Question Dimensionality of functions

[Deleted Member 44]

Introduction​

Dimensionality of a function is the number of qualitative information processing parameters in the framework of which a function of model A is capable of processing information. Each function has two characteristics: the amount of accumulated experience and its ability to process information, which is also known as the "strength" of the function. The concepts of dimensionality was introduced when it was noticed that a weaker function that has, for one reason or another, accumulated a lot of experience is easily mistaken for a strong function, which can lead to errors in typing. To resolve this issue, the concept of functional dimensionality was proposed by Kiev socionists (Bukalov, Yermak) and is now widely applied by socionists from various schools. A summary of this concept is given below.

Four dimensions​

The four information processing parameters of each function of model A are:

Experience (Ex) = the ability to recognize patterns and make generalizations based on personal experience. This is the first qualitative parameter of information processing of a function. This parameter is present in all functions - all functions are able to gather and use life experience of a person. This is the individual experience of perception of information on some aspect.

Norms (Nr) = the ability to recognize and apply standard practices from one's surroundings. This is the second qualitative parameter of information processing of a function. Use of norms is attributable to all functions except for painful and suggestive. This is information concerning the assessment of the aspect by others, i.e. an instrument for evaluating it in terms of "as is customary", "as it should be".

Situation (St) = the ability to recognize and respond to the subtleties of specific situations. This is the third qualitative parameter of information processing of a function, that is an attribute only of strong functions. This is the ability to develop new solutions within the parameters of a particular situation, i.e. taking into account situation specific properties and circumstances.

Time (Tm) = the ability to recognize and envision development over time. This is the fourth qualitative parameter of information processing of a function. Time is attributable only to the 1st and 8th functions of model A. This is the ability to evaluate (to transfer) of the situation in time, to model a situation in another time frame (not to be confused with the intuition of time).

Dimensionality of Functions of Model A​

1-dimensional functions process information on a single parameter of experience; 2-dimensional function - on two parameters: experience and norms; 3-dimensional function - on three parameters: experience, norms, situation; 4-dimensional functions - on four parameters: experience, norms, situation, and time.

The dimensionality of functions of model A is as follows.

• Leading function (1) and Demonstrative function (8) have 4-dimensions: Ex, Nr, St, Tm.
• Creative function (2) and Ignoring function (7) have 3-dimensions: Ex, Nr, St.
• Activating function (6) and Role function (2) have 2-dimensions: Ex, Nr.
• Suggestive function (4) and Vulnerable function (5) have 1-dimension: Ex.

Function	Dimensionality	Encompassed dimensions
(1,8) Leading, Demonstrative	4-dimensional (4D)	Experience, Norms, Situation, Time
(2,7) Creative, Ignoring	3-dimensional (3D)	Experience, Norms, Situation
(3,6) Activating, Role	2-dimensional (2D)	Experience, Norms
(4,5) Suggestive, Vulnerable	1-dimensional (1D)	Experience

Functions of Моdel A	Blocks
1st Program	4-dimensional	2nd Creative	3-dimensional	Ego
4th Vulnerable	1-dimensional	3rd Role	2-dimensional	Super-ego
6th Activating	2-dimensional	5th Suggestive	1-dimensional	Super-id
7th Ignoring	3-dimensional	8th Demonstrative	4-dimensional	Id

1-dimensional functions - 4th (vulnerable) and 5th (suggestive) functions of Model A. These functions are capable of using only one parameter of Experience. Absorbing and processing information on the aspects of 1-dimensional functions is difficult. Here the person relies only on individual life experience that either he or she has lived through in the past or has observed of others. In other words, on these aspects a person learns only on own mistakes, while any explanations are not accepted and processed. When a new situation arises for which there is no already available template of behavior, a person may chose the next readily available one, which may not be entirely appropriate (inadequate or inappropriate behavior), or may even completely refuse to respond on the relevant aspects and instead shift emphasis to own strong functions.

2-dimensional functions - 3rd (role) and 6th (activating) functions of model A. These functions are capable of using two parameters of Norms and Experience. 2-dimensional functions can process both experiential information and information that comes from "theory" i.e. from experience of other people with no need to personally live through it, that is, from collective experiences that form social norms. On the aspects of these functions a person is able to learn from explanations and books written by others on how it "should be" and about typical solutions and normative methods. However, the person further proceeds to use this information in a standardized manner, not taking into account the specifics of various situations i.e. without situation appropriate modification of this information.

3-dimensional functions - 2nd (creative) and 7th (ignoring) functions of model A. These functions are capable of using three parameters of Situation, Norms, and Experience. 3-dimensional functions can process information on their aspects accounting for personal experience, norms, as well as the specifics of the current situation. As a result, these functions are characterized by creative use of accumulated experience and "theory", adapting these to the concurrent situation or applying this information to completely different fields. They are able to combine person's experience from different life situations in such a way that it allows to solve some new problems in new situations that a person hasn't previously encountered.

4-dimensional functions - 1st (leading) and 8th (demonstrative) functions of model A. These functions are capable of using four parameters of Time, Situation, Norms, and Experience. 4-dimensional functions can process information of their aspects accounting for experience, norms, situation, as well as time, that is, they can transfer their assessment of a given situation along the time axis. This gives 4-dimensional functions high proficiency in prognosing of information on their aspects. These functions are capable of working "ahead of time" i.e. seeing the different contingencies and results of some experience or situation before its realization. Ability to compound diverse situations over time allows 4-dimensional functions to derive some general global level understanding on their aspects, that serves as main pool of understanding for a person and that is difficult to convey in its entirety. These functions are capable of coming up with something that is radically new in principle

 

[Deleted Member 44]

Other Notes on Function Dimensionality​

Addendum to 4-dimensional functions written by Irina Eglit in "Four Parameters: experience, norms, situation, and time (or globality)":

"Let's imagine that you were shown a single frame of a situation and asked how you would you act in this case? Your data processing in this case will depend on the dimensionality of the function. The 3-dimensional function will process the information that is presented by this single frame situation to decide how to act in this situation. The 4-dimensional function will process the information concerning this single frame situation, and all the frames preceding that frame, and all the possible follow-up shots, to come to a decision. The 4-dimensional function cannot simply be limited to the situation, for it does not see the situation as static but as a development. Therefore, the solution coming from these two functions will be different. The 4th dimension - is a dynamic perception of the ever-changing world."(c)
1-dimensional functions from School of System Socionics page:
Any information that ends up in a one-dimensional function is assessed by the function as pleasant or unpleasant. Natural (from the viewpoint of one-dimensional function) reaction when encountering an "unpleasant" information is the desire to get rid of it, to turn away, not to take it into account, to pretend that it does not exist, to forget, to fence off in any way.One of the methods of "getting away" is mental time hastening - "I wish it ends quickly," which leads to the feverishness of the function. Thinking becomes impatient, shallow and very narrow. It can be compared with the rapid running through dark places, when your field of vision is narrowed to a spot, you do not want to see anything around. Reactions are accelerated, there is haste. We are hurriedly doing something to get rid of the unpleasant thing faster: we quickly tinker through our relationship, we hastily make our calculation, or in general, we quickly react to the information related to the element of our one-dimensional function. This, of course, often leads to mistakes, and we get the opposite of what we have hoped for - we do not get rid of the unwanted situation, we make it worse. Trying to "run through" the situation at high speed, just to feel relieved that it's over, deep down, we still feel that we are failing and we feel "suspended."
From "Structure of Model A" published at Socionics Research Institute:

"In presence of harmonious development, these 4 vectors are balanced in an individual. If one or more of these vectors are amplified in comparison to others, it may indicate distortions in development.
If a person has strengthened vector of globality, this is reflected by the fact that he sees things globally, such as projects, events, and people, and can see significant developments and challenges; at the same time he exaggerates their value.
If a person has strengthened vector of situation, this is reflected in the fact that he easily orients in different situations, quickly and successfully adapts to events, and finds many creative solutions; at the same time he may be opportunistic and easily change his opinion and position.

If a person has strengthened vector of norms, he carefully and accurately follows social norms and standards in both work and informal communication, in appearance, in style of speech (as he understands them), and ensures that the rules and the order are not violated.
If a person has strengthened vector of personal experience, in most situations he relies primarily on himself or herself, on own experience and own opinions, while ignoring the opinions of others and not learning from the mistakes of others; he cannot broadly and creatively look at the situation, and evaluates people "by his own yardstick".
From Sociomodel.ru:

"To give a simplified figurative example of the above descriptions, explaining anything on a 1-dimensional function, that "one should not step on the rake", is meaningless: until a person steps on the rake and gets hit by it, he or she won't "absorb" any recommendations and explanations; then, after getting hit by the rake, a person may not understand why this has happened and in the future may avoid anything resembling a rake even distantly (1-dimensional functions have skewed and distorted perception). A 2-dimensional function will understand and remember the advice that "one should not step on a rake", but it will remember it in a formulaic sense and always apply it, even in situations when it's possible to break this rule without any consequences (such as when a rake is standing vertically against a wall), until once again a person tries this out directly. In contrast to a 2-dimensional function, a 3-dimensional function is capable of seeing and distinguishing such "exceptional" situations. Finally, a 4-dimensional function does not need to be given such advice: looking at the rake, it is capable of perceiving what consequences can arise as a result of stepping on it."

 

[Deleted Member 44]

Dimension four. Parameters of "experience", "norms", "situation" and "time" (or "globality")​

The most difficult to understand, but perhaps the most interesting dimension - is the dimension four. V.D.Ermak defines it as "a point on the timeline serving as a reference parameter for an information function and binding information processing to a certain point in the past, present or future." A.V. Bukalov calls it "the globality vector", or "the time vector."
So, we have the two references: time and globality.
Lets examine the "time" parameter. It is important not to confuse the "time" parameter with the information element T (intuition of time). A clear distinction needs to be made here.
Time as the information element T (intuition of time) represents information about changes. When we are mentioning an information element we are referring to the semantics (meaning) of the information being processed. What is the meaning of a T-message? Changes. For example:

Yesterday I left my home half an hour later, and was nearly late for work.

This is an example of an information message having semantics of T element (intuition of time.) It has to do with how events correlate in time: the usual routine of leaving the house, yesterdays event of leaving the house and the moment of arrival to work. Alternation of events is perceived by us as the flow of time. Describing the relationship of some of the facts, we're talking about events i.e. T element. It should be mentioned here that every person has the notion and vocabulary of time, i.e. everyone can successfully use linguistic expressive means to describe temporal phenomena regardless of his/her TIM. Everyone has understanding of what is "yesterday" and what means "one hour later". From the above example we can conclude that the main information element of the message is T - the intuition of time. And that's all we can do. The passage contains no other indicators (regarding dimension or sign or pertinence to either mental or vital track of information processing).

Time as a parameter (the dimension four) relates to the quality of information processing, its power or measure. Lets look at the process of information perception starting from the dimension one and going up to the dimension four. First we pass the information through our senses, we touch it and give a name to our perception (experience) then we correlate what we have felt with some templates (norms), then we assess the current situation and make corrections accordingly (situation) and, finally, we see what is going on as flow, constant change (the time parameter). In fact, we have four measuring tapes, four gauges to assess the incoming information: we can gauge it up to our experience, up to the norms, up to the situation and up to a moment in time. So, when in comes to the parameter "time", we are talking about gauging information processing, we are talking about how the information is processed.

The essence of the parameter "time" is perception of any information related to the respective information element in the context of constant time changes, which results in having a global perspective, a position of a bird's-eye view observer.


The third dimension parameter ("situation") is actually static. It's like a frame of a photo camera film.


One shot - one situation, next shot - next situation. This is a 3D snapshot, it covers a lot of detail, but still it is just a frame. The fourth ("time") parameter, to continue our analogy, resembles a functioning movie projector: there are no individual frames - only a constant movement of the film image. It's impossible to tear out a single frame from this film, as one can not tear a day from his life. I think, that explains why some socionic authors describe the function 1 as a continuous function, and the function 2 (the resulting one) is described as a pulse function.
Four-dimensional functions (#1 and #8) have parameters "experience", "norms", "situation" and "time".
Imagine that you were shown a single situation-frame and asked how you would act in it. Your reaction will depend on the dimension of your respective information function. A three-dimensional function handles the information that is contained in the frame, so that the decision is made with reference to this situation. A four-dimensional function processes the information contained in the situation-frame, as well as the preceding frames and keeps in mind possible frames that could follow and considers all this material to make its decision. A four-dimensional function simply cannot be narrowed down to the situation, it perceives the situation not as something static but as a development. That's why these two functions could come to different solutions.
The dimension four is synonymous to dynamic perception of the constantly changing world. And how this perception is reflected in responses given during TIM identification interviews? Our observations show that a person is not inclined to give a definite and fixed answer, because in the world of constant change there is little place for fixed things, but he would rather say that at the moment such-and-such solution is the best possible one. And this, of course, implies that the solution is subject to change.
A solution of a "situational" function resolves the situation. A solution of a four-dimensional function solves the situation for this moment. For example:

We have made a very detailed study of the fourth dimension, and have identified a number of indicators, which are found in speech and point to this dimension. The situation is such that study of external manifestations of the fourth dimension in speech is only possible for people whose TIMs are well known and who themselves are able to track the functioning of their TIM models, who can distinguish reactions of each function, and constantly monitor their thinking. There are not many such people. At the moment this is all that we can offer to those who study socionics.

The above passage is about an object - the "dimension of a function", which has been studied to a certain extent and for which are revealed some of its properties (the object and its properties, you can work with, belong to the information element T). The reference to "the moment" focuses on the fact that the author suggests further study of the object and that its properties are not yet fully explored (and can they be fully explored at all?). A four-dimensional P works constantly, every following moment it is not the same. Change in perception of object's properties can also happen constantly. It is reluctant to fix only one understanding or perception, but still it is necessary to do it to be able to convey to people the up to date results.

A four-dimensional function makes a "snapshot" and describes the frame. Sometimes it is called "in this situation", because it is a situation - stopped in one's mind and static. More often it is referred to as "the moment", and this expression reflects the dynamic ongoing nature of information processing. But sometimes you wouldn't catch any obvious indicators at all. That's why the dimension four is so elusive.
The capacity of a four-dimensional function to encompass the thinking (related to the respective information element) in its development engenders its following peculiarity - "globality".
Globality of the function 1 is manifested in the fact that in the light of the fourth dimension a person can see all the "film" of a lifetime in its motion; he encompasses it with the mind's eye and understands where his development is heading. What it looks like in reality? For example, a person can see or simply understand that something constitutes his Way.

R, f. 1: You'd better ask yourself: "What does it mean - "my type"? What do I want from him? What can I personally accept in my life and what not"? I think, over time, this understanding changes, and so change the answers, they will be different in different periods of life, so the concept of "my type" will be different.
... From my experience, when I evaluated to what extent we [me and my girl] are compatible, I used to draw a mental picture: we are together doing ordinary everyday things that I usually do alone, that is, here we are living under the same roof, having breakfast together, we go shopping, discussing something, we are having good and bad moods, get sick, etc. If you can draw such a picture, and if you can believe in it, then you'll be able to co-exist with this person. Finally, if you want to invest more (ambitions) into the term "my type", you could imagine the picture: "I'm building a career, and he is patiently going through all the hardships of feeding our baby." If such a picture is plausible, then he is the "right" man.

The dimension four in T is constant awareness of the flow of changes and events.
The dimension four in I is constant following of relations between meanings and possibilities.
The dimension four in L is constant awareness of facts and actions related to the laws of cause and effect.
The dimension four in P is constant awareness of the facts and actions of the world of objects.
The dimension four in S is constant perception of flowing shapes, colors, tastes, and other sensory information.
The dimension four in F - is constant tracking of borders and boundaries, their movement and the force fields which influence the border configurations.
The dimension four in E - is constant feeling of energy states and their changes.
The dimension four in R - this constant tracking of the play of feelings.