VISUAL TYPE DIAGNOSIS


Recommended procedure for type diagnosis using pictures:

  • Study picture or pictures briefly to get a feeling for the overall mood. Try to formulate your impressions. Once you have some experience under your belt, your first impressions will often be correct. But never stop here.
  • Go down the list of dichotomies and make a decision on each one. Keep track of which ones you are sure of and which you are unsure of.
  • Compare your final result with your original impressions. Do they match? Does your result fit the type’s general mood and character?
  • If so, wonderful. If not, go back to the dichotomies, take the ones you’re sure of, and try using the method of elimination. For example, if you’re sure the person you’re diagnosing is rational and logical, you have four types to choose from – one in each quadra (LII, LSI, LIE, LSE). Which one’s can you rule out?

If you get stuck, here are some additional tips:

  • Compare the person to types in your data base and to people you know.
  • Sleep on it and return to the pictures periodically over several days.
  • Get a second and third opinion from other socionicists
  • Have people who know nothing about visual typing tell you what they see in the person and what their reaction to the person is


Parameters for type diagnosis using photographs:

RATIONAL/IRRATIONAL
Rational = angular features; internal tension or stiffness (especially in neck); need to pose for picture
Irrational = rounded features; internal relaxedness (especially in neck); spontaneous pose

EXTRAVERSION/INTROVERSION
According to some people in Kiev.

They would use these criteria to determine introversion extraversion.

What they would do is get a picture and cut it in half make a copy of each half then reverse image on one half then paste them

together and compare the two newly made photos. This requires a straight on, direct fontal view of the person photographed.

 

Extravert = left side of face more active and lively
Introvert = right side more active

 

But have heard also the opposite also concerning eyes.

There is some experimenting with what is called the more active eye.

One eye is wider than the other as a method of determining extravert introvert is.

 

Introvert = left eye is more widely open
Extravert = right eye is more widely open

 

I do not know of any consistent results obtained form these methods yet.

 

INTUITION/SENSING
Intuition = triangular face; intuitive, unfocused gaze; less crafted appearance
Sensing = rectangular face; composed, direct, focused gaze; carefully crafted appearance and dress

LOGIC/ETHICS
Logical = more prominent brow; dispassionate face; less emotional range in pictures; “standard” smile
Ethical = warmer face; more complete smile; large range of expression; facial expression intended to influence observer/viewer

“Fifth” dichotomy
STATIC/DYNAMIC
Static = more rectangular eye structure, iris partially covered (especially static extraverts: ILE, SLE, SEE, IEE)
Dynamic = more round eye structure, iris usually completely visible

Some things to remember

Although we try to objectify type diagnosis as much as possible by using specific criteria, the process can never be made 100% objective. There are invariably exceptions to any objective criterion. This is where personal experience interacting with different types and internal reactions to elusive physical data from the person come into play. This personal experience takes a long time to accumulate. Make sure you understand the dichotomies and model clearly so that you know what you are looking for. Don’t expect more of yourself than you are able. Be honest with yourself and others about your current level of typing skill and experience interacting with different types. Avoid demonstrating false certainty. At the same time, if you have really done your best and arrived at a certain conclusion, don’t back down from it immediately if presented with a conflicting version. Turn it into a discussion.

Guidelines for pictures

When taking pictures of people for type diagnosis, get at least a couple particularly informative pictures. Informative photographs have direct lighting and show the face straight on with open eyes without shadows, glasses, or unusual poses. The other pictures can be semi-informative and show a range of situations and expression. Practice taking informative pictures. Sometimes a small picture straight-on is much more informative than a close-up with the subject looking slightly off to the side. Scale is not the most critical factor.


Index