What is Socionics? (a basic introduction)

Socionics is a typological system with 16 psychological types and 16 patterns of information interchange between them. Socionics is based on Carl Jung's psychological types, but with some significant innovations and clarifications. It was developed - or rather, discovered - by Lithuanian researcher Aushra Augusta in the 1970s and 1980s and is now quite well-known in the Russian-speaking world. It is little known outside of the former Soviet Union, but interest in the West has been picking up in recent years.

Socionics divides reality into 8 different "information aspects." Different socionic types perceive these different aspects with differing degrees of clarity. The socionic model of the psyche includes 8 functions against Jung's four - one function for each information aspect. In other words, each person perceives the information aspects in a way that is peculiar to his or her socionic type. Every person displays one of these perceptual patterns, and they are assumed to remain unchanged even when people's personality changes significantly. No type is better than any other, nor are characteristics such as "success" or "failure" in life connected with socionic type.

The second aspect of socionics is "intertype relations," or stable patterns of information interchange between any two types. There are sixteen such patterns. Some tend to hinder self-realization and fixate attention on unproductive areas, while others help the individual solve his or her problems and encourage him to find his rightful place in society. These patterns are most easily observed at a close psychological distance, as there are numerous other factors affecting relationships at a greater distance.

Socionics provides an insightful, holistic way of looking at any sort of social and psychological phenomena. It can also be a valuable tool for self-regulation and for harmonizing one's relationships with other. For more information, visit www.Socionics.us.