Model A is a model of human information metabolism. By being filled with specific information aspects in a certain way, it forms a type of information metabolism (type of IM or TIM), in other words, a person’s socionic type. The model was named after the creator of socionics, the Lithuanian sociologist Aušra Augustinavičiūtė. Her invention answers the question of how the socionic type functions. Using Model A, a concept of interaction between socionic types (inter-type relations) was formed, which is not found, for example, in the widely used Myers-Briggs typology.
Model A consists of eight functions, each of which is determined by a unique combination of seven work properties that determine the features of perception, processing and assimilation of a specific information aspect. All functions have their own numbers and names, reflecting the “image” of their work. Thus, there are the Leading (1), Creative (2), Role (3), Vulnerable (4), Suggestive (5), Mobilizing (6), Ignoring (7) and Demonstrative (8) functions.
The difference between all socionic types is determined by the information aspects with which their functions work. For example, Napoleon’s Leading function works with the aspect of extraverted Sensing, while Dreiser’s Leading function works with the aspect of introverted Ethics. It is important to understand that the properties of the functions themselves do not change from type to type, only the position of the aspects in the model changes. Thus, Dreiser perceives information through the aspect of extraverted Sensing not through the Leading function, like Napoleon, but through the Creative function. This explains the difference in “worldview” between different types.
To better understand how the functions work, it is necessary to know in which functional blocks they are located, that is, by which properties of the functions they are determined. For example, the Mobilizing (sixth) function is located in the blocks of productive, vital, inert, ordered, weak, insulating and valued functions. This means that it perceives information through the properties of Vital and Insulating, processes it through the properties of Producing and Inert and assimilates it through the properties of Ordered and Weak. The mobilizing function is also a valued function, which means that all types like to perceive, process and assimilate information through it.
It is also important to understand that there are no functions pairs that are more or less similar to each other in terms of their properties. All functions are at the same time similar and dissimilar, since any pair of them always has three common (and four opposite) properties. Thus, based on the table, you can see, for example, that the Suggestive (5th) and Demonstrative (8th) functions are both vital, contact and tracking, but differ from each other in that the Suggestive function is accepting, cluttered, weak and valued, while the Demonstrative function is producing, ordered, strong and unvalued.
It is important to understand that when you define a type’s functions based on two or three properties, you cannot make definite conclusions about the person’s type. For example, having determined the inertness, mentality and tracking of the perception of the Ti aspect, one might prematurely assume that the typed individual is Maxim Gorky, while discounting types such as Robespierre, Huxley and Napoleon, who perceive the Ti aspect through the same properties. Many years of typing practice show that this is where errors in determining the type very often occur, when some functions are taken for others (in this example, the Leading Ti function can be easily confused with the Vulnerable function).