Emotional States of Functions

Emotional states and their recording in symbols of humanitarian socionics

1. From IQ to EQ

If the abstract intelligence, measured in points as IQ, is related primarily to the logical functions of the psyche, then the psychology of emotional interest that psychology has recently caused is associated with ethical functions.

The concept of emotional intelligence was introduced to science by Peter Stayer and Jack Meyer not long ago - in 1990. Since then, the term has managed to gain enough popularity, earning the admiration of some and hostility from others in scientific circles. However, as socionics, we distinguish between the ethics of relationships, on the one hand, and the actual emotions, on the other. Socionics has been engaged in the problem of relationships for a long time - since Ausra formulated the theory of intertype relationships.

I was also actively interested in this aspect, in particular, I proposed the concept of an “integral type of relationship” and derived typical equivalents for all intertype relations. Now it is the turn to investigate in detail from the socionic positions the emotions themselves. To do this, I had to summarize the various theories of emotions and, above all, the data obtained by the American psychologist Paul Ekman.

But first, a small historical digression. Charles Darwin also wrote about the importance of the emotional component of the psyche for the survival and adaptation of the species. Seriously, psychologists began to deal with this topic only when it became obvious that the famous IQ tests do not explain the success of people in their careers and lives. Studies have shown that there is no stable correlation between high intelligence and social success. This phenomenon was attempted to be explained by Howard Gardner, who created the theory of multiple intelligences.

He outlined his views in the book Structure of the Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligence, which was published in 1983. According to the theory of multiple intelligence, a person does not have a single intelligence, but a number of relatively independent abilities. Among the latter, Gardner believed, the criteria of intelligence are met by linguistic, musical, logical-mathematical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, as well as intrapersonal and interpersonal intelligences. These last two kinds of intelligence stem from the human ability that Jung called feeling, and Aushra ethics.

Gardner's interpersonal intelligence (the ability to understand the intentions and motivations of other people) obviously corresponds to the extrovert ethics (E), and the intrapersonal intelligence (the ability to understand oneself, one's feelings and motives) to the introverted ethics (R). However, journalist Daniel Goleman became the most famous author of books on this topic. He was glorified by the book “Emotional Intelligence. Why it can be more important than IQ ", published in 1995. In this book, he identified four areas of competence that, in his opinion, form emotional intelligence, self-awareness, self-control, social sensitivity and relationship management.

What do scientists understand by emotional intelligence? Let me give you the definition of Reuven Bar-On, who proposed the abbreviation "EQ": emotional intelligence - "a set of non-cognitive abilities, competencies and skills that affect a person's ability to cope with the challenges of the external environment."

For the listed authors, I see an embryo of a slightly unusual idea that a function can systemically manifest itself through other functions. For example, the intellect, which has traditionally been considered through logic, should be considered through the function, which in socionics is not quite successfully called “ethics”. Humanitarian socionics is the trend in the science of types and relationships that rehabilitates ethical functions and shows that they often turn out to be more important than the ownership of models of metabolism and information structures. During the classes in the SHGS, I pay the main attention to emotional intelligence.

2. The list of emotions

Thus, we have established that emotional intelligence is associated with ethical functions, both the ethics of emotions and the ethics of relationships. Moreover, the ethics of emotions gives rise to a whole range of mental states that possess a set of fairly clear visual identifiers that people perceive and which guide them in assessing the true, not verbally declared, intentions of their interlocutors.

In order to establish the connection of emotional states with socionic functions, I had to summarize various studies of emotions and, above all, the data of the American psychologist Paul Ekman.

In 1972, after conducting research in an isolated living tribe in New Guinea, Ekman found that Aboriginal people showed the same emotional reactions as people in modern urban civilization. He presented a list of six basic, in his opinion, emotions. It includes:

- anger (anger),

- disgust,

- fear

- happiness

- sadness (sadness)

- surprise.

In the 80s he added the seventh emotion - contempt. Now there was no lack of just one single, not reducible to a combination of other emotions, so that their total number equals the number of socionic functions in Ausra.

Another American psychologist Robert Plutchik in 1966 already identified 8 primary emotions and grouped them into four pairs:

- anger (anger) - fear

- trust (trust) - disgust (disgust)

- joy (joy) - sadness (sadness)

- anticipation (anticipation) - surprise (surprise).

The difference, as we see, is that such emotions as “trust” and “premonition” were added and the “contempt” emotion fell out.

I think that the quality of "trust" in the actual emotions can hardly be attributed. It is rather an attitude. As for foreboding, it is very close to fear and fear. Therefore, I still took Ekman's list as a basis. Moreover, the Ekman method not only has a solid empirical base, but also has a distinct diagnostic orientation.

Interestingly, Paul Ekman served as the prototype for the main character in the popular TV series “Fool Me” - Dr. Lightman. Thus, I correlated the emotions from the Ekman list with eight socionic functions, not forgetting to supplement the number of basic emotions to eight, because through the emotions any of eight socionic functions can appear. Apparently, the least emotional function corresponding to the structural logic fell out of the list. I will add this emotional state based on my own considerations and observations.

3. Emotion through eight functions

The emotional states are recorded by the corresponding letter denoting a function as is customary in humanitarian socionics, but with the addition of the index "e". What will be deciphered as: the manifestation of the function "X" through the function "E".

I will illustrate the described emotional states with photographs. Konstantin Shakirov (his social type - creative OR) agreed to portray emotions for us.

3.1. Emotion of joy

The emotion of joy (taking into account the sign of the function is written + Ee) is expressed mimically by a sincere smile or laugh:

 The lower eyelids are raised, the eyes are slightly narrowed, and the forehead and eyebrows are at rest.

 At the outer corners of the eyes, wrinkles often appear, called crow's feet.

 The lips are tightly closed and stretched, the corners of the lips are raised.

 Cheeks are noticeably raised.

It turns out that joy is the most concentrated expression of a person's psychic energy - the main one without regional barriers of currency in relations between people. The emotion of joy only seems easily recognizable by facial expressions. Paul Ekman argues that the vast majority of subjects do not know how, observing a person’s face, to distinguish a sincere expression of joy from a false one.

In his experiment, only experienced psychologists and police showed good results. So remember, the emotional currency can also be fake!

And further. Children and young people laugh without any reason, apparently due to healthy feelings, talking about the prosperous state of the body, about an excess of psychological energy.

3.2. Emotion sadness

The emotion of sadness (sadness) reflects the state of low mood due to grief or disappointment. It is closely related to the function of ethics of relationships. It is therefore recorded as Re.

Mimic signs of emotion of sadness are as follows:

 The inner ends of the eyebrows are raised, often brought together (eyebrows house).

 The inner corners of the upper eyelids are stretched.

 The corners of the lips are lowered.

 Often the wrinkles on the forehead are mostly at the center line of the forehead and vertical between the eyebrows.

Separation, or separation, not only physical, but also psychological, is one of the most common causes of sadness. The sadness of loneliness can be experienced even in a crowd.

The emotion of sadness is more likely to play a positive role in a person’s life. Would we be able to form stable ties with people, would we really value them if the break of these ties did not cause us sorrow?

3.3. Emotion of wonder

Intuition of possibilities, manifesting itself through the function of emotions, is expressed on the face with a mimic of surprise. Surprise is a cognitive emotion that appears in a situation of surprise or singularity. The record of this state is: Ie.

In facial expressions there are several signs that indicate this emotional state:

 The lower jaw is lowered and the lips are rounded, as when pronouncing the letter "o".

 At the same time, eyebrows rise.

3.4. Fear emotion

Fear is the emotion of foreboding future danger, so we associate it with the function "T". Recall also that, according to the GS, the driving motive of intuitive introverts (T-types) is the “safety” incentive. The character entry looks like this: Te.

The mimicry of fear looks like this:

 Eyebrows are flattened and raised (wrinkles may form in the center of the forehead).

 Bulging eyes (upper eyelids raised, so that it is visible to the sclera above the iris).

 The lips are stretched and stretched to the sides, the mouth slightly open.

Experience has shown that people often confuse the emotion of surprise with the emotion of fear. Perhaps because these are two sides - extrovert and introverted - manifestations of the intuitive function of the psyche. However, further events clearly separate these two emotional states: in the first case, the person is drawn to a new object or event, and in the second case, is removed from it.

3.5. Anger emotion

Anger is an emotional state of utmost irritation and discontent. Re is recorded: the manifestation of business logic through emotions.

Emotion anger in a person causes an obstacle to the goal.

Mimicry anger such:

 The inner corners of the eyebrows are shifted towards the nose.

 Glittering, wide-open eyes (upper eyelids raised in the direction of the eyebrows lowered, which gives a look to the gaze).

 Jaws clenched, chin pulled forward.

 The lips are either tightly compressed or open, giving the mouth a rectangular outline (with the teeth exposed - a grin).

Someone wonders why I associate this emotion not with force sensory, but with business logic. I will answer this way. To be precise, anger is a transition from F to P. But we take into account that this is a dynamic state, a person, like a stretched string, is ready for an immediate throw. While F is normally static (balanced). In addition, anger is often accompanied by abuse, and power sensorics is laconic.

In itself, anger as a way out of accumulated tension is not terrible, but its consequences are expressed as the violence of some people over others. Let us also recall the expression “sports anger”, as well as the fact that attempts to distract a person who is fully focused on his work evoke anger in him.

3.6. Emotion of disgust

Disgust - the emotion associated not only with an unpleasant taste and smell. We are able to experience the emotion of disgust for people, their actions and events, which is not directly related to gastronomic preferences. Disgust prompts one to drift away from what is unpleasant, what "smells bad." For some people, politicians or traders, for example, have a strong disgust Guilt is sometimes treated as self-loathing. This state is recorded as follows: Se.

Main signs of disgust emotion:

 The upper lip is raised, facilitating the locking of the respiratory tract of the nose.

 The lower lip rises or falls, while bulging.

 Cheeks go up.

 Nasolabial folds appear stronger than usual.

As a means of non-verbal communication, facial expressions of disgust are similar to contempt facial expressions. Many people confuse them. Perhaps due to the fact that they reflect two different sides - introverted and extrovert - of the same psychological function - sensory.

3.7. Emotion of contempt

Contempt (written Fe) - a feeling of complete neglect, extreme disrespect, derogatory treatment of someone or something. The one you despise is put by you significantly below your own status.

The main signs of mimicry are emotions of contempt:

Mimicry is asymmetric - one side of the face is more active than the other.

 One of the corners of the lips is tense and set aside and up.

Eyes slightly narrowed.

 The chin is pulled forward and / or raised.

Thus, the emotion of contempt is associated with a demonstration of their own superiority. In the process of evolution, contempt seems to have acted as a means of mobilizing to fight a dangerous adversary. It is believed that prejudice and “cold-blooded” murders are caused by contempt. Situations that cause contempt, simultaneously activate the emotions of disgust or anger. The combination of these three emotions forms a "triad of hostility."

3.8. Emotion of doubt

Doubt is a cognitive emotional state, when a person has not yet decided on his thoughts and assessments, but is trying to find the right solution. This emotion is not on Ekman's list. But I think that it is doubt that is the missing element that will complement the minimum set of emotions to the completed figure eight. Since a person embraced by doubt or confusion analyzes the unclear situation in an expressive manner, we record this emotion as “Le”.

Mimicry doubts such:

 Compressed lips (evidence of self-control).

 Sometimes puffy cheeks.

 The tip of the lips goes to the side or down, while one cheek rises.

 Eyes pointing away or to the side.

Doubt is also accompanied by gestures specific for thought. In particular, the hand may clasp the chin or scratch the top of the head or the back of the head. In this state, thinking and decision making takes place. A person pretends or calculates how to act. Often this state is dichotomous: you need to make a choice from two alternatives and this choice requires a weighted analysis.

Structural logic is a grammatical function that requires clear wording. Therefore, in a state of "L" is a person's conversation with himself or, as an option, his reflection in the mirror. On the one hand, this is a good way to understand the situation. On the other hand, it is impossible to do this in an extroverted situation of business logic, when you have to act, and not analyze.

4. Evaluation of compatibility through emotions during quick conversations

My experience of practical socionics suggests that the dynamic, functional side of real life often prevails over the structurally variable in time. This directly concerns emotional functions. Contrary to socionical expectations, many ethics poorly recognize emotions, for example, they confuse surprise with fear, and disgust with contempt.

Apparently, the point here is not in type, but in emotional intelligence, more precisely, in how developed it is. And its development, in turn, is not connected with belonging to one or another type, but with strengthening of ethical functions as a result of life experience or special innate abilities, that is, with the functional part of the system. And only on very large samples, ethics over logicians are likely to quantitatively prevail according to the degree of effectiveness in recognizing or expressing emotions.

I do not exclude that in the near future there may be a demand for specialists with high emotional intelligence in such areas as assessing compatibility between people. I will dwell briefly on the method of SHGS, which we began to develop for this purpose. Our methodology is based on expert judgment, obtained as a result of tracking partners' emotions during active interaction - dispute, solving difficult issues, clarifying relationships, etc.

When people communicate with each other in an active way, for example, they discuss personal relationships, the information that you read according to their emotional states carries a great prognostic potential. Indeed, it is known from practice that most of us tend to ignore or force out psychological contradictions for the sake of material gain, momentary pleasures, etc. Moreover, I draw your attention to the fact that preventing incompatibility in a pair is more important than predicting compatibility.

Human nature is so arranged that we value little good, because we quickly forget, and the bad is stored in memory for a long time. Therefore, watching the emotions of the couple, we primarily monitor facial expressions and gestures, which are signals of incompatibility.

In my opinion, these are the following emotional states:

 Contempt

 Offense

 disgust

 sadness.

Of course, in this way we do not calculate all sixteen relationships. Yes, such accuracy is not necessary. But we are predicting one of the four scenarios that can emerge in a pair, if the partners become close. Here are the scenarios. Two of them will be compatible, two - incompatible.

1. Compatible are, first of all, “agreed pairs” - in such couples the spouses are calm, smiling, support each other and “smoothly” communicate, voluntarily transferring the initiative to the partner. In such couples are more likely to get general impressions than the individual. We conclude on high compatibility by the absence of such emotions as contempt, resentment, disgust, and sadness in their communication. This is the H-type scenario characteristic of harmonious pairs.

2. The second scenario, also compatible, but only in a moderate degree: these are “avoidance” relations . These people try to avoid possible conflicts and not to annoy the partner. They have really working "safety regulations". And this allows them to tolerate each other. A similar scenario is typical for normalized pairs.

3. The first of the incompatible scenarios is pulsating, “windy” pairs . They are romantic and passionate, but now and then they have loud quarrels and quarrels. They then converge, then diverge. They behave selfishly and individually. Such partners are more often unhappy, although they occasionally experience happy days and weeks. This is a C-scenario, typical for creative couples.

4. The fourth scenario is openly incompatible . We are talking about hostile couples. In such pairs, both partners are tough and uncompromisingly discuss their problems, they do not get tolerant communication. They rally only in the fight against the common enemy. Communication abounds not only in emotions of anger and indignation, but also in contempt. Such a scenario is typical for couples with a dominant character.

Finally, there are still asymmetric type scenarios with intermittent compatibility. Their characteristic feature is that they have no equality of participants. One partner behaves aggressively, ready to discuss problems in the format of a dispute, and the second does not want to discuss anything. However, I will report on this another time.

Thus, shifting accents from structural compatibility to functional, we act in the spirit of the social order of a modern individualistic society, in which each of the participants in personal relationships wants to reserve the right of free choice. We cannot dictate to him how closely and for how long to come closer. But it is normally perceived in such conditions the forecast of possible scenarios of relations in a couple and the assessment of the emotional losses that they threaten. An even greater psychological effect is watching videos and commenting on the hot tracks of recorded emotional states during critical moments of conversation.

This kind of feedback has a beneficial effect on the relationship in a pair. Seeing themselves from the side, peering into the expressions of their faces, the partners re-experience meaningful emotions for them. Relationships hidden behind emotions begin to emerge. What was previously suppressed comes out of the darkness of omissions and dark corners of the inner world into the white light and thus loses its oppressive force.

Literature

1. Ekman Paul, "Know a liar by the expression of the face" / Trans. from English - SPb .: Peter, 2013. - 272 p. - (Series "Himself a psychologist").

2. Plutchik, Robert (1980), Emotion: Theory, research, and experience: Vol. 1. Theories of emotion 1, New York: Academic

3. Howard Gardner. The Structure of Reason: The Theory of Multiple Intelligence. Frames of Mind. The Theory of Multiple Intelligence. - M .: "Williams", 2007. - 512 p.

4. Daniel Goleman. Emotional intelligence. Why it can mean more than IQ - M .: “Mann, Ivanov and Ferber”, 2013. - p. 560

Report of Viktor Gulenko at the 29th Conference of the IIA, September 14, 2013.