VG/AH Theory Glossary

José’s Definitions:

Receptive Empathic Field (REF): The part of an individual’s so-called “Sixth Sense” which is directed inward to the individual.

Projective Empathic Field (PEF): The part of an individual’s so-called “Sixth Sense” which is directed outward from the individual.

VG Empathic Field (VGEF): One of two types of EF which is mostly Receptive in nature and has a much smaller Projective component.

AH Empathic Field (AHEF): One of two types of EF which is mostly Projective in nature and has a much smaller Receptive component.

VG: roughly speaking, a person who has qualities associated with ADD (Primarily Inattentive Type), regardless of whether or not they have been formally diagnosed. A more precise definition is a person with a VGEF.

AH: roughly speaking, a person who has qualities associated with ADHD (Hyperactive-Impulsive Type), regardless of whether or not they have been formally diagnosed. A more precise definition is a person with an AHEF

AI (or “Agricultural-Industrialist”): a person who is neither an AH nor a VG.


Hartmann’s Definitions:

Thalamic Gain: The relative amount of sensory input regulated by the Thalamus.

Hunter (or “Closed-Faucets”): [C]raves stimulation, lives for the party, loves to perform in front of people, is into skydiving or roller coasters, and consumes hot peppers with enthusiasm... A more precise definition is a person with a Low Thalamic Gain.

Farmer (or “Open-Faucet”): [are] inundated by sensory input, just wants to be left alone, doesn’t generally speak up, appreciates subtle things such as fine art and classical music, and is quick to dismiss the closed-faucets as boors or egomaniacs. A more precise definition is a person with a High Thalamic Gain.

Normal: ...falls in the middle between these two extremes (i.e., closed and open faucets). They have enough sensory input to satisfy them, so they don’t go out of their way to create more for themselves, yet they’re not so overpowered by it that they feel the need to withdraw. A more precise definition is a person with a Moderate Thalamic Gain.


Aron’s & Silverman’s Definitions:

VSL (or “Visual-Spatial Learner” - according to Silverman & Sword)

ASL (or “Audio-Sequential Learner” - according to Silverman & Sword)

HSP (or “Highly Sensitive Person” - according to Elaine Aron)

HSS (or “High Sensation Seeker” - according to Aron & Zuckerman):

HSP / Non-HSS: Usually reflective and tend to be happy with a quiet life; not impulsive, not seeing too much reason to take risks.

HSS / Non-HSP: Usually curious, eager, impulsive, quick to take risks, and easily bored, not aware of subtetlies.

Non-HSP / Non-HSS: Low in curiosity. Low in tendency to reflect deeply, just living their lives in a simple, natural way.

HSP / HSS: Certainly have the versatility, a combination of the HSP’s vision and the HSS’s drive, but their optimal level of arousal is very narrow because they are easily overwhelmed and easily bored; they are often conflicted, in that they want new experiences but do not want to be overaroused or take big risks. “It feels like have one foot on the gas and one on the brakes.”


Overexcitabilities (according to Dabrowski):

Psychomotor: An excess of energy that may be expressed as a love of movement, rapid speech, impulsiveness and restlessness.

Sensual: Heightened sensory awareness (e.g. touch, taste, smell). May be expressed as desire for comfort or a sharp sense of esthetics.

Imaginational: Vivid imagery, use of metaphor, visualizations, and inventiveness. May also include vivid dreams, fear of the unknown, poetic creativity, or love of fantasy.

Intellectual: Persistence in asking probing questions, love of knowledge, discovery, theoretical analysis and synthesis, independence of thought. This is not the same as IQ, which is the ability to solve a problem. Intellectual overexcitability is the love of solving the problem.

Emotional: Expressions might include deep relationships, concern with death, feelings of compassion and responsibility, depression, need for security, self-evaluation, shyness, and concern for others.


The Temperaments:

There are four categories and two choices within each category:

1. Extrovert vs. Introvert: Extroverts are energized by the outside world (people and things), while Introverts are energized by being alone with their internal thoughts.

2. Sensory vs. INtuitive: How a person takes in information. Sensors focus on the five senses: that which can be seen, touched, heard, felt, taste...and are more concrete and literal thinkers. INtuitives seem to use a “sixth sense” to gain a global perspective at the expense of detail. Sensors see the trees, iNtuitives see the forest.

3. Thinking vs. Feeling: The type of decision-making a person prefers. Thinkers are logical and more hard-headed, while Feelers are more personal and prefer subjective values to dry logic. (Thinkers are not smarter.)

4. Judging vs. Perceiving: Judgers are convergent thinkers who focus on getting things done while Perceivers are divergent thinkers who tend to be more exploratory.


Therefore, there are a total of sixteen temperament types. The first major subdivision is distinguishing the Sensory types [Guardians (SJ) & Artisans (SP)] from the INtuitive types [Rationals (NT) & Idealists (NF)].

Then, each of these two subcategories are subdivided, yielding four main groups. The Sensory type is subdivided into Judging subtype (Sj) and Perceiving (Sp) subtype. In contrast, the iNtuitive type is instead further subdivided along the lines of Thinking (NT) and Feeling (NF).


SJs - Guardians / Traditionalists
eSfJ: “The Provider”
iSfJ: “The Protector”
eStJ: “The Supervisor”
iStJ: “The Inspector”

SPs - Artisans / Experiencers
eSfP: “The Performer”
iSfP: “The Composer”
eStP: “The Promoter”
iStP: “The Crafter”


NTs - Rationals / Conceptualizers
eNTj: “The Fieldmarshall”
iNTj: “The Mastermind”
eNTp: “The Inventor”
iNTp: “The Architect”


NFs - Idealists
eNFj: “The Teacher”
iNFj: “The Counselor”
eNFp: “The Champion”
iNFp: “The Healer”


Autism Society’s Definitions:

ASD (or “Autistic Spectrum Disorder”): A disorder such as Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder (Not Otherwise Specified), Rett’s Disorder, or Childhood Disintegrative Disorder.

NA (or “Neuro-Atypical”): a person who has an ASD.

NT (or “Neuro-Typical”): a person who does not have an ASD.

Aspie: a person with Asperger’s Disorder.

Autism: A complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life. The result of a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain, autism and its associated behaviors have been estimated to occur in as many as 1 in 500 individuals (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1997). Autism is four times more prevalent in boys than girls and knows no racial, ethnic, or social boundaries. Family income, lifestyle, and educational levels do not affect the chance of autism’s occurrence.

Autism impacts the normal development of the brain in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. Children and adults with autism typically have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities. The disorder makes it hard for them to communicate with others and relate to the outside world. In some cases, aggressive and/or self-injurious behavior may be present. Persons with autism may exhibit repeated body movements (hand flapping, rocking), unusual responses to people or attachments to objects and resistance to changes in routines. Individuals may also experience sensitivities in the five senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste.


Types of ASDs (according to the American Psychiatric Association):

Autistic Disorder: characterized by impairments in social interaction, communication, and imaginative play prior to age 3 years. Stereotyped behaviors, interests and activities.

Asperger’s Disorder: characterized by impairments in social interactions and the presence of restricted interests and activities, with no clinically significant general delay in language, and testing in the range of average to above average intelligence.

Pervasive Developmental Disorder (Not Otherwise Specified) (or “Atypical Autism”): a diagnosis of PDD-NOS may be made when a child does not meet the criteria for a specific diagnosis, but there is a severe and pervasive impairment in specified behaviors.

Rett’s Disorder: a progressive disorder which, to date, has occurred only in girls. Period of normal development and then loss of previously acquired skills, loss of purposeful use of the hands replaced with repetitive hand movements beginning at the age of 1-4 years.

Childhood Disintegrative Disorder: characterized by normal development for at least the first 2 years, significant loss of previously acquired skills.

Footnotes:

1. Autism is a spectrum disorder. In other words, the symptoms and characteristics of autism can present themselves in a wide variety of combinations, from mild to severe. Although autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors, children and adults can exhibit any combination of the behaviors in any degree of severity. Two children, both with the same diagnosis, can act very differently from one another and have varying skills.

2. There is no standard “type” or “typical” person with autism. Parents may hear different terms used to describe children within this spectrum, such as: autistic-like, autistic tendencies, autism spectrum, high-functioning or low-functioning autism, more-abled or less-abled.


Merriam Webster Definitions:

Saccade : a small rapid jerky movement of the eye especially as it jumps from fixation on one point to another (as in reading)