The structure of psychosophy (or ‘psyche-yoga’, abbreviated PY) was first considered by the author of the typology Alexander Afanasiev in his book ‘The Syntax of Love’. The fundamental basis in psychosophy is a four-element model represented by a set of functions given by unique combinations of properties of their work. Functions in Afanasiev's model are usually called by their ordinal number: First, Second, Third and Fourth.
The task of a function is to process one of the four psychosophic aspects such as ‘Emotion’, ‘Logic’, ‘Will’ and ‘Physics’. Each aspect can only be processed by one function. Thus, the four aspects are distributed across all positions of the model. In total, there are twenty-four unique combinations of aspect distribution by function, each representing a unique ‘psychosophic type’ (or ‘PY-type’).
In addition to psychosophy, Afanasyev's model is also applicable to other typologies developed recently: temporistics and amatorics (you can learn more about them on the original author's websites: temporistics.ru and amatorica.com). Next, let's move on to what aspects the PY-type works with:
As already mentioned, there are four aspects considered in psychosophy: ‘Emotion’ (E), ‘Logic’ (L), ‘Will’ (W) and ‘Physics’ (F). According to Afanasyev, they describe the respective states of a person's ‘soul’, ‘mind’, ‘spirit’ and ‘body’. Alas, these terms are clearly insufficient to fully disclose the content of the aspects, moreover, they rather introduce additional distortion of meaning, rather than lead to a correct understanding.
Psychosophy (as psychological typology) studies the process of interaction of people with each other by transfer of their aspectual states. The nature of such interaction is determined by the properties of the functions of the PY-type model, and its filling is determined by the properties of the aspectual state perceived by the function. Thus, with the help of ‘emotion’ we exchange emotions and feelings, with the help of ‘logic’ - opinions and perceptions, with the help of ‘will’ - desires and goals, and with the help of ‘physics’ - realisation of physical needs.
| Aspect | Meaning according to Afanasiev | Relevant condition |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | Body | Needs |
| Will/Volition | Spirit | Wishes |
| Emotion | Soul | Emotions |
| Logic | Thought* | Opinions |
Since the subject area of each aspect corresponds to its own plane, which does not overlap with other aspects, it is possible to identify the manifestations of each aspect separately in people's behaviour (their interaction). Besides, there can also be polyaspect situations, which affect spheres of different interactions. Thus, for example, dancing can be considered both as a physical interaction (the need for movement) and as an emotional interaction (the exchange of emotions with a partner and the audience).
Let's take a closer look at what applies to each of the aspects:
The perception of the aspect ‘emotion’ includes such interactions as sharing emotions with an interlocutor, adjusting or ignoring other people's feelings, the ability to share one's experiences with others, acting and naturalness of expression, dependence or independence from one's own experiences, and the ability to empathise. The position of emotion influences a person's attitude to poems and fine arts, preferences in cinema and music, the ability to feel the audience and spectators.
The perception of the ‘logic’ aspect includes processes related to the formation and exchange of opinions and knowledge. The position of psychosophic ‘logic’ influences our ability to argue and debate, our independence in forming our own point of view, our ability to understand the position of the interlocutor, and our ability to change our opinions as new facts and information arise. Also, for example, some ‘logicians’ are more oriented to their own inferences, while others - to the opinion of authoritative sources.
The perception of the ‘will’ aspect includes qualities and processes that affect the sphere of our intention, which we realise when setting and achieving desires and goals. Carriers of different ‘wills’ differ from each other with different approaches to realisation of their intentions. Depending on the position of this aspect in the PY-type model, a person can help others or expect help from them, be aimed at sharing responsibility and compromise or at individual realisation of their desires and goals (‘every man for himself’). Also, the ‘will’ aspect affects how a person makes decisions - whether they do it on their own or rely on advice.
The perception of the ‘physics’ aspect includes qualities and processes related to the satisfaction of our body's needs, roughly speaking - everything that is accompanied by the physical interaction of a person with the environment. The position of ‘physics’ in the PY-type model is expressed in a person's lifestyle, in his/her taste preferences, in the presence or absence of interest in sports and physical activity, in a person's attitude to nutrition and cookery, hygiene, and health. Also ‘physics’ determines greediness or generosity of a person, his attitude to property and money, behaviour in the intimate sphere, indirectly affects the physique and appearance of a person.
As it has been said earlier, the model of psychosophic type represents a set of four functions. Each of these functions is given by a combination of three properties characterising certain qualities of its work. Thus, a function can be high or low, processive or productive, and principled or unprincipled. Let us consider these properties:
A high function forms its state independently and is not too influenced by others in its aspect sphere. Besides, the high function itself tends to influence other people's state in this aspect. A low function, on the other hand, succumbs to other people's influence in its aspect sphere even if it does not want to, and it does not have enough ability to influence other people on this aspect.
The resultative function determines a person's low concentration on his or her aspect state, its displacement and unconsciousness, because of which a person is not able to put much energy into interaction on this aspect. The resultative functions strive for a stable aspectual state, which will allow them not to concentrate too much on this theme. Processive function, on the contrary, defines high concentration of a person on his aspect, its constant realisation, because of what a person has a lot of energy for realisation of himself on this aspect. Processive functions strive for constant change of their aspectual state, as well as for interaction with other people, for receiving ‘feedback’.
The principal function determines the importance of this aspectual state for a person and interest in changing/maintaining it in oneself rather than in other people. In turn, the non-principled function defines a person's interest in another person's aspectual state and the focus on changing/supporting the aspectual state in another person.
Thus, combinations of these properties define the functions of Afanasyev's model. Let us consider their main qualities of operation:*
1 - High, Resultative, Principled
2 - High, Processive, Unprincipled
3 - Low, Resultative, Principled
4 - Low, Resultative, Unprincipled
The first function is high, productive and principled. For this function one's own aspectual state is a priority (although the bearer of the type does not realise it sufficiently, because it is displaced from the sphere of his attention). Avoiding frequent changes (in order not to concentrate on them unnecessarily), each person aspires to maintain stability of the aspectual state according to the first function. Besides, this state is weakly influenced by surrounding people - its change takes place usually when a person wishes it. Thus the first function is peculiar to aspiration (first of all in own interests) to influence other people with the help of its aspect.
The second function is high, processional and unprincipled. This function defines the increased interest of the bearer of the type to the aspectual condition of other people and aspiration to influence it. The aspect which is on a position of the second function is realised in full measure and is constantly in the sphere of attention of the person. In this connection the second function endeavours to provoke changes in the aspectual state (first of all in other people's state) in order to fill one's attention with it. Thus the bearer of the type himself weakly yields to another's influence, being independent in formation of his aspectual state according to the second function. Thus, two defines the zone of free creativity of a person: its processionality gives a lot of energy for realisation of oneself on this aspect, and its non-principledness makes it invulnerable to criticism.
The third function is low, processional and principal. This function, like the second one, determines the carrier's realisation of his aspect type and constant concentration on it. In this connection a person needs a constant change of his aspectual state to fill his attention with it. At the same time, the triplet prioritises its own aspect state, so its attention is more directed to changes in itself. Also this function is noticeably subject to influence from the outside (even if it does not want to). For this reason it is common for carriers of the type to concentrate on minimising undesirable and maximising desirable influences on themselves. It is important to note that the third function contains the maximum potential for human development: its principality determines the presence of ambitions in its sphere, and processionality gives enough energy for their realisation.
The fourth function is low, productive and unprincipled. This function has a minimal need for interaction according to its aspect state and at the same time (being low) it tends to be influenced by other people. As a result, not having high requirements to itself, it is oriented on requests on the aspect state coming from other people.