Author: Aushra Augusta
From On the Dual Nature of Humanity
Disclaimer: this translation does not include paragraphs related to psychophysiology and visual identification.
A cyclothyme’s* emotions are way more impulsive and less controllable than those of a schizothyme.
* The terms “schizothyme” and “cyclothyme” were coined by Ernst Kretschmer in his book Physique and Character to refer to two distinct temperaments. Augusta’s works seem to suggest that the schizothymic temperament corresponds to socionics rationality, and cyclothymic – to irrationality (see Socion). Hereinafter the asterisks (*) indicate the translator’s notes.
Why do cyclothymes seem impulsive, and were even called “irrational” by C. G. Jung? Because their movements, actions and emotions are always a consequence of some feelings and a particular mental state; they are a response to a cyclothyme beginning to feel comfortable, uncomfortable, calm or uncertain. First, cyclothymes need some time to “get going” internally, and only after that do they react to the situation with an emotion or an action. They do not immediately react to others’ emotions and actions – they react to their own feelings evoked by others’ emotions and actions, which is why their reactions are somewhat slow, smooth, very well suited to the situation, but not thought out in advance (“creative”). Cyclothymes do a lot of things simply “out of habit”, in accordance with their established sets.
Schizothymes react to an emotion with an emotion, and to an action with an action – right away, without having to “get going” first. They react in a very reasonable, thought out manner, basing it on all of their experience. For this reason schizothymes seem more strict, decisive, “rational”, their movements are more quick and rigid, their emotions are colder and sharper. Feeling for a schizothyme is a consequence of an action rather than its cause: after a correct action or emotion they feel* better, and after an incorrect action – worse. Because of this fact schizothymes carefully examine and contemplate actions and manifestations of emotions. If schizothymes feel bad, they ponder what they have done wrong, and dig through their past to acquire experience for the future. On the other hand, when cyclothymes feel bad, they think about the future rather than the past: what they need to do to change the way they feel.
* When Augusta talks about “feeling bad” and “feeling good” in this section, she is generally using the word “самочувствие”, which is not fully translatable and is defined as “a general mental indicator of the physical and spiritual state of the individual at any given moment; consists of specific sensations and general feelings”. Across her works Augusta always uses this word to talk about Si specifically, and “feeling bad / good” being a consequence of “actions” (word usually used for Te) likely refers to the fact that for rational types Si is producing and Te is accepting. See Socion for a more thorough look on the accepting / producing function dichotomy.
A cyclothyme’s actions are impulsive, they are nothing more than an individual’s adaptation to the real situation and to their own feelings. It could be said that a cyclothyme acts when they need to exit some kind of situation or some kind of state, while a schizothyme acts when they need to create a particular state, to make themselves feel a certain way. For example, a cyclothyme cooks to end an unpleasant feeling of hunger, and a schizothyme – to acquire a pleasant feeling of being full as a result of this activity; a cyclothyme eats because they find the food delicious, and a schizothyme – in order to be full, even if they are a foodie. Interestingly, the feeling of hunger affects the mood of a cyclothyme much more than that of a schizothyme – when they are hungry, a schizothyme can calmly wait for a longer period of time than a cyclothyme.
When it comes to interactions with subjects and objects, the opposite is true. Just how a cyclothyme cannot act until they are overcome by some kind of feeling, so a schizothyme cannot communicate with a person until they feel something for this person and some kind of set is established. Without such a set or fully formed feelings a schizothyme cannot even buy the simplest household item. The same process of “getting going” takes place. Cyclothymes start communication without “getting going” (i.e. without sets) – instead they start with direct interactions, during which people and their qualities are thoroughly examined. Only after that do cyclothymes form sets, feelings and attitudes towards people. For this reason, even though a cyclothyme quickly establishes new contacts, these contacts say nothing about the way this individual feels about the people in question. Just how a schizothyme easily and “rationally” changes their actions and manifestations of emotions if they prove to not be reasonable enough, so a cyclothyme “rationally” changes people they interact with if the qualities of these people do not meet a cyclothyme’s needs. The same is true for household items and other objects.
Classic Socionics 