- Psychology teaches 3 Mind Functions : cognitive/thinking, affective/relating and conative/performing. These 3 Functions date from the Greco-Roman antiquity and have not changed since when our current life calls for other important functions. The author has identified at least two others : etgics/virtues (that has discussed in the new discipline of Poeitive psychology. Another is called ageritive/achieving that had been researched and included in this Synthesis of 4 Functions of the Mind.
During an Engineered Systems consulting career, managerial courses on handling professionals, it was noted that the approach for the identification and treatment of these 3 was quite similar and couls lead to an integration-synthesis. A search was then made for the 4th Mind Function traits of personality and found, again using the same approach of the others.
Four references, mentionned at the bottom of this paper, were used. They all used a similar approach to determine Traits characteristics in four quadrants: they can be called Attitide i.e. the "what" for the vertical axis and Approach i.e. the "how' for the horizontal axis forming the quadrants. And the the four synthesized rather well as shown later
.
The four sources using "suitable sampling groups" generated a number of similar personality traits that could be synthesized relatively well. First we will look at the Functional Factors for each source
Function of Mind Attitude- vertical Approach-horizontal
Thinking/reasoning Focusing or Screening hypotheses or single view
Feeling/relating Factual or social ssertive or tolerant
Doing/performing Changer or conformer Big picture or details
Reaching/achieving Seeker or suppoeter Connector or private
Synthesis of four Object diracted [D] or Global [G] or
Situation-adaptive [A] Segmental [S]
note p author terminology
With the two axis poles D - A and G-S, there are four Personalirt Quadrants DG , DS , AG , AS
For each Quadrant, the four sources, who acted separately at different times, had a sur[rising number of similar types of trauts in eaxh of the quadrants. Note - the four may have used the same model, but this was not referenced in their books. It should be mentionned that the four original publishers for the four works are no longer operating under those namesm making it impossible to obtain permissions to reproduce their indivifual data.
So the most representative four simi;ar traits will be used without reference to each source, Those wanting to verify could obtain copies of the original works. The sources had around a dozen similar traits in each quadrant, Five are considered sufficient to show what are similat traits foe different Mind functions : Is, Likes, Values, Can be more, concluding Style. And this for each Quadrants
D
|
DG | DS
G -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- S
AG | AS
|
A
Quadrant DG
Is : speculative, spontaneous, efficient, participative
Likes : integration, deadlines, accurate, active
Vakues : idealist, innovation, results, interaction
Can be more : realistic, listener, for alternatives, concerned
Style :: Direstor, Searcher, Builder, Achiever
Stnthesized Type :: Entreprising,
Quadrant DS
Is : definitive, hands-on, accurate, active
Likes : substance, simplification,ezactness, praise
Values : tangibility, faxtness, axtivity, contribution
Could be more : adaptable, flexible, open, decisive
Styles : finder, enabler, analyric, fulfiller
Synthesized Type : Axxomplishing
Quadranr AG
Is : receptive, diplomatic, systematic, sociable
Likes : meetings, scheduling, to fit, gatherings
Values : inpute, predictions, associations, applause
Could be more : committedm finalizer,applied, concrete
Styles : explorer, planner, influemt, friendly
Sybthesized Type : Aligner
Quadrany AS
Is : adaptive, affable, thorough, helpful
Likes : usefulness, identification, complexity
Values : probing, formulas, attention, quality
Could be more : firm, solving, involved, claiming
Styles : tester, idealizer, appeaser, provider
Synthesized Type : Endorser
Details above show a good deal of similarity from different Mind functions for the same quadrants.
Tests for these works were for diffwewnr samplings or groups. It may be still valuable to confirm
the the different functions with the same individuals . Doea it show the importance of of the
Functions of the Mind in the behavior of people? Does it represent a valuable way of determining
personality traits, perhaps superior to other methods?
This also shows the importance of Synthesis, not used sufficiently