Socionic library
articles, books and educational materials

of the International institute of Socionics

Eglit I.M., Tumolskaya V. Abramov S.D.
Key features and control emotions of IM functions

Features of the A-model functions are presented as semantic and energy aspects. The features are listed along with respective control emotions accordingly to the functions’ parameters.

IM functions, control emotions, features of IM functions, A-model, low-dimensional, one-dimensionality, normativity, indicators, superid, high-dimensional, situativity, four-dimensionality, id, mental track, vital track, signs, plus sign, minus sign

Long observations and protocol records of TIM identification have produced abundant material which allowed us to define main distinctive features of the A-model’s functions. The features of the functions have been divided in two categories: semantic and energy-related. Semantic category contains features which define the distinctive traits of functions’ operation and could serve as functions’ identification marks. These features directly follow from each function’s set of parameters. The energy-related category lists the control emotions which accompany information metabolism of each function. Energy-related reactions are perceived as emotions which arise in the process of information processing. The energy-related component can be observed during a TIM identification interview but it can also remain latent and unnoticed. Latent control emotions can be revealed in the process of self-observation exercises. Some traces of these emotions can be observed in the interviewee’s speech. Control emotions are inevitable component of information processing. Normally a person is not able to change his/her control emotions (he/she can only try to conceal them) , that’s why they are reliable tokens pointing to corresponding functions.

A given function produces a superposition of the described features depending on its place in the A-model. For example, for a function #6 we can observe reactions related to low-dimensionality, normativity, super-id, vital track and limitations imposed by the function’s sign (in case if the function has the plus sign). Corresponding set of reactions points to the function’s location in the A-model.

Such an approach serves as the basis for TIM identification in the School of System Socionics.