Author: Aushra Augusta
From On the Dual Nature of Humanity
Disclaimer: this translation does not include paragraphs related to visual identification.
What do we consider an extravert’s main psychological trait (or one of such main traits)? A tendency to change the outside world for the sake of the subject. A tendency to take care of subjects and objects by changing their relations, as opposed to an introvert’s tendency to change subjects and objects for the sake, or benefit, of the relations between them. For an extravert, the relations between people are secondary to the people themselves: the relations must be the way people need them to be. For an introvert, on the contrary, the people need to be adjusted to the relations and not vice versa: if tension starts building, people or their behavior should be changed instead of relations.
For an extravert, subjects and objects are the constant of the outside world. For an introvert this constant is found in the relations between subjects and objects, and the feelings caused by these relations.
We are social beings formed from two parts: our active psychophysical self (a person is an object) and our relations with people and other objects (a person is their relations). Extraversion or introversion of the consciousness prioritizes one of these two parts, and it becomes a seeming cause of the second part. An extravert prioritizes the individual’s psychophysical self, while an introvert prioritizes relations. An extravert is certain that the object of quality always has relationships of quality, that the way the outside world relates to them and feels about them is determined by their personal characteristics or activity, hence they try to improve these characteristics in different ways. On the contrary, an introvert is certain that their personality will be evaluated based on their relationships with others and the way others feel about them. In their own eyes, an introvert is worth as much as their relationships are worth, so they direct all their conscious effort into trying to improve these relationships, they try to be amenable, avoid quarrels. Taken together, all relations and feelings can be called a psychological field, and it can be said that above all else an introvert cares about the quality of their own and others’ psychological fields.
For an extravert, social relationships are a result and sign of the subject’s social value and quality. An extravert’s usual thought process is the following: every subject can improve their relationships with others and evoke positive feelings towards themself through self-improvement. If the subject plays a modest role in society, it means that they lack some socially valued qualities.
For an introvert, relationships are the foundation of the material world. One’s quality as an object is a result and sign of social quality – the value of the relationships one has, and the feelings one evokes in other people. An introvert’s thought process is the following: everyone can increase their value in the eyes of society by improving their relationships with others. If the subject is not noticed and valued, it means that they have not established sufficiently correct relationships.
In the light of this reasoning one thing becomes clear – the currently widespread notion that ”a person is a sum of their relationships first and foremost” is progressive when coming from an extravert, who undertakes to not forget that society is not just people, but relationships as well. However, when coming from an introvert, who already tends to exaggerate the role of relationships and underestimate the object itself, this notion becomes dangerous, inclining them to pay the qualities of the individual’s personality less attention than needed. This leads to the erroneous idea that there are no irreplaceable people, that every person is nothing more than a cog, and that a person must be changed as soon as they disturb the harmony of the psychological field by being unable or unwilling to adapt. The opposite extreme, which can and does come from extraverts, is the assertion that there are no irreplaceable relationships, that one can replace any relationship that does not suit one’s personality and individuality. However, as individuals, people need to both be certain that they are respected and have a right to be themselves, and be certain that their positive relationships with others are constant (stability in life).
For an extravert, the object of orientation in the external world is the surrounding objects and subjects. For this reason extraverts extend a certain right of integrity: “the other object has the right to be the way it wants to be. If it bothers me, I will change my relationship with it, but not the object itself.” This is because, for an extravert, objects and subjects are the fulcrum of consciousness. Changing these objects with one’s own hands means losing this fulcrum. This leads to the world crumbling, which threatens the collapse of consciousness. It is the same as biting the hand that feeds you. Because of this, all extraverts react poorly to various “re-educations,” changes of the subject against their will. Every extravert is already convinced that everyone strives for self-improvement, and every extravert feels it their duty to help everyone else with this voluntary self-improvement.
For an introvert, the object of orientation in the external world is the relationships and feelings of others. For this reason, on the one hand, introverts are very considerate of others, and on the other hand, are certain that everyone is striving for the same goal in this area. Hence introverts help others establish these relationships as much as they can.
Every extravert possesses a certain restlessness of their feelings, a certain activeness. Something pushes them to act in situations where an introvert merely observes, giving the impression of being immersed in oneself. It is very important to understand that an introvert’s concentration is an immersion in the relations of the outside world, rather than in oneself. It is the observation of relations between subjects and objects, which, in contrast to an extravert, an introvert is unwilling and unable to violate. If an introvert contemplates something in their “immersion,” it is the problems of relations with other subjects and objects, rather than the problems of their inner life. The impression of being “immersed in oneself” is the result of the fact that one perceives any relation or attitude to the outside world as one’s own feeling.
For all these reasons, when an extravert and an introvert cooperate, an extravert gives their dual a sense of confidence in oneself as an object with certain properties. An introvert gives their dual a real knowledge of how others feel about them, and how to change those feelings if needed.
An extravert adapts to real subjects, objects, their various manifestations, or to what is happening within them or to them. While doing this, an extravert produces relations that are acceptable to these subjects and objects. Thus, an extravert is the creator of new relations and new feelings about the logical and the illogical 
(Ti), the ethical and the unethical 
(Fi), the aesthetic and the non-aesthetic 
(Si), the timely and the untimely 
(Ni). An introvert’s creativity leads to the emergence of subjects and objects with new qualities 
(Se), as well as new constructions 
(Ne), new kinds of emotional experiences and inner excitation 
(Fe), and qualitatively new methods of work 
(Te). The creative element is the second element of IM, e.g. for (ILE) it is , and for (LII) – .
Only an introvert can invent a qualitatively new construction. This is why the ideas of Roberto Bartini, a logical-intuitive introvert (), were the most novel among the Soviet aircraft designers we know. On the other hand, only extraverts can create qualitatively new social relations, e.g. all classic Marxist authors. However, introverts are the ones who create new forms of organization of the state (an object), e.g. Thomas More* ().
* Translator’s note: Thomas More wrote Utopia (1516), which describes the political system of an imaginary island state.
Everything is the other way around when it is necessary to reproduce some kind of already existing samples, something that has already been invented or existed somewhere. While an introvert is the inventor of a qualitatively new product, only an extravert can organize the production of this product based on an existing sample. This is where the first, leading element of IM manifests itself.
A production enterprise is, simultaneously, a manufacturer of a product, and a system (team) of people working in it. The head’s personality type determines the way the enterprise relates to these two sides of reality. Extraverted personality types see their main goal as expanding and developing production, increasing output. The team and its interests must be subordinated to this goal. This setup is productive when there is a need for rapid development of the industry, as well as during the search for internal production reserves. Introverted personality types see their main goal as improving the system of relationships in the team, as well as between the team and the management. With this setup production plans are only exceeded when this is required by the team’s interests. This setup is productive when the branch works steadily, which brings to the fore the problems of stabilizing the team, ensuring the stability of each member’s position. This setup also helps to stabilize the life of society. But it should not be forgotten that each type of IM manifests itself in its own unique way – here we only provide the general picture of extraversion and introversion.
An extravert likes leading an active life. One could say that, by showing initiative, an extravert always “climbs on stage” to some extent. But they primarily do it in order to be able to see and evaluate more objects, rather than to be seen themself. They enjoy assessing others and putting them forward. An introvert does not put themself or others forward. They do not even notice others, only assessing them based on the way these others activate them with their attention and improve the overall psychological climate while not getting in the way. An introvert quite honestly states that leadership work is not for them, but they cannot refuse it, feeling that they have no right to, if others are putting them forward. And after assuming some kind of position they keep it for many years, feeling irreplaceable. An extravert can leave on their own or be removed for their mistakes, but an introvert does not make mistakes in planned economy because they are always in complete harmony with the plan (which is a relation). An introvert does not break any relationships, does not get on anyone’s nerves, and is always able to explain their passivity and indecisiveness with the objective factors. They see everyone who is more active than them as engaging in self-promotion; deep down they also aspire to be more active, but they cannot show initiative until it is demanded from them in each particular case. An introvert is afraid to be inappropriately active. Whether this “inappropriate activity” gets called insolence or stupidity is determined by the individual’s type of IM.
An extravert acts in order to become more valuable and necessary for society, to become an object of a higher quality, irreplaceable if possible (since they constantly doubt people’s good feelings), and to be able to show initiative, which is also merely a way to provoke positive feelings in others.
An introvert only acts out of necessity – to fulfill their duty and obligations, to avoid crossing someone and damaging their relationships with others, and to stay in the public eye by any means necessary, because otherwise no one will demand an introvert to be active, their obligations will be limited, and they will be left out in the cold. It is often said that, supposedly, an introvert only acts to be left alone. This is an illusion. They do not want that. And the reason why an introvert cannot refuse or abandon any leadership position, even though they see that they cannot handle the work, is fear that after doing so they will be “left alone,” will not be noticed, will not be needed by anyone. This leads to egocentrism and unhealthy monopolistic tendencies to cling to power at any cost, by hook or by crook, even if this undermines one’s health. The fear of becoming invisible is stronger than common sense.
Extraverts do not like duty and obligations, they like responsibility. They feel responsibility for everything that is going on around them, which activates them, making them act. They accept responsibility for work, for people – everything. Extraverts see responsibility as a privilege, but associate the notions of duty and obligation with a violation. On the contrary, introverts do not like responsibility, they like obligations. They take pleasure in doing things that are considered to be their duty and obligation, that allow them to be active. But they try to avoid responsibility in every possible way – the very word “responsibility” reminds them of a court sentence, a punishment.
While an introvert avoids excessive activity, an extravert avoids demonstrating excessive feelings, i.e. their attitude towards various objects and subjects, to the exact same extent. This is because an extravert is afraid of being immodest and of their feelings getting in someone’s way, while an introvert is afraid of their activity getting in someone’s way. They consider it bad manners, tactlessness.
To obtain psychological comfort an extravert needs to surround themself with relation-oriented introverts, i.e. people who can consider other people’s feelings. An introvert, on the other hand, feels the need to be surrounded by extraverts who can notice and assess people themselves, as well as their activity.
In a group an extravert pays attention to others, tries to shake them up, and is happy when people enjoy it. They are bored if there is no one to pay attention to. On the contrary, an introvert draws attention to themself. They are bored if no one notices them.
Introverts are more inclined to be reclusive. But this is not for the fun of it – it only happens when they feel unneeded and unwanted, when no one gives them the attention they so need. There are eight introverted types in total, and there is no doubt that the aspects of their personality expression that they need others to pay attention to differ from type to type. One type needs attention to their work, another type – to their emotions, their abilities, or their will. An individual is calm and content only when others notice and talk about exactly what said individual needs them to notice.
An extravert also needs such attention, but instead this attention should be paid to their feelings. They need others to believe in the fact that their feelings are voluntary, that an extravert cares about other people, loves them, properly assesses them, is not selfish, etc.
In short, the difference between all extraverts and all introverts can be defined in the following way. When it comes to their attitude towards the world, extraverts are constructive, active, and have a strong need to achieve the goal. Introverts, even when they are very active, rather avoid trouble and failure. Where an extravert is constantly dissatisfied with not having done more, an introvert feels bad after having done something that proves unnecessary in retrospect. They are afraid to be seen as an upstart by themself and others, and to ruin established relationships. An introvert is deeply convinced that it is reprehensible to be doing something that is not strictly necessary.
A typical example from college life. After successfully passing an exam, extraverts are almost always a little unhappy about not having had time to read something related to the subject. Most introverts are just as unhappy thinking about something they did read, but did not need on the exam.
An introvert’s laziness can be shaken up with criticism for their sluggishness; but any careless remark about how they overdid something or were more active than necessary kills their desire to be active at all, for a long time. When an extravert is criticized for being less active than was needed, they become aggressive, angry, and feel misunderstood; but criticism for excessive activity is perceived more as a compliment.
An extravert is the initiator, inspirer and organizer. An introvert “covers the rear” by finishing work others started (even if at first an introvert showed no enthusiasm for it). They are more modest and calm, and have less confidence in the significance and importance of their efforts. An introvert is more self-critical, and more egocentric at the same time.
From The Characteristic of IEE
Extrathymes do not feel like they have the right to violate the autonomy and integrity of the object. Objects are observed; relations are the only thing extrathymes feel allowed to manipulate, and in their hands relations become a tool to influence the external world with. What the extrathyme knows about relations is never 100% true to reality. There is always some inaccuracy in their understanding of relations between objects, be these relations logical or ethical , spatial or temporal . No subject can know every single object, which means that they also cannot know every single way in which any object is conditioned by all others. Their knowledge about these relations is always subjective to some extent.
Classic Socionics 
