Humanitarian Socionics

Socionic temperament. The Four temperaments in Socionics

A socionic temperament describes the intensity of the energy exchange with the environment, as well as how the intensity of this exchange varies over time. A temperament models the intensity of energy exchange of both the socionic types and the mental functions (although with their own characteristics). Below, we will talk about manifestations of the temperament at the level of the socionic type.

A temperament is most visible at a close distance, on the physical (everyday life, everyday interaction) and the psychological (informal communication) levels of the communicative space.

Temperament is modeled by combining three pairs of orthogonal dichotomies:
1) extraversion-introversion corresponds to an active and energy-consuming behavior versus the opposite – passive and energy-saving behavior;
2) static-dynamics corresponds to a balanced versus unbalanced quality of behavior, as well as a fast versus slow acceleration/deceleration towards a selected (linear) direction;
3) rationality-irrationality corresponds to a stubborn pursuit of the chosen action versus the flexibility, an ability to change the direction.

There are four temperaments in total. Let us consider their manifestations in behavior of a type carrier:

Linear-assertive temperament (LA)
Flexible-maneuvering temperament (FM)
Balanced-stable temperament (BS)
Receptive-adaptive temperament (RA)

In a descending order of the average energy use, the temperaments are ordered as the following:
LA > FM > BS > RA. In terms of the peak energy levels (ie. maximum expression over a short period of time) the order is slightly different: LA > FM > RA > BS.

Temperaments are characterized not only by the socionic types, but also by mental functions. Linear-assertive functions are considered to be P and E, flexible-maneuvering – F and I, balanced-stable – L and R, and receptive-adaptive – S and T.