There are four Socionic subtypes: Dominant, Creative, Normative and Harmonic. Each subtype is characterized by the strengthening of a certain pair of aspects: Te and Fe, Se and Ne, Ti and Fi, or Si and Ni. For convenience, subtypes are recorded by the first letter of their English names: D, C, N and H.
Any Socionic type can have one of the four subtypes. Thus, sixty-four unique combinations of types and subtypes can be distinguished. Considering representatives of the same type, it can be said that one, for example, Don Quixote, can be of the dominant subtype (recorded as D-ILE), while another can be of the harmonic subtype (H-ILE).
As already mentioned, a subtype is a reinforcement in the Socionic type model of one of the pairs of information aspects. Reinforcement in this case implies that the type carrier tends to focus his attention on certain types of information, which affects how a person prefers to behave and how he achieves his goals, which ultimately affects the character traits that are visible even when communicating at a distance.
For example, when talking about the Creative subtype (whose aspects of Ne and Se are strengthened), one can highlight such a fundamental character trait as the tendency to constantly come up with and implement something in life. This is associated with the following trait of the C-subtype: dislike of limitations in the form of established rules and imposed values.
Among socionics, it is a common belief that subtype determines the quality and quantity of experience that the socionic function possesses. Naturally, this is not the case, since the socionic type itself is responsible for working with information. For example, the claim that dominant Yesenin (strengthened Te and Fe) understands extraverted logic better than other Yesenins, loves to work, and has a better understanding of the efficiency of resource distribution (one of the mistaken ideas about the Te aspect) would be false. In this case, the subtype only indicates that a D-IEI tends to linearly distribute their energy, adhere to others’ values and rules, and ensure that they are followed in their environment. Is he better at understanding the Te aspect than Stierlitz? Not at all. Is he more active and correct than the harmonizing subtype of Stierlitz? Undoubtedly.
Thus, when considering subtypes, it is necessary to take as an axiom that sociotype is a model for working with information. That all representatives of one socionic type perceive, process and assimilate information in the same way. The second axiom is the assertion that the behavior of the sociotype is not limited to the characteristics of their “perception”.
The origin of the subtypes
According to the theory of socionics, we know that each person works with information (perceives, processes and assimilates it) using their socionic type. It is logical that any interaction with the external environment is necessarily accompanied by an exchange (reception and output) of information. Obviously, in this process, each carrier of a type can act as both a receiver of information and its transmitter.
As we already know, the model of the information metabolism of a person’s socionic type is responsible for the first of these processes (reception of information): depending on which function perceives a particular aspect of information, the way in which it will be “understood” by the carrier of the information depends. Contrary to popular belief, the peculiarities of a person’s behavior (in other words, the peculiarities of the output of information) are not directly determined by their TIM: we cannot predict a person’s behavior based solely on information about how they perceive, process and assimilate information.
On the other hand, it is an indisputable fact (regardless of our expectations) that all carriers of socionic types output information on different aspects with varying intensity. For example, some people work a lot, actively using their skills and achieving their goals (intense manifestation of Te), while others prefer to relax more, engage in spiritual activities, self-knowledge, or hedonism. Moreover, we can observe this phenomenon even among representatives of the same socionic type, although it would seem that a type with a leading Te cannot have behavior unrelated to work or business. All of these differences, as you may have already understood, are related to the subtype of the specific person.
Without understanding the essence of subtypes, it is impossible to type correctly.
The subtype serves the function of comfortable interaction with the environment, which is achieved through stable perception and adaptive behavior (i.e., one that can adapt to the character of the irritant). For example, any formula for success is based on certain stable rules: being confident, easily learning, being able to make acquaintances, etc. It’s like a certain setting for perception. If it changes and is not stable, it will not produce results. At the same time, when it comes to rules of behavior, there is no single formula for success – each case requires a separate unique approach. What do they teach at various “business coaching” sessions? They teach how to think correctly (perception), but they do not teach how to act (behavior), because each case is unique. For example, if one task requires a direct approach, then in another task, this approach may not produce the expected result. Therefore, behavior must have the quality of adaptability, the ability to adjust to the task.
It is important to understand that the subtype is not just a behavioral setting. How we behave ultimately affects how we perceive ourselves.
Therefore, stability of perception should be understood from two perspectives: perception of the external world and perception of oneself. Since our perception of the external world does not change (the sociotype does not change throughout life), and the external world changes without our intervention, our inner setting should be stable by itself. At the same time, our behavior can change (the subtype can be changed), and therefore our perception of our behavior changes.
Thus, the subtype affects our personality. We perceive ourselves by perceiving the world around us and our behavior in it, and behavior is directly determined by our subtype and the information perceived by our sociotype. Therefore, our self-perception is regulated by the subtype model and changes over the course of life, resulting in changes to our personality. Thus, in order to change our image in our own eyes and in the eyes of others, we need to change our behavior, which will result in changes to our internal self-perception, which in turn will lead to changes in our personality.
The variability of the subtype as a behavior model is not the same as the variability of clothing or makeup. You cannot simply change your subtype according to your own wishes, reacting promptly to changes in external conditions. In this case, the conditional stability of our perception (self-perception) will be disrupted. If we change our subtype every day, we will be both a universal and a non-human being, deprived of individuality in the eyes of others as well as our own. And from a biological point of view, a human being cannot change so abruptly (at least in a healthy state): it is like reflexes – they do not appear immediately, but through long work and repetition. However, as I have already mentioned, under strong external influence, a person can change his or her subtype. In most cases, this occurs during personal growth or crises, when it is necessary to quickly change an ineffective behavior model to one that will bear fruit from activity, ensure the survival of the individual, and of humanity as a whole.
Subtype model
Considering the properties of information aspects, it can be found that there are four types of energy distribution when working with information. They can be characterized by two properties: directionality and concentration. Thus, expressing with different qualities, these properties give us four subtypes.
As can be seen from the table, the Dominant subtype is the one that tends to linearly give energy for interaction, the Creative subtype tends to give flexibly, the Normative subtype tends to preserve linearly, and the Harmonic subtype tends to preserve flexibly. “Linear” means directing in one direction to solve one task. “Flexibility” allows one to change orientation from one task to another, without concentrating all efforts on it. Often, socionics mistakenly considers linearity/flexibility as a sign of rationality/irrationality of a sociotype. Allegedly, what in the theory of subtypes is perceived as linear behavior is only a specific manifestation of the rationality of the sociotype. But, as I said, behavior does not characterize a sociotype, so this approach to determining the rationality of a sociotype is erroneous.
In turn, behavior, when a person gives energy, characterizes him as an extravert (according to Eysenck), and when he preserves energy, as an introvert. It is important not to confuse these definitions: Jung described vertness as it is considered in socionics, and Eysenck – as it is considered in psychology. Socionics, by combining behavior and perception into a single whole, determines, for example, extroverts not only those who have an extroverted perception setting, but also those who have an extroverted behavior setting (active, sociable, easily spend energy, make acquaintances).
Now you should have understood that an introverted sociotype can behave perfectly well as an extravert (in the usual, non-socionic sense of this word). And the fact that a person can turn from a closed introvert into the life of the party during his lifetime is precisely the consequence of a change in subtype. Thus, by changing behavior while maintaining perception, a person adapts to the conditions of the external world. This was an example of a change in the vertness of behavior. An example of a change in the rationality of behavior would be a situation where a person followed the rules, was responsible, and law-abiding all his life, but after some time became inconsistent, flexible in decision-making, and stubborn in defending his interests.
Relationship between subtypes
Since subtype determines the behavior of a representative of a socionic type (and we judge people by their behavior), subtypes affect the relationships that we form with different types. For example, some subtypes are complementary, while others are conflicting.
Complementary pairs of subtypes are Dominant with Normative and Creative with Harmonic, while conflicting pairs are Creative with Normative and Dominant with Harmonic. There are also unidirectional pairs (Dominant with Creative and Normative with Harmonic), the relationships between which do not bring tangible benefits to the partners in practice, as well as identical (matching) subtypes, the relationships between which can bring both mutual benefit and harm.
Subtypes have a significant influence on relationships. For example, if you meet a dual with a conflicting subtype, it will be very difficult for you to find common ground with them. If you find yourself in a situation where a conflicting pair of subtypes dominates, it will be very difficult for you to get along with them. For example, if you are a Normative subtype and are used to following rules and norms, and you find yourself in a team where a Creative subtype rules everyone, breaking the rules, ignoring ethics and giving unnecessary commands, you will naturally feel discomfort. And it doesn’t matter what their socionics type is – this person already annoys you with their behavior. Speaking of unidirectional subtypes, the relationships between them are reminiscent of the fable “The Swan, the Crab and the Pike”. Energy is spent in one direction of interaction, but the methods are completely different. As a result, you will not feel discomfort, but you will not feel comfortable either.
In conclusion, a subtype is a behavioral model. It can change, but not often (several times in a lifetime). It helps a person adapt to the external world while maintaining stability in their perception of this world. At the same time, the person’s personality changes because their perception of themselves changes. The person’s interaction with others also changes depending on their subtypes, as well as their role in the team.