Social Interaction
The four distinct small groups within a category and their psychological implications for personality typing.
Small Group Analysis
Small groups represent the intersection of four personality types that share common characteristics. Each group reveals fundamental patterns in how types process information, make decisions, and interact with the world.
Category's Small Groups
Conflict
Group Description
Typical worldview: "One must actively fight for their place in the sun, or someone else will take it." The original evolutionary role of dominant Se is to forcefully break through others' boundaries to seize their resources. When cultured, dominant Se resorts less to direct violence, replacing it with coercion through artificially created circumstances or ethical manipulation (i.e., cooperating with logic or ethics). However, the specter of violence remains, and any authority, losing its legitimacy, reverts to its basic trait—controlling others through the fear of physical harm to their bodies and property. The role of vulnerable Si here is the drive to leave one's comfort zone, avoiding relaxation and not trading long-term goals for immediate pleasures.
Interest in conflict situations and interpersonal competition, expanding one's interests by stirring up contradictions in the surrounding world. Quick-tempered. Aggressive manner of speech and love for public speaking. Tendency to boast.
Open
Group Description
This aligns with the worldview: "Everyone wants good, but mutual distrust prevents them from overcoming old disagreements; therefore, one must boldly make contact and be open so that others, seeing your friendly intentions, will open up in response." Vulnerable Ni prefers to unite people through common tasks, household chores, and mutual aid, fostering sympathy and mutual support. Base Ne unites through play, in artificially constructed freedom which eventually leads to real freedom from distrust caused by prejudices.
Openness and straightforwardness in communication. Intolerance of loneliness. Love for spending time in large, noisy (preferably friendly) groups.
Peaceful
Group Description
Typical worldview: "Do not do unto others what you do not want done unto you"; "Avoid conflicts and encourage others to do the same". Base Si in its peacefulness is motivated by the desire to avoid physical harm from fights and the potential inconveniences of their aftermath, while vulnerable Se is driven by the unwillingness to break social rules and the readiness to curb personal desires to maintain harmony.
Non-confrontation and peacefulness. Aiming to avoid conflicts or, if unavoidable, to smooth them over. Love for moderation and gradualness in all endeavors. 'Cocooning' from external irritants in a world of personal interests and needs. Prefer listening over speaking, and respond to questions slowly.
Alternative name
Avoidant
Secretive
Group Description
This combination generates a worldview in the spirit of: "There are dangers everywhere, everyone lies and deceives, wanting to harm you; therefore, being naively careless and showing your true self is unacceptable, you need to hide your intentions, personal life, and property from others." In this context, dominant Ni prefers to create an illusion to confuse adversaries, while vulnerable Ne imposes physical barriers and threatens punishment for trying to overcome them, ensuring unwanted individuals cannot physically get through.
A tendency for solitude and psychological resilience to it. The ability to conceal one's intentions and true self in society. Often a desire for the role of a 'gray cardinal.'