Model A

Model A is a model of information metabolism originally put forward by Aushra Augusta in 1978. It is so named after Augusta herself. It is the most commonly accepted formulation of the governing structure of information metabolism within socionics.

Visual guide to Model A

Numbering:

Functional positions in model A

1	2
4	3
6	5
7	8

Example:

SLI

Functional axes

A primer on the way I see Model A: Below I describe the individual qualities of each function. But I think it's most useful to look at functional pairs or axes, such as Te/Ti in tandem, etc (as in my element descriptions). The way I think this plays out in model A is this: Each person prefers to view reality from one point of view rather than the other, for instance the LII prefers to use Ti to interpret logical information according to its structural foundations and has very little attention to its accuracy, usefulness, or quantity of evidence. Each axis is lopsided in this way, but some of the axes are lopsided more than others and with different characteristics.

Primary axis: The base function is unambiguously in charge of interpreting information on this axis and the ignoring function is not attended at all.

Creative axis: The creative function is the preferred way of interpreting this dimension of information, but ambiguously, both the creative and demonstrative functions are attended to considerably.

Vulnerable axis: This axis is more similar to the leading axis; the mobilizing function is in charge and the vulnerable function is not attended at all. But the mobilizing function is "bad at it's job." See the discussions of the super-id block below.

Suggestive axis: Here, the function typically more attended is the role function, which is the true "super-ego" of the psyche. The suggestive function should be in charge, but its so "bad at its job" that it isn't. Consequently there is a component of ambiguity in this axis also -- the role function cannot ever truly be in charge because of the suggestive function's privileged role in the psyche.

Functions in Model A

Base function

Also known as the program function, dominant function, leading function, first function. Corresponds to the ego block.

The base function is the function most intimately tied to the psyche of a person. The IM element corresponding to the base function can be conceptualized as the person's main cognitive filter, or lens, through which they view and interpret all of the experiences in their life. It is the primary type of information to which they are attuned, and the aspect of their experience which they are often most comfortable discussing, making inferences about, etc. Many people also have a tendency to assume that attention to one's base function is something that merely comes naturally to all people, and that "most people are like that."

Creative function

Also known as the second function. Corresponds to the ego block.

The creative function is a lens that is an important life emphasis which is not always on. The base function, by contrast, is always on -- the base function is a lens that drives everything a person sees and innately skews their perception of the world. The creative function can skew perception, and is a very conscious orientation and goal, but situationally, from time to time, it can be overlooked.

Role function

Also known as the third function. Corresponds to the super-ego block.

The role function is, perhaps moreso than the vulnerable function, the true "super-ego" of a person. Most people tend to be moderately aware of the information addressed by their role function, and at least somewhat actively concerned with managing that aspect of their life. At the same time, when evaluation information dealing with the role function is a concern, it is typically a secondary concern at best, and is likely somewhat limited in scope. Often these concerns mirror the idea of a "super-ego;" that is, situations that people are concerned with as something that they "should" do, or that they feel others expect them to do, rather than something they would do from their intrinsic motivations. The predominant way of evaluating the world around oneself is the base function, which actively prevents the role function's concerns from being fully realized, or even framed in the correct perspective (as any concerns related to the role function are automatically perceived through the lens of its exact opposite.)

For example, an     role type might have some awareness that he is not fun, engaging, and comes across as somewhat too blunt and that this might cause him some problems professionally, but can only make mechanical and formulaic adjustments rather than really feel innately the way that he might be expected to act.

An     role type might have some concern for the comfort and correct operation of their physical environment, but despite understanding the need to attend to their physical environment at heart always have an attitude of internal disinterest towards and little motivation to tend to their physical surroundings. And so on.

In practice role can be a blind spot of one's primary focus in life, and in the outward messages of one's life work likely to be neglected.

Vulnerable function

Also known as the point of least resistance or polr, sensitive function, fourth function. Corresponds to the super-ego block.

The vulnerable function is the least valued function in the psyche. The vulnerable function represents an aspect of reality that is ignored, either willfully or out of sheer ignorance. It is best conceptualized as the life focus that makes you ask "Why on earth would anyone care about that?" The expression of the vulnerable function can range from blissful ignorance of the use or emphasis of this function, to a very contentious rejection of this program of life values.

It is unnvering to individuals to be expected to make use of their vulnerable function in settings where it is required of them, and unnerving to others who value the expression of that function when their interactants blithely ignore it. In some cases, the differences in values epitomized by the non-expression and lack of valuation of the vulnerable function can be the source of substantial personal, cultural, social, or ideological conflict.

For instance, an individual with     as a vulnerable function might be inherently unaware of the value of experiencing his own emotional responses, and may see no need at all to speak about or reflect on and manage their emotional responses to a situation -- which may be highly unsettling to    -valuing types that might expect this behavior.

The concept of a "polr hit" does not fully make sense as it is conventionally described as a paralytic response to criticism in the vulnerable function. In fact, quite often people are not at all sensitive to criticism in the area of their vulnerable function. Instead, criticism in this domain is often seen as misguided or irrelevant, or the criticism is not fully understood or appreciated. Sometimes, people feel poorly about having incited disappointment in others by not using the vulnerable function when they were expected to -- along these lines, a "polr hit" best refers to the sudden realization that one was expected to make use of his or her vulnerable function, but had not been previously cognizant that other people would care about it. Some types are more susceptible to feelings of remorse for failing to meet others' expectations, and not all types experience this to an equal degree.

It is worth noting here that, moreso than any other subject in socionics, my views on the character of the vulnerable function represent a sharp divergence from classical socionics. In classical socionics, the vulnerable function is described as a sore spot, highly sensitive to criticism and disliked by the subject whenever it is the focus of attention. I think that this is wrong, the function is perhaps disliked whenever it is the focus of attention but this is due to being a blind spot and not a sore spot, whereas Augusta clearly says it is a sore spot. Not to get into a long discussion here, but in my opinion this is the *only* really significant divergence my interpretation of socionics from classical socionics. In my opinion, the classical socionics interpretation of the vulnerable function as a sore spot is untenable and inconsistent with my observations.

Suggestive function

Also known as the dual-seeking function, fifth function. Corresponds to the super-id block.

The suggestive function is the function in the psyche that underlies a person's insecurities, uncertainties, and fundamental psychological needs. The suggestive function can be immensely variable in its expression. In a basic way, people are primarily unaware of their suggestive functions. Most conventional descriptions of the suggestive function describe it as a domain which people are incapable of producing for themselves, but look for in others, and unconsciously expect others to supply in their interactions in the social world. Substituting my own views for that of the conventional literature -- that is not true; that is, it is entirely possible for people to produce their suggestive function themselves, though to do so tends to require what effectively amounts to laborious spiritual betterment.

The suggestive function is more simply a lens through which people have enormous difficulty perceiving the world; often people are instinctively unaware of the alternate explanations for others' behavior as related to the information in the suggestive function. In reality, however, many interactions and quadra values dispositions are characterized by use of the suggestive function, and it can also be a sort of doorway by which people newly (and perhaps obsessively) see the world in a different light.

More deeply in the psyche, however, the suggestive function is undernurtured rather than painful. While it is often useful to conceptualize the suggestive function as a painful lens viewed with difficulty, this isn't exactly true. What the suggestive function is is really a lifelong function of growth that starts out undernurtured and unattended. But, when it emerges, it is not because of outside impetus -- maybe something else had something to do with its emergence -- but it is very important to remember that the orientation to the suggestive function existed all along, it merely needed time and space to grow.

Becoming more aware of and skilled in the use of one's suggestive function can be part of a process of growth and acceptance of one's insecurities. However, excessive use of the suggestive function can also come across as excessive, over-the-top, and annoying, especially to those that don't value the function. The phenomenon is similar to how one's obsessions can come across as annoying to others.

Estimative function

Also known as the mobilizing function, sixth function. Corresponds to the super-id block. It's also known as the hidden agenda, nomenclature introduced by Sergei Ganin, but this name is misleading and I do not use it.

The estimative function is a lot like the suggestive function, in the sense that it is a point of growth that is highly valued and essentially painfully disattended. However, it is less of all these things; it is more towards the surface, more accessible, and of less catalysmic psychological importance.

The suggestive function is seen in the classical literature as something that cannot be produced by the self and instead as something that is "sought" in a dual or other relation. While this isn't necessarily completely true, it's a useful abstraction for understanding the estimative function. In contrast to being sought out and not actively attended to by oneself, which is how the suggestive function at least can go, the estimative function is more like something that is actively produced by the self, and perhaps guided later if necessary. Because it is produced by the self, and still painful -- more painful than ego functions, for instance -- there is often a quality of stubbornness towards ones evaluations from the suggestive function; as in the unwavering and immovable character judgments of     estimatives, or the immovable ideological judgments of     estimatives, and so forth (see expat's essay on the pathetic hidden agenda).

Like the suggestive function, the estimative function is a point of growth that may not be very present early in life, and may be a life focus adopted somewhere in between. However, even so it is more conscious and more on the surface when not emphasized than the suggestive function.

edit] Ignoring function

Also known as the limiting function, observing function, seventh function. Corresponds to the id block.

This function is the second-least valued function in model A, second to the vulnerable function. It is typically the function that one cannot bring oneself to care about or use, and results in boredom and disinterest when people are forced to use it. People may try to avoid placing themselves in situations or environments that call for this function.

If the vulnerable function constitutes an "active" or "conscious" rejection of a certain form of information exchange, the ignoring function consistutes a "passive" or "unconscious" such rejection -- one out of sheer disinterest and apathy rather than conscientious devaluation.

Demonstrative function

Also known as the eighth function. Corresponds to the id block.

The demonstrative function, a lot like the role function, is a sort of partial life value. It's easy to reason about the demonstrative function and very easy to engage and pay attention to in the right circumstances, but inasmuch as it flies in the face of one's more pressing values in the creative function, it is easy to discard. That said, the polarity between the base and ignoring function favors the base function orientation unambiguously; the polarity between the creative and demonstrative function is ambiguous. Although when one looks the beneath the surface the quadra-favored orientation is clearly the driving value and the demonstrative a dismissable value, it isn't always easy to see that.