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The 4 Aspects

Attitudinal Psyche is a personality system which theorizes that all individuals have a set structure of fundamental attitudes that creates unique dispositions towards four main aspects of life: Physics (F), Expression (E), Logic (L), and Volition (V).

Physics – “F”

Physics (also referred to as “Foundation” or “Feelings”) is the aspect that reigns over the human experience of sensual perception, feelings, physical matter, materials, environments, bodily sensations, appearances, aesthetics, possessions, comforts, and instinctual awareness of all stimuli.

Expression – “E”

Expression (formerly known as “Emotion”) is the aspect that reigns over the human ability to judge who or what you find subjectively better versus worse, evaluate the worth of people and relationships, give meaning and sentimental value to what happens to you, rank things on a hierarchy of most liked to disliked, and to decide how you believe the scale of moral versus immoral should be organized.

Logic – “L”

Logic is the aspect that reigns over the human ability to evaluate statistical categories, assess usefulness of strategies, arrive to verdicts, assign numerical values, create new lines of rationale, dole out reasons and judgments, propose what is true or false, and judge whether something is correct or incorrect.

Volition – “V”

Volition is the aspect that reigns over the human experience of causality, the personality, time, pathways, intuitive perception, future desires, making plans, imagining a direction, reading power dynamics/character/identity/themes, and perceiving a projection of possible past or future realities.

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Blocks – Fears vs. Desires

The four main aspects can be combined into pairs and then contrasted against one another. We call these “blocks” and understanding where each falls in a core type offers an extremely refined understanding of how that type operates. Each block creates a core desire and underlying opposing core fear.

Strategist (V+L) vs. Reactivist (F+E)

Strategist (Volition & Logic) | Fear of Impact
The strategist pole of this dichotomy is the desire to project, model, path out and hypothesize what could or has happened. Volition is all about projections, imagining a direction, and expanding one’s power to incorporate more options or ideas within the causality of time. Likewise, the logic aspect is related to volition because it too reigns over an expansive view of how things relate to other things in a way that can be given a designated numerical or statistical value. On the underside of this desire is the fear of being affected, tarnished or poisoned.

Reactivist (Physics & Expression) | Fear of Constraints
The reactivist pole of this dichotomy is the desire to respond, emote, feel, engage and perform. Physics is about raw perceptions and responses to sensations, the body, and how one experiences the world happening to them. Expression relates to the subjective value we give to what happens to us via our relationships, therefore it’s technically a response to reality despite it being a subjective judgment. On the underside of this desire is the fear of being boxed-in, without options, and ruled over (or subjected to the rules).

Strategists: VLFE, VLEF, LVFE, LVEF, VFLE, VELF, LFVE, LEVF, VFEL, VEFL, LFEV, LEFV
Reactivists: FEVL, FELV, EFVL, EFLV, FVEL, FLEV, EVFL, ELFV, FVLE, FLVE, EVLF, ELVF
Types in Red = Fears are inverted

Experiencer (V+F) vs. Evaluator (L+E)

Experiencer (Volition & Physics) | Fear of Meaning
The experiencer pole of this dichotomy is the desire to maneuver, locate, perceive and position themselves to gather more data through both intuition and senses. This drive can be felt internally by the individual and seen externally by others. Both volition and physics are often seen through perceptions and instincts rather than assigned judgments and values. On the underside of this desire, is the fear of mis-labeling or being labeled, mis-defining or being defined, and feeling the absence of an identity.

Evaluator (Logic & Expression) | Fear of Continuity
The evaluator pole of this dichotomy is the desire to judge, assign value, rank, and label. Both aspects tend to be verbal in nature, so language and communication is the easiest way to see them in action. On the underside of this desire is the fear of being stuck, depleted or exhausted.

Experiencers: VFLE, VFEL, FVLE, FVEL, VLFE, VEFL, FLVE, FEVL, VLEF, VELF, FLEV, FELV
Evaluators: LEVF, LEFV, ELVF, ELFV, LVEF, LFEV, EVLF, EFLV, LVFE, LFVE, EVFL, EFVL
Types in Red = Fears are inverted

Conceptualist (V+E) vs. Realist (L+F)

Conceptualist (Volition & Expression) | Fear of Limitation
The conceptualist pole of this dichotomy is the desire to idealize, glorify, influence and exalt ideas. Both aspects relate to the higher order of human attitudes or how one subjectively evaluates their affinity to time, identities, power, relationships, religions, politics, imagination or any other conceptual idea that aligns more with the abstract rather than what we can point to as taking up actual space in reality. On the underside of this desire is the fear of being lost, collapsed and directionless.

Realist (Logic & Physics) | Fear of Obligation
The realist pole of this dichotomy is the desire to measure, correct, tinker, and improve the surrounding environments. Both aspects are the more fundamental and foundational parts of existence through objects, sensations, feelings and how they can be measured. All things in the environment can be felt or experienced, while also being given a specific measurement. On the underside of this desire is the fear of being coerced, implored, or manipulated by others.

Conceptualists: VELF, VEFL, EVLF, EVFL, VLEF, VFEL, ELVF, EFVL, VLFE, VFLE, ELFV, EFLV
Realists: LFVE, LFEV, FLVE, FLEV, LVFE, LEFV, FVLE, FELV, LVEF, LEVF, FVEL, FEVL
Types in Red = Fears are inverted

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Attitude Valence

Attitude valence is the psychological concept of having positive or negative associations, reactions, emotions or feelings towards an object, concept, idea, conclusion, ability, or judgment. In Attitudinal Psyche, we use valence to describe an overall pattern of negative or positive valence towards an aspect when either engaging in it personally, or reacting to how others are engaging with that aspect personally.

Desires vs. Fears – Self-positive valence (S+) vs. Self-negative valence (S-)

Our Desires or Self-positive valence is an overall pattern of positive reactions, feelings, and associations towards the aspect being engaged. These positive reactions can range through a multitude of emotions: happiness, desire, pleasantness, enjoyment, confidence, reward-seeking, excitement, bliss, self-assuredness, acceptance, etc.

Our Fears or Self-negative valence is an overall pattern of negative reactions, feelings, and associations towards the aspect being engaged. These negative reactions can range through a multitude of emotions: displeasure, unhappiness, aversion, avoidance, disgust, fear, anxiety, loss, frustration, annoyance, rage, etc.

The 1st & 2nd positions are desires/self-positive.
The 3rd & 4th positions are fears/self-negative.

Others-Positive & Others-Negative Valence (O+ & O-)

The others attitudes are based on reactions to other people’s self-oriented valence. This means that you are building your positive or negative valence in response to the reactions that others are having to that aspect. In easier to understand terms: everyone is doing self attitudes and we are noticing and having reactions to one another by simply being social creatures, which is what creates the others attitude. An extremely important distinction to make between Others vs. Self is that we are having considerably less reactions to others than ourselves – so this dichotomy is better understood as the driving force of our decisions through the results attitudes: 1st & 4th.

The 2nd & 4th positions are others-positive.
The 1st & 3rd positions are others-negative.

Personal & Impersonal Valence (S/O & P/R)

Not only can we have a positive or negative reaction to the aspects, but we can also switch between a personal & impersonal valence. An alternative word for impersonal could be described as neutral. A valence becomes neutral when you focus on the transfer of information between the self & others. If both valences match, the method becomes process-oriented which focuses on impersonal processing, discussing, handling, refining, and journeying through the aspect. If both valences do not match, the method becomes results-oriented which focuses on impersonal concluding, completing, finishing, determining and finalizing data within the aspect. A personal valence will always be focused on people’s reactions over the informational exchange. Everyone does both in ALL attitudes, though subtypes can reflect whether certain individuals have a preference towards one over the other in particular aspects. This means that although the 1st & 4th positions are generally results-oriented, there is a considerable amount of processing that one does within those aspects.

The 1st & 4th positions are results-oriented.
The 2nd & 3rd positions are process-oriented.
Any focus on people (self, others or both) is personal.
Any focus on the exchange of information between self & others is impersonal.

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Positions

There are four positions in Attitudinal Psyche. We have a limited amount of energy we put towards each position which follows a hierarchy from 1-4. Each position expresses a positive or negative valence towards the self and others. These two valences are what come together in combination with the aspect held within to form a holistic portrayal of one’s overall attitude towards that aspect. Another way to look at each position is to imagine it as an energy that is perceived in a particular way.
Note: When you put an aspect into a position it becomes an attitude. However, you can use position and attitude interchangeably.

1st (50%): Hoarding the aspect for yourself. A one-way street of energy into the self and you are the conductor. “I take what I want from the world in relation to the aspect as this is my greatest gift.”

2nd (35%): “Surfing” the aspect. The energy is available at all times and can be repeatedly crashed into the shore (other people). “I’m riding this wave until it crashes, then we repeat the cycle!”

3rd (15%): Maneuvering through the dangers of the aspect in hypervigilance. The energy is violent and happening to you or around you without your consent. “I cannot control the aspect naturally unless I pay extreme attention to processing it.”

4th (5%): Giving the aspect away, disowning it, shoving it down into the unconscious mind, expecting others to deal with it. The energy is leaving/evaporating/being given away, and therefore moving away from the self. “I give away the aspect to the world. I refuse to process it myself unless it is imperative to my survival, then I’ll get my answer and move on or be forced to suffer in its consequences.”

Confident – 1st Position (50%)

Overview: Self-Positive (Desires/Energizing), Others-Negative (Defensive/Vulnerable), Results-Oriented (Decisions/Distinct Outcome)

The first position is what we hold closest to our chests as it feels like it was birthed from our very existence. At an early age we merge with the aspect which creates an ever-present belief that it must be protected at all costs. No one can come around touching and contaminating the way that we interact with our own perceived greatest gift, and if you thought that was narcissistic, wait until you back someone’s 1st aspect into a corner! Not only does it feel worth protecting but it energizes us to give a sense of aliveness in the fight against decay, entropy and meaninglessness – or as I call it: the accelerating carnival ride towards death. When nothing else in the outside world can be counted on we still have ourselves, and coincidentally we often believe the first aspect and ourselves are one and the same. The good news is this means it can never be lost. The bad news is others (as unintended as it may be) will still try to snag a piece of it.

Flexible – 2nd Position (35%)

Overview: Self-Positive (Desires/Energizing), Others-Positive (Calm/Reactionless), Process-Oriented (Ongoing Narrative/Questioning)

The second position is the aspect we freely process with anyone whether they want to hear about it or not. We’ve all had an experience with an over-sharer, whether it be in the line at the grocery store or an old friend who has way too much to say about whatever is going on in their life. This is among the same vein of how the second position operates. It’s entirely open, fearless, and willing to share whatever story is currently bubbling up regarding the aspect. Just because this position has a rather positive association in nomenclature does not mean it avoids mishaps. Like the person who has trapped us in an hour long conversation about the thing we don’t care about, this position can be overly eager to involve others in our problems, or even worse, implore others to share their own. Of course, subtypes can alter the way it presents itself but the initial reaction will always be to openly stir up some energy and commotion around the aspect, unworried about how it may support our decisions.

Insecure – 3rd Position (15%)

Overview: Self-Negative (Conscious Fears/Taxing), Others-Negative (Defensive/Vulnerable), Process-Oriented (Ongoing Narratives/Questioning)

The third position can be best described as a pain in the ass. Directly tied to the fears we are well aware and conscious of, it has an ongoing fearful story of how the aspect could utterly destroy us. For this reason, the third position is hypervigilant about every piece of information involved in the aspect, which means it’s looking sideways at itself and any unlucky individual who steps on the haphazardly placed landmine. Unfortunately, fires burn out quickly and the same can be said for this position. This is the most erratic of the four and often feels like an out-of-control, energy-taxing experience if we continue looking in its direction. Of course, not everyone keeps looking at what terrifies them and will instead place it on the backburner like a box of old, dirty, worn-out clothes hidden in the attic. But alas, this will not stop it from rearing its ugly head in our perception as soon as life inevitably throws situations at us that involve the aspect. The good news is we are relatively accepting of processing the aspect so long as it feels safe to do so, unlike its self-negative neighbor: the fourth position. The third position feels like a life long struggle that needs constant management and updates to the ongoing narrative we have of it in our mind.

Disowned – 4th Position (5%)

Overview: Self-Negative (Unconscious Fears/Taxing), Others-Positive (Calm/Reactionless), Results-Oriented (Decisions/Distinct Outcome)

The fourth position is equivalent to thinking since the human appendix is useless, why bother taking care of it? Much like our appendix, the fourth position is initially and consciously seen as useless to the self and is often thrown into our blind-spot. So what happens when it becomes infected and inflamed after years of collecting bacteria and toxins? It bursts. Unfortunately this is a common experience that we all have with our 4th attitude. Like the third position, thinking too much about the aspect inspires fear because it feels taxing, energy depleting, and downright pointless. However, it’s not something that causes conscious terror nor does it feel like it’s important enough to be processed (whiny baby third position: take notes). Further bad news for us, it does need processed and our constant ignoring and side-stepping of the aspect means that it completely runs our lives in the shadows. We spend so much time running from the fear that we start to base everything we do on its hidden power – how ironic. This means the longer we let it fester in our unconscious, the bigger the meltdown will be when we are forced to deal with it. We often want quick answers and solutions for the aspect from others, which can lead to over-dependence on outside opinions and responsibility, especially with no 4-0 subtype present. Unlike the third position, we neglect the 4th aspect and become careless about how it gets done as long as it’s someone else’s problem and we (falsely) believe we never have to deal with it again! “Take my money and all my problems while you’re at it!” – famous last words of the 4th position.

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Position Pairs

Each position forms a dyad with all other positions based on a shared valence. This dyad sits in a dichotomous relationship with the opposing dyad. These dichotomies form the basis of the functions.

1st + 2nd Positions (Self-Positive)

Desires • Energizing
Believes that the aspect energizes them.
Believes that their initial opinions or ideas about the aspect are relevant, needed, and applicable.
Believes that they have the energy to deal with complex and complicated reactions and attitudes that they may have about the aspect.

3rd + 4th Positions (Self-Negative)

Fears • Taxing
Believes that the aspect is taxing to deal with.
Believes that their initial opinions or ideas about the aspect are unrefined, lacking, and not applicable.
Believes that they do not have the energy to deal with complex and complicated reactions and attitudes that they may have about the aspect.

1st + 3rd Positions (Others-Negative)

Defensive • Vulnerable
Believes that others’ reactions to the aspect are (or could become) a threat to the self.
Believes that the information related to the aspect should be guarded.
Reacts defensively to inquiries about the aspect.

2nd + 4th Positions (Others-Positive)

Calm • Reactionless
Believes that others’ reactions to the aspect pose no real danger to themselves.
Believes that information related to the aspect should be shared freely, or given little weight.
Reacts calmly to inquiries about the aspect.

1st + 4th Positions (Results-Oriented)

Decisions • Distinct Outcomes
Believes that answers are the most important part of information related to the aspect.
Believes that adding extraneous information to the aspect with no outcome in mind is a waste of time.
Believes that each piece of information within the aspect speaks for itself and does not need to be compared or contrasted to other pieces of information.
Note: Everyone processes information in their 1st & 4th aspects but the belief is that it is feeding into a decision or result.

2nd + 3rd Positions (Process-Oriented)

Ongoing Narratives • Questioning
Believes that discussion and questioning are the most important ways to deal with information related to the aspect.
Believes that adding extra information from multiple sources helps build the narrative around the aspect.
Believes that information regarding the aspect can be compared, contrasted, and intertwined with no need to conclude an end point.

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Functions

The functions are formed by putting a block into a position pair and can be given an overall behavioral percentage. These functions represent the most significant and observable behavioral patterns in humans. This is the cornerstone of typing others in Attitudinal Psyche. Each function is numbered from 1-6, indicating a hierarchy of how often you will see it activated in someone’s behaviors – 1 being the most. Since this represents a sample without replacement, the percentages will significantly drop off after the 1st function which we have observed in our client typings. Subtypes can slightly affect the overall distribution but they will never diverge from this specific order. Below is the distribution of how much energy one puts towards each of their aspects & functions through their behaviors.

General Behavioral Distribution (Positions):
1st Position: 50%
2nd Position: 30%
3rd Position: 15%
4th Position: 5%

General Behavioral Distribution (Functions):
1st Function: 51.4%
2nd Function: 23.8%
3rd Function: 11.7%
4th Function: 7.6%
5th Function: 3.7%
6th Function: 1.7%

Function 1: Lifeblood (51.4%)

1st + 2nd Positions
The lifeblood function is the block that energizes us without limitation. Nearly as natural as breathing air, it is hard to notice that we are automatically engaging in this function because it does not require any afterthoughts, double-checking or anxiously mulling over. The 2nd position generates possibilities through external resources, processes the information, and offers the energy to the 1st position to further process and decide how to consume or merge with the aspect. The majority of our daily activities and behaviors are observable through this block. Easily enmeshed with the function, we may feel as though the information is too obvious to care about since it doesn’t trigger us which can lead to an inverted self-typing (People typing themselves nearly or entirely backwards – which happens often). However, comparing the 1st and 6th functions shows how diametrically opposed they are on this energetic pole, as over 50% of our energy goes into the 1st leaving as little as 1% for the 6th. This function represents our desire for personal gain through limitless hunger and expansion.

Function 2: Security (23.8%)

1st + 3rd Positions
The security function is the block that feels the most dangerous to ignore and is also the second most obvious feature of our psyche. Therefore, we may go through periods of over-processing it due to its perceived importance in avoiding hidden traps. The security function enjoys taking control and protecting its conclusions from others. The audience members are often seen as the problem, so the ego makes sure to build walls between the self and the outside world to prevent manipulation or sabotage of the information this function holds close to the chest. The 3rd position supports the 1st position by identifying vulnerabilities that may inhibit the free flow of energy into the psyche, then passes off this information to be transmuted into something we ultimately desire for our ego to feel safe. This function represents our ability to adapt conscious fear into energy through discernment.

Function 3: Launch (11.7%)

1st + 4th Positions
The launch function contains the block that we consult to make decisions in our lives. These decisions can range from massively important ones like changing a job, to more banal daily activities like choosing our outfits or deciding what to eat for lunch. Either way, this function is responsible for concluding the things we do not wish to process – mostly related to the 4th position. Since we are simultaneously dealing with our greatest desires and unconscious fear within this function, we “overdo” the 1st position to deal with the shared fear of the 4th position. In turn, this makes the typical fear of this block switch to the opposing fear (E.g., ELVF’s 3rd function is Reactivist(EF) and the fear switches from “Fear of Constraints” to “Fear of Impact”). This fear-switching is applied to every AP type’s 3rd function and we share that same fear with our fellow Sexta members. Despite this function having a slight edge over the spin-out function in terms of energy distribution, they are relatively balanced as we naturally need engagement in both. Ultimately, decisions are quick and the vast majority of us do not wish to process our 4th position for very long, so this function is much less active than the security & lifeblood functions. The hidden dark-side to this function is that we use our 1st position to pretend we have “dealt with” the aspect in our 4th position, which keeps that fear locked away in the shadow version of ourselves. This function represents our need and ability to move forward in life by making decisions.

Function 4: Spin-out (7.6%)

2nd + 3rd Positions
The spin-out function contains the block that causes us to be sucked into a vortex of the “overs”: over-thinking, over-processing, over-doing, over-feeling, over-explaining, over-planning, etc. This incredibly fast spiral into anxiety tends to force us to abandon the block quickly to avoid being sucked into negative emotional patterns. The reason this problem arises is that without the 1st position active, we have no decision to aim the spiraling information towards. Consequently, the lifeblood and security functions activate themselves once enough time has passed being engulfed in negative emotion from this block. From the outside, the spin-out function is seen as our “conscious anxiety trigger”. This function represents the inevitable obstacles that temporarily trap us in pain.

Function 5: Haphazard (3.7%)

2nd + 4th Positions
The haphazard function contains the block that is freely given away to others and its importance for personal safety is often underestimated or ignored. This means that we can get ourselves into trouble through being influenced by things that do not serve us. The 5th function is treated as something that does not need much attention or care which makes it vulnerable to suggestion. The problem is that the we do not catch on to the active vulnerability which leads to accidental activation of triggering events usually related to the 4th position. The good news is not much of our energy is spent on this block, though it is noticeably more active than the 6th function. The bad news is that once the negative side of the block is triggered, it is hard for us to come up with solutions or do the necessary work to fix it. This function represents our human tendency to give our power away through missed opportunities.

Function 6: Burn-out (1.7%)

3rd + 4th Positions
The burn-out function is the block that, once engaged and brought into conscious awareness, activates terror and hemorrhages our energy. As we age and start to experience all sides of ourselves, we inevitably trigger hidden insecurities that were residing deep in our unconscious mind. These negative experiences cause us to strategically split off from ourselves to avoid dealing with barrages of intense negative emotions and sensations. The bigger the fears and more triggering these events, the more complexity we add into the splintering of our essence. Ultimately we employ this strategy to find protection from perceived humiliation. As this strategy repeats itself continuously, we may convince ourselves we have “solved” our fears – only to push them further into the recesses of our own psyche. This phenomena often leads to a warped sense of self – where we have absolutely no idea who we are, what we like, where we are headed, or how to deal with uncertainty. This feeling of powerlessness and succumbing to burnout through avoidance behaviors is what colors our relationship to the block held within this function. This function represents our violent relationship to uncertainty.

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Subtypes

The subtypes in Attitudinal Psyche are patterns of focus on specific sub-attitudes that make up the attitudes. These subtypes manifest in behavior mainly through verbal communication, and can be best observed during extended conversation.

– Depth subtypes dig deeper by quickly rifling through the personal attitude valences (Xs+/Xs-, Xo+/Xo-).
– Self-focused subtypes overdo the self-positive or self-negative attitude valences (Xs+/Xs-).
– Others-focused subtypes overdo the others-positive or others-negative attitude valences (Xo+/Xo-).
– Method-focused subtypes overdo the impersonal attitude valences (Xr/Xp).
– Adaptation/obscuring-focused subtypes hide the personal attitude valences (Xs+/Xs-, Xo+/Xo-).

Behavioral Patterns

Depth Subtypes (1-1, 2-2, 3-3, 4-4):
– Switches quickly between self and others perspectives
– Goes in depth, explores all angles, finds more things to say from every vantage point
– Explain things further, responds well to more interest
– Has a lack of hiding, obscuring, or distracting in communication
– Bold and vulnerable in communicating their true opinions

Self-Focused Subtypes (1-2, 2-1, 3-4, 4-3):
– Self-centered, self-absorbed, prefers to shift conversations towards their own experiences
– Monologues and references past monologues to build the narrative
– Communicates their internal reactions to things
– Autobiographical
– Haughty and opinionated; magnifies their own perspective

Others-Focused Subtypes (1-3, 2-4, 3-1, 4-2):
– Over-involves themselves in other people’s opinions and reactions
– Listens, nit-picks, wonders, corrects, questions, and becomes intertwined with others
– Quickly changes and adjusts based on how others react
– Pries, draws attention to, and indulges in the reactions of others
– Catalogs information based on who it comes from

Method-Focused Subtypes (1-4, 2-3, 3-2, 4-1):
– Remains impersonal and detached from reactions taking place
– Picky about information and details surrounding the aspect
– Has other overarching motives unrelated to the conversation at hand
– Becomes blind to overt personal relating and individualizing when communicating
– Talks about the structure and framework of things rather than the affects they have on people

Adaptation/Obscuring (Zero) Subtypes (1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 4-0)
– Adapts to others in conversation
– Hides, suppresses, or dismisses overly penetrating questions
– Talks about universal, similar, and relatable experiences that feel “safe”
– Dampens their own reactions to others; underexaggerates how others reacted when retelling events
– Avoids giving away too many indications of their true opinions

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