Irrational Types

In Model A, Irrational types have an irrational information element in their program function.

This is the basic distinction. The behavioral tendencies described below are secondary, varying not only between types but also among individuals within the same type.

Unconditioned Attention

The main characteristic of Irrationality is involuntary attention—an automatic response to incoming stream of information without conscious effort.

Consider this scenario: you're asked to find something interesting in a park. The more open-ended the task, the more it engages your irrational functions. To succeed, you need to let go of rigid, analytical thinking. Trying to force focus, like saying "I will only look for red flowers," will actually hinder your ability to notice the broader range of interesting things.

Irrational types are mentally open, constantly scanning their environment and absorbing information without rigid pre-conceptions and predefined framework.

Continuity

For an irrational type, their worldview is more like a constantly updating sketch. Their primary goal is for this sketch to accurately reflect what they are experiencing right now. They have no qualms about erasing an old line and drawing a new one.

Their internal picture of the world can change every second. It can be contradictory, consisting of separate, unrelated fragments, but it is always current and directly connected to present reality.

Spontaneity

For an irrational type, the main thing is to react promptly and appropriately to what is happening here and now. They can "pivot" mid-action. Changing course or shifting attention requires almost no effort.

An irrational person might go to the kitchen to get a glass of water, but get sidetracked by a pet needing attention, perhaps even forgetting the original purpose.

Irrational types don't have a sense of "violating structure" because they lack a rigid notion of "correct reality." Action arises directly from the present moment.

When an Irrational type goes to the store and suddenly sees that the street is dug up, they simply turn around and find an alternative route automatically, on the go.

What about Planning?

Irrational types live in their own internal reality – in a spontaneous, associative perception of the world. At the same time, they notice that their inherent way of existing is ineffective in a reality that values time management, following through on pre-determined decisions, etc.

To conform to society's expectations of what is considered "normal," they develop a need for some external structure—an "anchor". Without this support, they feel they begin to lose focus or become scattered.

Attempting to adapt, the irrational type tries to introduce planning into their life.

Yet, they find it challenging to maintain these rigid frameworks for long because their internal world constantly shifts its focus and priorities. They may sincerely commit to a plan, but soon forget it, switch tasks, or lose the overall objective.

This isn't an issue of irresponsibility or lack of discipline; it's simply a reflection of their innate psychological wiring. The key is learning to accept and accommodate this factor.

Perception and Flexibility

Irrational types have an irrational element – either Sensing or Intuition – as their program function.

They instinctively perceive what seems “good” or “right” through direct experience—insights or sensory cues.

They often avoid complete, definitive judgments.

When evaluating someone, a SEI might say, "I didn't like Jane when I first met her because…," then elaborate on their initial impression, possibly without ever definitively concluding whether they dislike her or not. Even if they express dislike, it's often implied as a current feeling, not a permanent verdict.

Communication Style

Thoughts of Irrational types often jump associatively. They might start at the end of a story, jump to the beginning, and then meander elsewhere. Their attention is scattered, and they might lose track of the initial point, shifting topics seemingly at random.

They may stray from direct answers to specific questions and can even forget the initial query in the process. The focus shifts to perceiving their own response; the original question becomes secondary.

They are less likely to offer definitive, final conclusions. Any summary they provide is often provisional, easily revised as new information emerges and the context shifts.

Q: "Mr. Smith, could you share some vivid memories from your time working in the tech industry?"

A: "Oh, the tech industry, yes... You know, it's funny, when you ask about memories, what really strikes me is the whole evolution of technology, and it makes me think about the state of innovation today. We've seen such incredible changes, especially since, say, the late 90s, with the internet boom, and then the mobile revolution. And it really raises questions about where we're headed. Are we still truly innovating, or are we just iterating on existing ideas? Because if you look at the big trends, it seems like so much is driven by marketing and consumerism, rather than fundamental breakthroughs. And that makes you wonder about the long-term impact on society, you know? Because back in the day, it felt like we were building something truly new, something transformative. But now… Well, you see what I mean. It's about the bigger picture, really, the direction of progress itself. And then you have to consider the ethical implications, the social impact…"

Of course, an irrational type can also speak clearly and consistently, especially if they know the topic well and have answered the same question many times.

The Spectrum of Rationality-Irrationality

No dichotomy exists in itself, there are no walls dividing functions in the psyche of a type. A socionics type is a complex system where all parts are interconnected and influence each other.

Let's take a look at how other dichotomies can influence rationality/irrationality.

The Role of Logic and Ethics:

Ethics is the more labile (changeable/flexible) polarity, and to some extent, it's more irrational. An ethical type's actions are synchronized with the feelings and emotions of others. This makes the rational ethical type more flexible than the rational logical one.

Logic is the more inherently rational polarity. It's tied to the objective essence of the process and cause-and-effect relationships, which makes the logical type inherently more rigid.

The Role of Sensing and Intuition:

Sensing is the more flexible polarity. A sensing type easily adapts to external conditions (introvert) or flexibly modifies them (extravert).

Intuition is the more rigid polarity. Intuitive types tend to be fixated on ideas, imagery, and hypotheses. Their reaction to changes in the environment is more delayed and indirect. Because they are often deep in thought, they might, for instance, miss their subway stop.

The Role of Extraversion and Introversion:

Extraversion is generally more irrational. Extraverted types are more labile (unstable/reactive) because they quickly respond to new information and external stimuli. An extravert skips some steps in processing; their thought process is faster. In a conversation, an extravert quickly incorporates new input.

Introversion is generally more rational. Introverted types are more rigid because they need to correlate new information with existing information. Their response is more delayed. In a conversation, an introvert type needs time to process and establish more connections.

... And this list can go on.

So, what do we do when it seems we don't neatly align with a textbook description, or even find ourselves somewhere in the middle?

We have many tools available that not only help with typing but also provide a better understanding by looking at all these parts from another angle.

Irrational Types Subgroups

Temperaments

Reasoning

Perceptual Groups

Club Displacement

Stress Resistance

Source: S. Ionkin