Core Theory

Attitudinal Psyche vs Psychosophy

Before the theory of these systems can be described, there must be a distinguishing of the two most popular manifestations of this system. The original system, Psychosophy (PY) was proposed by Alexander Afanasyev in Syntax of Love. Attitudinal Psyche (AP) is a system by Rob Zeke Collopy intended to validate and complete much of the work done by Afanasyev, and introduces a different way of approaching the system. AP is concerned entirely with attitude, this includes the way we are predisposed to certain ideas. PY is concerned with psychic energy, traits, and motivations.

What is meant by "attitude?" - A positive, negative, neutral, or ambivalent general attitude towards an object or idea. This means that one's AP type may be changeable during the lifetime. For example, at some point in time a person can view Logic with a Flexible attitude, or a Confident one, or an Insecure one, all at different times.

What is meant by "psychic energy?" - The dynamic force behind all mental processes that crystallizes into a hierarchy of how they are used. For example, a 2L will manifest a dialectic style of thinking that results in a flexible way of viewing ideas.

In Alexander Afanasyev's Syntax of Love he proposes three bipolar dichotomies as properties of each function: high/low, processional/resultative, and principal/non-principal, which are still used very widely to identify the different functions. However, these dichotomies have also been repurposed into unconscious/conscious, subjective/objective, and introverted/extraverted, and while they may appear different, their qualities and definitions are fundamentally the same and may be better to use considering how widely used those terms are in other facets of psychology. Respectively:

• Unconscious/conscious = resultative/processional
• Subjective/objective = high/low
• Introverted/extraverted = princpal/non-principal

How does it work?

Functions

• Functions dictate the function and orientation of the aspect placed within them
• There are four functions in a PY type: First, Second, Third, Fourth
• In AP they are known as Confident, Flexible, Insecure, and Indifferent

Aspects

• There are four aspects in an AP/PY type: Volition, Logic, Physics, Emotion
• Each aspect has 1 respective function it will fit into at a time

For example, there is an “Einstein” type (written as “LVEF”) - it has: First Logic, Second Will, Third Emotion and Fourth Physics. And, if you swap any two aspects from one function to another, you get a new type. -Afanasyev

Sextas

A sexta is a family of types based on specific correlating properties of functions that cause similarities in traits. In a way, it is similar to the quadras in Socionics that generalize groups of types into behaviors and traits in order to establish a sense of predictability amongst them.

Subtypes

The theory of subtypes may vary from system to system and was not a part of the original theory of PY. In AP, subtypes work by giving an aspect two separate functions, one of them is their dominant function and the other is one that accentuates the aspect into a slightly different attitude. For example, 2E-3 has Flexible as the dominant function and Insecure as the accentuation making it highly communicative, argumentative, and feeling like it needs to iron out inconsistencies, but this does not merge completely with the Insecure function, "they are not fearful of the aspect itself, but rather fearful of how outside influences (especially of their own insecure aspect) can limit them from imparting their greatest gift to others" (Collopy).

Other systems may view the inherent properties as candidates for accentuating the aspect. For example, if a 1L is accentuated towards subjectivity, it will be more prone to expressing it's own opinion and will have a hard time understanding how people could disagree with them, because their belief is factual to them. Since subjectivity and objectivity have more say over influence, it isn't enough to simply have a correct opinion, but instead wants to establish a monopoly over opinion. In this way, it may seem like a 2, but instead is less inclined to be interested in actual discussion and more focused on the result.

Relationships

Across many theories of AP and PY, there is one factor that retains some of it's consistency, relationships. In Syntax of Love Afanasyev not only sought to outline the parameters of human personality through Aspects and Functions but also through the way each of these factors interact with each other both within the self but also with other people.