introduced the concept of "function dimensionality" in 1989. Since then, the definitions of dimensionality have undergone several changes, and currently, in the Unified Typological Project, dimensionality is understood as follows:

One-dimensional functions (Painful, Suggestive) – can only use experience gained directly, i.e., what a person has either lived through themselves or observed firsthand. In other words, a person learns only from their own mistakes, and attempts to explain something lead to "in one ear, out the other."

Two-dimensional functions (Role, Activating) – in addition to lived experience, can use mediated experience: from others' explanations, from books, and can absorb norms accepted in a particular community. However, the acquired experience is used stereotypically, without adapting it to the specifics of a new situation.

Three-dimensional functions (Creative, Restrictive) – have the ability to creatively use acquired experience, adapting it to the situation or applying knowledge from entirely different fields.

Four-dimensional functions (Base, Background) – have the ability to foresee "what will come of it" even if there is no experience of similar situations at all, in other words, the ability to make expert predictions.

Figuratively speaking, explaining to a one-dimensional function that one should not step on a rake is pointless: until they step on it and get hit in the forehead, they won't remember it, and even after getting hit, they may not understand why it happened, and subsequently will avoid everything that remotely resembles a rake (the very distorted perception of information through the one-dimensional function mentioned above). A two-dimensional function will understand and remember that one should never step on a rake, but it is difficult to teach them to see situations where it is possible to break this rule without consequences (e.g., stepping on vertically standing rakes by the wall) until they try it themselves. Unlike the two-dimensional function, a three-dimensional function can be easily taught to see such situations. Finally, a four-dimensional function doesn't need any teaching: looking at the rake, they will easily understand in which cases what consequences may arise from stepping on them.

Currently, there is no consensus on whether dimensionality is strictly fixed or whether the described distribution of dimensionality across functions is of a statistical nature, and in each individual, dimensionality may change throughout life as experience is accumulated.

Blocks of Model A

As mentioned in the "Aspects and Aspectology" section, aspects are always used in pairs, ensuring the possibility of coordinating processes of direct perception and evaluation of the received information. From the point of view of Model A, only adjacent aspects from the same ring can be in a block (the ring is closed, i.e., the last aspect is considered a neighbor of the first).

Blocks of the Mental Ring: I-II, II-III, III-IV, IV-I

Blocks of the Vital Ring: V-VI, VI-VII, VII-VIII, VIII-V

Depending on the position in Model A, blocks are divided into horizontal and vertical. First, consider the horizontal blocks.

Ego Block – consists of two strong conscious functions. A person can work quite long and effectively through this block, solving both specific tasks and identifying general properties and patterns in completely different situations. The results of working through the functions of this block can be used for personal needs and in the interests of society as a whole.

Super-Ego Block – in some interpretations of socionics, is considered the block through which society manages the individual. Consists of two weak but conscious functions. The peculiarity of this block is that influence through it is quite uncomfortable, as on one hand, the person knows their weakness in these areas, and on the other, due to the awareness of these functions, they understand that they need to react somehow, but prolonged work through the Super-Ego block is very difficult. Typically, the influence through this block forces the person to gather, mobilize, and engage the functions of their Ego block.

Super-Id Block (sometimes called the "child block"). A block of weak unconscious functions. It is usually difficult to engage in any purposeful activity through it, so most often, the person acts as a consumer through the Super-Id block, willingly accepting information from others on aspects of this block and even provoking them to actively provide this information.

Id Block. The main task of this block is to monitor safety, satisfy basic needs, and ensure the survival of the person and possibly their close circle. Other activities through this block are not of interest and typically do not yield socially significant results.

Vertical blocks of Model A are significantly less studied. At this stage, only inert (VI-I and VII-VIII) and contact (II-III and V-VI) blocks are distinguished. Inert blocks are aimed at preserving the existing worldview, while contact blocks are aimed at expanding it and obtaining new information.

The creation of Model A allowed for a more complete picture of information perception features compared to using only Jungian dichotomies, particularly highlighting valued aspects and explaining the interaction features between representatives of different types, known as intertype relations.

Intertype Relations

Intertype relations are the systematic interactions between different socionic types. Each type interacts with others in predictable ways based on the structure of their functional model, specifically Model A. Understanding these relations can greatly improve interpersonal communication and collaboration.

There are several key intertype relations:

• Duality – The most harmonious and complementary relation. Each type’s strong functions compensate for the other’s weak ones, providing mutual support and understanding.
• Activation – This relation promotes activity and mutual encouragement. Partners stimulate each other’s potential but may sometimes lead to overexcitement.
• Mirror – Partners have the same functions in reversed order. This relation allows for deep mutual understanding and reflection.
• Conflict – The most challenging relation where partners often misunderstand each other, leading to frequent conflicts and frustration.
• Super-Ego – Partners challenge each other’s worldview and approach, leading to personal growth but also potential tension.
• Benefit – One type benefits more from the interaction than the other, creating a mentor-protégé dynamic.
• Quasi-Identity – Partners see the world similarly but have different priorities, leading to a comfortable yet somewhat superficial connection.

Understanding these relations can help in various contexts such as team building, conflict resolution, and personal relationships.

Application of Model A

Model A is used in various practical applications, including:

• Personal Development – By understanding their own Model A, individuals can identify their strengths and weaknesses, leading to more effective personal growth and self-improvement strategies.
• Career Guidance – Knowledge of one’s socionic type and Model A can help in choosing a career path that aligns with natural strengths and preferences.
• Team Building – Organizations can use Model A to create balanced teams where members’ strengths complement each other, leading to improved performance and job satisfaction.
• Relationship Counseling – Couples and families can use Model A to better understand each other’s communication styles and emotional needs, leading to more harmonious relationships.

Overall, Model A provides a comprehensive framework for understanding human behavior and interaction, offering valuable insights for both personal and professional development.