The Two Pillars of Perceptual-Expression: A Psychextric Framework
By: OMOLAJA MAKINEE
Psychextrics is the emerging science of decoding behaviour by linking neurotype variants to emotional and expressive patterns. It proposes that much of what we call “intelligence,” “talent,” or “communication style” can be traced back to structural tendencies within the brain’s nuclei—particularly within the thalamus—that regulate how we perceive reality and how we express it.
At the heart of this framework are the two pillars of perceptual-expression:
- Oral Expression – how we externalise thought through speech in real time.
- Written Expression – how we externalise thought through writing, which allows revision, reflection, and deliberate structure.
Every individual sits somewhere along a spectrum within each pillar, ranging from literal to abstract expression.
The Four Core Configurations
When we map oral and written expression together, four primary configurations emerge:
- Literal Oral + Literal Written
- Individuals in this quadrant tend to value precision, clarity, and step-by-step reasoning.
- They thrive in technical communication, legal drafting, coding, or rule-based professions.
- Their strength lies in consistency; their challenge is in flexibility or metaphorical communication.
- Literal Oral + Abstract Written
- Individuals who may speak literally but write with remarkable imagination.
- These individuals often excel in creative writing, philosophy, or design work where abstract patterns can be carefully crafted.
- Their challenge is real-time conversation, which demands metaphorical or inferential leaps.
- Abstract Oral + Literal Written
- These individuals speak in metaphors, analogies, and imaginative flourishes but write with methodical precision.
- They are natural teachers, salespeople, or leaders—able to persuade with spoken charisma while grounding their ideas in structured documents.
- Their challenge lies in the gap between the vision they articulate and the more rigid structure of their written form.
- Abstract Oral + Abstract Written
- This group embodies the “pure abstract” style—philosophers, visionary artists, or spiritual teachers who think and communicate metaphorically across all forms.
- They excel in innovation, cultural critique, and imaginative thought.
- Their challenge is intelligibility: they may struggle to be understood by literal thinkers or in systems that reward rigid clarity.
Why This Matters: From Autism to Salesmanship
Although 2 and 3 provides a visible example of non-unison expression (literal speech paired with abstract writing, or vice versa). 1 and 2 can exists equally across the neurotypical and neurodivergent spectrum, where 2 can be common amongst certain spectrum of high-functioning autisms.
- Sales skills often correlate with Abstract Oral: the ability to inspire in speech but back it up with structured follow-up.
- Engineering and coding align with Literal Written: precision and reliability are key.
- Creative storytelling emerges strongly in Abstract Oral and/or Abstract Written.
- Diplomatic negotiation requires flexible movement between modes—abstract to inspire, literal to secure agreements.
In psychextric terms, these configurations arise from nuclei spectruming in the thalamus, where memory encoding, language processing, and expressive sequencing are distributed across literal–abstract axes.
The Two Pillars of Perceptual-Expression
| Expression Mode | Core Traits | Common Skills/Strengths | Overlaps & Extensions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Literal Oral | Clear, step-by-step, grounded in facts | Technical explanation, legal testimony, procedural teaching | Pairs with Literal Written → strong in law, coding, structured professions |
| Abstract Oral | Metaphorical, persuasive, visionary in speech | Sales, leadership, diplomacy, teaching, performance | When balanced with Literal Written → inspirational yet reliable; with Abstract Written → pure creativity and innovation |
| Literal Written | Structured, precise, rules-based | Engineering, coding, law, contract writing, technical documentation | Anchors abstract oral thinkers; provides follow-up clarity to persuasive speech |
| Abstract Written | Imaginative, metaphorical, non-linear | Creative writing, philosophy, design, cultural critique | Common in autism spectrum (Literal Oral + Abstract Written); overlaps with Abstract Oral in visionary storytelling |
Key Takeaways
- 1 + 2 (Literal Oral + Literal Written) exist equally across neurotypical and neurodivergent populations.
- 2 (Literal Oral + Abstract Written) is often visible in high-functioning autism, where literal speech masks imaginative written expression.
- Sales skills rely heavily on Abstract Oral, while engineering and coding anchor in Literal Written.
- Creative storytelling flourishes in Abstract Oral and/or Abstract Written modes.
- Diplomatic negotiation thrives in the overlap zone, where abstract inspiration is backed by literal clarity.
In psychextrics terms, these patterns reflect nuclei spectruming in the thalamus, where the brain distributes expression along literal–abstract axes across both oral and written modalities.
Individuality as the Product of Dual Spectrums
By recognising the two pillars of perceptual-expression, psychextrics offers a framework for understanding individuality. No one is “good” or “bad” at communication in a vacuum; rather, each person’s skillset emerges from the interplay of their oral and written expression styles.
- The scientist who speaks awkwardly but writes with precision.
- The teacher who speaks fluidly but struggles to put it into writing.
- The artist whose speech and writing both overflow with metaphor.
- The lawyer whose literal command of speech and writing makes them formidable in court.
These combinations explain why two equally intelligent people may succeed in entirely different arenas. They also show why misunderstandings—even between people with the same language and accent—are so common: their neurotype pulls them toward different expressive defaults.
Toward a Psychextrics Future
Understanding these pillars not only helps us decode human difference but also reframes how we design education, work environments, and AI systems. If AI tools can harmonise between literal and abstract modes—translating metaphor into clarity, or vice versa—they can act as mediators of the Equal Voice, ensuring that no cognitive style is marginalised.
In this light, individuality is not erased but contextualised: your particular configuration is not a flaw but a psychextrics signature, one that determines where your strengths will shine and where support may be needed.
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