Video Companion
Model A: The Seven Aspect Dichotomies
This 37-minute deep dive follows the same subject as this page: the seven splits that generate the aspect structure of Model A.
Model A Library
Model A Dichotomies
Three layers need to be kept distinct: information dichotomies split information itself, functional dichotomies split Model A positions, and type dichotomies divide whole sociotypes.
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Information, Function, Type
Information dichotomies describe the structure of information itself: perception or judgement, external or internal, detached or involved, and the further splits that distinguish the eight information aspects.
Functional dichotomies describe what happens when an information aspect is placed into a Model A position: public or private, strong or weak, valued or neglected, and so on.
Type dichotomies divide the sixteen whole sociotypes into symmetrical groups of eight. Those are treated on The Types page, because they describe complete types rather than aspects or positions.
Information Dichotomies
Seven Ways Information Is Split
Information dichotomies describe information itself before it is placed into a Model A function or embodied as a whole type. The first three splits generate the four information domains; the remaining four distinguish the eight information aspects within those domains.
Dichotomy 1 — Perception vs Judgement
Perception: Sensation and Intuition describe what is, was, or could be before evaluation. Judgement: Logic and Ethics evaluate, select, prescribe, or decide what is correct, good, acceptable, or fitting.
This first split separates perceiving information from judging information. It is the broadest distinction: whether information is received as a state or possibility, or assessed against some standard.
Dichotomy 2 — External vs Internal
External: Sensation and Logic are grounded in standards independent of the psyche and can be contradicted by reality. Internal: Intuition and Ethics are grounded in psyche-constituted meaning, personal relation, implication, and subject-dependent interpretation.
External/Internal here is not Jungian extraversion/introversion. It asks whether the information standard is world-validatable or meaning-constituted.
Dichotomy 3 — Detached vs Involved
Detached: Logic and Intuition operate with affective distance, permitting abstraction, separation, and cool comparison. Involved: Sensation and Ethics are affectively coupled, bound to pleasure, pain, personal stake, embodiment, or relation.
This split distinguishes information handled at a distance from information that is constitutively tied to felt experience.
Dichotomy 4 — Introverted vs Extraverted
Introverted: Ti, Fi, Ni, and Si refine and reduce information toward an internal standard. Extraverted: Te, Fe, Ne, and Se expand and increase information outward toward objects, events, expression, and action.
This is an aspect-level orientation: whether the element condenses information inward or extends it outward.
Dichotomy 5 — Static vs Dynamic
Static: Ti, Fi, Se, and Ne deal in discrete states, fixed snapshots, and bounded distinctions. Dynamic: Te, Fe, Si, and Ni deal in processes, movement, change, continuity, and flow.
This split distinguishes information treated as a state from information treated as a process.
Dichotomy 6 — Conclusive vs Questionable
Conclusive: Ti, Fe, Se, and Ni arrive at more fixed or definite outputs: closed whether judging or perceiving. Questionable: Te, Fi, Ne, and Si remain open, generative, revisable, or still gathering/refining.
This split describes whether the element tends toward closure or remains open to further adjustment.
Dichotomy 7 — Attractive vs Repulsive
Attractive: Ti, Fe, Si, and Ne gather, synthesize, appreciate, or draw information toward integration. Repulsive: Te, Fi, Se, and Ni differentiate, separate, reject, or push categories apart.
This split describes whether the element pulls information into relation or separates it into sharper distinctions.
Information Styles
Four Ways The Elements Move
Once the four domains have been divided into eight elements, two stylistic dichotomies describe how those elements move: Introverted vs Extraverted and Static vs Dynamic. Their intersection produces four information styles. These are not types or functions; they are movement-patterns of information itself.
Erratic
Extraverted + Static
Elements: Ne, Se
Erratic information moves outward through discrete states. It notices objects, openings, impacts, and options as separate points of initiative. Ne and Se share this style: both expand toward what could be started, taken, tried, or made possible.
Fixed
Introverted + Static
Elements: Ti, Fi
Fixed information turns inward toward stable distinctions. It clarifies boundaries, categories, loyalties, and principles as settled reference points. Ti and Fi share this style: both reduce information toward an internal standard.
Tranquil
Introverted + Dynamic
Elements: Ni, Si
Tranquil information turns inward through continuous flow. It follows inner processes, rhythms, narratives, atmospheres, and states of ease or inevitability. Ni and Si share this style: both integrate experience as a moving continuity.
Relentless
Extraverted + Dynamic
Elements: Te, Fe
Relentless information moves outward through process. It tracks activity, expression, production, momentum, and changing external conditions. Te and Fe share this style: both expand by generating and regulating ongoing movement.
Information Attitudes
Four Ways Information Settles
The final two information dichotomies describe whether information tends toward closure or remains open, and whether it gathers toward integration or separates into sharper distinctions. Crossing Conclusive vs Questionable with Attractive vs Repulsive produces four information attitudes.
Appreciating
Questionable + Attractive
Elements: Ne, Si
Appreciating information remains open while drawing things into relation. It notices, gathers, welcomes, and keeps possibilities alive. Ne and Si share this attitude: both preserve openness while moving toward integration.
Resolving
Conclusive + Attractive
Elements: Ti, Fe
Resolving information reaches closure by drawing things together. It settles meaning into a coherent pattern, principle, atmosphere, or shared conclusion. Ti and Fe share this attitude: both make integration definite.
Differentiating
Questionable + Repulsive
Elements: Te, Fi
Differentiating information remains open by separating and testing distinctions. It asks what works, what belongs, what does not belong, and what must be revised. Te and Fi share this attitude: both keep refining by discrimination.
Repudiating
Conclusive + Repulsive
Elements: Se, Ni
Repudiating information reaches closure by separating, refusing, or cutting away. It identifies what must be resisted, excluded, overcome, or recognised as inevitable. Se and Ni share this attitude: both make separation definite.
Functional Dichotomies
Seven Ways Positions Are Split
The information dichotomies describe kinds of information. Functional dichotomies describe the structural role a function plays once an element has been placed inside Model A: whether it is public or private, strong or weak, valued or neglected, obvious or subtle, constant or variable, stubborn or flexible, demanding or supplying.
Dichotomy 1 — Public vs Private
Positions 1-4 are socially addressable and more directly articulated; positions 5-8 operate as private, adaptive background regulation.
Dichotomy 2 — Strong vs Weak
Positions 1, 2, 7, and 8 have greater dimensional authority; positions 3, 4, 5, and 6 carry lower tolerance for novelty and pressure.
Dichotomy 3 — Valued vs Neglected
Positions 1, 2, 5, and 6 are motivationally permitted to matter; positions 3, 4, 7, and 8 are treated as imposed, secondary, or backgrounded.
Dichotomy 4 — Obvious vs Subtle
Positions 1, 3, 6, and 8 tend to show more clearly; positions 2, 4, 5, and 7 are less overt and handled with more caution.
Dichotomy 5 — Constant vs Variable
Positions 1, 4, 5, and 8 hold steadier criteria; positions 2, 3, 6, and 7 adapt their expression more to the immediate situation.
Dichotomy 6 — Stubborn vs Flexible
Positions 1, 4, 6, and 7 are harder to move from outside; positions 2, 3, 5, and 8 bend more readily around context and interaction.
Dichotomy 7 — Demanding vs Supplying
Positions 1, 3, 5, and 7 set pressure, agenda, or criteria; positions 2, 4, 6, and 8 provide support, implementation, and execution.
Type Dichotomies
Whole-Type Splits
Type dichotomies operate one level higher. They divide the sixteen complete sociotypes into balanced groups of eight. The first four are the Jungian foundation dichotomies; the remaining eleven are the Reinin dichotomies derived from the sixteen-type matrix.
Next Step
Dimensionality, Priority, Presence. Once the information and functional dichotomies are clear, the next page shows how they combine into derived layers of authority, importance, and appearance.