Labile type - psychopathy and character accentuation in adolescents - lichko a.e. Types of accentuations Labile type of accentuation
With hidden accentuation, the features of a certain type of character are weakly expressed or do not appear at all, however, they can be clearly manifested under the influence of specific situations. Character accentuations can contribute to the development of psychogenic disorders, situationally caused pathological behavioral disorders, neuroses, psychoses.
However, it should be noted that character accentuation should by no means be identified with the concept of mental pathology.
There is no rigid boundary between conditionally normal, “average” people and accentuated personalities. Identification of accentuated personalities in a team is necessary to develop an individual approach to them, for professional orientation, to assign a certain range of duties to them, with which they are able to cope better than others (due to their psychological predisposition).
The main types of accentuation of characters and their combinations:
The hysteroid or demonstrative type, its main features are egocentrism, extreme selfishness, an insatiable thirst for attention, a need for veneration, approval and recognition of actions and personal abilities.
Hyperthymic type - a high degree of sociability, noisiness, mobility, excessive independence, a tendency to mischief.
Asthenoneurotic - increased fatigue during communication, irritability, a tendency to anxious fears for one's fate.
Psychosthenic - indecision, a tendency to endless reasoning, love of introspection, suspiciousness.
Schizoid - isolation, secrecy, detachment from what is happening around, inability to establish deep contacts with others, lack of sociability.
Sensitive - shyness, shyness, resentment, excessive sensitivity, impressionability, a sense of inferiority.
Epileptoid (excitable) - a tendency to recurring periods of dreary-evil mood with accumulating irritation and the search for an object on which to vent anger. Thoroughness, low speed of thinking, emotional inertness, pedantry and scrupulousness in personal life, conservatism.
Emotionally labile - an extremely changeable mood, fluctuating too sharply and often from insignificant reasons.
Infantile-dependent - people who constantly play the role of an "eternal child", avoid taking responsibility for their actions and prefer to delegate it to others.
Unstable type - a constant craving for entertainment, pleasure, idleness, idleness, lack of will in study, work and the performance of one's duties, weakness and cowardice.
character accentuation
Usually, when trying to evaluate or characterize a particular person, they talk about his character (from the Greek. charakter - printing, chasing). In psychology, the concept of "character" means a set of individual mental properties that develop in activity and manifest themselves in modes of activity and behavior typical for a given person.The main feature of character as a mental phenomenon is that character is always manifested in activity, in relation to a person to the surrounding reality and people.
Character is a lifetime formation and can be trans-formed throughout life. The formation of character is closely connected with the thoughts, feelings and motives of a person. Therefore, as a certain way of life of a person is formed, his character is also formed. Therefore, lifestyle, social conditions and specific life circumstances play an important role in the formation of character.
The formation of character takes place in groups that are different in their characteristics and level of development (family, friendly company, class, sports team, work team, etc.). Depending on which group is the reference group for the individual and what values this group supports and cultivates, a person develops appropriate character traits. Character traits are understood as the mental properties of a person that determine his behavior in typical circumstances.
There are many classifications of character traits. In the domestic psychological literature, two approaches are most often encountered. In one case, all character traits are associated with mental processes, and therefore volitional, emotional and intellectual traits are distinguished. At the same time, volitional character traits include determination, perseverance, self-control, independence, activity, organization, etc. Impulsiveness, impressionability, ardor, inertia, indifference, responsiveness, etc. are referred to emotional character traits. curiosity, etc.
In another case, character traits are considered in accordance with the orientation of the personality. Moreover, the content of the orientation of the personality is manifested in relation to people, activities, the surrounding world and oneself. For example, a person's attitude to the world around him can manifest itself either in the presence of certain beliefs, or in unscrupulousness. This category of traits characterizes the life orientation of the individual, i.e., its material and spiritual needs, interests, beliefs, ideals, etc. The orientation of the personality determines the goals, life plans of a person, the degree of his life activity. In the formed character, the leading component is the system of beliefs. Conviction determines the long-term direction of a person's behavior, his inflexibility in achieving his goals, confidence in the justice and importance of the work he performs.
Another group of character traits are those that characterize a person's attitude to activity. This refers not only to the attitude of a person to a specific type of work performed, but also to activities in general.
In addition, a manifestation of a person's character is his attitude towards people. At the same time, such character traits as honesty, truthfulness, justice, sociability, politeness, sensitivity, responsiveness, etc.
No less indicative is the group of character traits that determine a person's attitude towards himself. From this point of view, people most often speak of egoism or altruism. The egoist always puts personal interests above the interests of other people. An altruist, on the other hand, puts the interests of other people above his own.
All personality traits of a person can be conditionally divided into motivational and instrumental. Motivational ones encourage and direct activity, while instrumental ones give it a certain style. However, when the goal is defined, the character acts more in its instrumental role, that is, it determines the means to achieve the goal.
It must also be emphasized that character is one of the main manifestations of personality. Therefore, personality traits may well be considered as character traits. Among such traits, firstly, it is necessary to include those personality traits that determine the choice of goals of activity (more or less difficult). Here, as certain characterological traits, rationality, prudence, or qualities opposite to them can appear. Secondly, the character structure includes traits that are manifested in actions aimed at achieving the set goals: perseverance, purposefulness, consistency, etc. In this case, the character approaches the will of a person. Thirdly, the composition of the character includes instrumental traits that are directly related to temperament, for example, extraversion - introversion, calmness - anxiety, restraint - impulsiveness, switchability - rigidity, etc.
The concept of "accentuation" was introduced into psychology by K. Leonhard. His concept of "accentuated personalities" was based on the assumption of the presence of basic and additional personality traits. There are much fewer main features, but they are the core of the personality, determine its development, adaptation and mental health. With a significant expression of the main features, they leave an imprint on the personality as a whole, and under adverse circumstances they can destroy the entire structure of the personality.
According to Leonhard, personality accentuations are primarily manifested in communication with other people. Therefore, evaluating communication styles, certain types of accentuations can be distinguished.
Later, the classification of characters based on the description of accentuations was proposed by A. E. Lichko. This classification is based on observations of adolescents. Accentuation of character, according to Lichko, is an excessive strengthening of individual character traits, in which deviations in human behavior that do not go beyond the norm, bordering on pathology, are observed. Such accentuations as temporary states of the psyche are most often observed in adolescence and early adolescence. Lichko explains this fact as follows: "Under the action of psychogenic factors that address the" place of least resistance ", temporary disturbances in adaptation, deviations in behavior may occur." When a child grows up, the features of his character that manifested themselves in childhood, while remaining quite pronounced, lose their sharpness, but over time they can again appear clearly (especially if a disease occurs).
The classification of character accentuations in adolescents, which was proposed by Lichko, is as follows:
1. Hyperthymic type. Adolescents of this type are distinguished by mobility, sociability, and a tendency to mischief. They always make a lot of noise in the events taking place around them, they love the restless companies of their peers. With good general abilities, they show restlessness, lack of discipline, and study unevenly. Their mood is always good and upbeat. With adults - parents and teachers - they often have conflicts. Such teenagers have many different hobbies, but these hobbies, as a rule, are superficial and pass quickly. Adolescents of the hyperthymic type often overestimate their abilities, are too self-confident, strive to show themselves, show off, impress others.
2. Cycloid type. It is characterized by increased irritability and a tendency to apathy. Adolescents with an accentuation of this type of character prefer to be at home alone, instead of going somewhere with their peers. They are hard going through even minor troubles, they react extremely irritably to comments. Their mood periodically changes from elated to depressed (hence the name of this type). Periods of mood swings are approximately two to three weeks.
3. Labile type. This type is characterized by extreme variability of mood, and often it is unpredictable. Reasons for an unexpected change of mood can be the most insignificant, for example, someone accidentally dropped a word, someone's unfriendly look. All of them are capable of sinking into despondency and a gloomy mood in the absence of any serious unpleasantness and failures. The behavior of these teenagers largely depends on the momentary mood. The present and the future, according to the mood, can be perceived either in bright or in gloomy colors. Such teenagers, being in a depressed mood, are in dire need of help and support from those who can improve their mood, who can distract, cheer up. They well understand and feel the attitude towards them of the people around them.
4. Asthenoneurotic type. This type is characterized by increased suspiciousness and capriciousness, fatigue and irritability. Especially often fatigue is manifested during intellectual activity.
5. Sensitive type. He is characterized by increased sensitivity to everything: to what pleases, and to what upsets or frightens. These teenagers do not like big companies, outdoor games. They are usually shy and timid in front of strangers and therefore are often perceived by others as closed.
They are open and sociable only with those who are familiar to them; they prefer communication with children and adults to communication with peers. They are distinguished by obedience and show great affection for their parents. In adolescence, such adolescents may have difficulty adapting to the circle of peers, as well as an "inferiority complex". At the same time, a sense of duty is formed quite early in these same adolescents, and high moral demands are made on themselves and on those around them. What they lack in ability, they often make up for in challenging activities and increased diligence. These teenagers are choosy in finding friends and buddies for themselves, find great affection in friendship, adore friends who are older than them.
6. Psychasthenic type. Such adolescents are characterized by accelerated and early intellectual development, a tendency to reflection and reasoning, to introspection and evaluation of the behavior of other people. However, they are often stronger in words than in deeds. Their self-confidence is combined with indecision, and peremptory judgments with haste of actions taken just at those moments when caution and prudence are required.
7. Schizoid type. The most essential feature of this type is isolation. These teenagers are not very attracted to their peers, they prefer to be alone, to be in the company of adults. They often demonstrate external indifference to the people around them, lack of interest in them, they poorly understand the state of other people, their experiences, they do not know how to sympathize. Their inner world is often filled with various fantasies, some special hobbies. In the external manifestations of their feelings, they are quite restrained, not always understandable to others, especially to their peers, who, as a rule, do not like them very much.
8. Epileptoid type. These teenagers often cry, harass others, especially in early childhood. Such children, as noted by Lichko, love to torture animals, tease the younger ones, and mock the helpless. In children's companies, they behave like dictators. Their typical features are cruelty, dominance, selfishness. In the group of children they control, such adolescents establish their own rigid, almost terrorist orders, and their personal power in such groups rests mainly on the voluntary obedience of other children or on fear. In the conditions of a tough disciplinary regime, they often feel at their best, try to please their superiors, achieve certain advantages over their peers, gain power, establish their dictate over others.
9. Hysteroid type. The main feature of this type is egocentrism, a thirst for constant attention to one's own person. Adolescents of this type often have a tendency to theatricality, posturing, and panache. Such children with great difficulty endure when in their presence someone praises their own comrade, when others are given more attention than themselves. For them, an urgent need is the desire to attract the attention of others, to listen to admiration and praise in their address. These adolescents are characterized by claims to an exclusive position among their peers, and in order to influence others, to attract their attention, they often act in groups as instigators and ringleaders. At the same time, being unable to become real leaders and organizers of the business, to gain informal authority for themselves, they often and quickly fail.
10. Unstable type. He is sometimes mischaracterized as the type of weak-willed, drifting person. Adolescents of this type show an increased inclination and craving for entertainment, and indiscriminately, as well as for idleness and idleness. They do not have any serious, including professional, interests, they almost do not think about their future at all.
11. Conformal type. Adolescents of this type demonstrate opportunistic, and often simply thoughtless, submission to any authorities, to the majority in the group. They are usually prone to moralizing and conservatism, and their main life credo is "to be like everyone else." This is a type of opportunist who, for the sake of his own interests, is ready to betray a comrade, to leave him at a difficult moment, but no matter what he does, he will always find a “moral” justification for his act, and often not even one.
Types of accentuation
Different researchers distinguish different accentuations. The classifications of K. Leonhard and A.E. Lichko, other classifications can be found in A.P. Egides, E.A. Nekrasova and V.V. Ponomarenko, N.I. Kozlov and other authors.In his work Accentuated Personalities, Karl Leonhard singled out ten pure types and a number of intermediate ones. Pure types:
Demonstrative (self-confidence, vanity, boasting, lies, flattery, focus on one's own Self as a standard). An analogue of the hysteroid type according to Lichko;
Emotive (kindness of heart, fearfulness, compassion). - An analogue of the labile type according to Lichko;
Hyperthymic (desire for activity, pursuit of experiences, optimism, focus on good luck);
Dysthymic (lethargy, emphasizing ethical aspects, worries and fears, focus on failure);
Labile (mutual compensation of traits, focus on various standards);
Anxious (fearfulness, timidity, humility);
Exalted (inspiration, elevated feelings, erection of emotions into a cult). Analogue of the labile type according to Lichko;
Pedantic (indecision, conscientiousness, hypochondria, fear of inconsistency with ideals). An analogue of the psychasthenic type according to Lichko;
Stuck (suspiciousness, resentment, vanity, transition from rise to despair); - an analogue of Ixotim, Viscous character according to Kretschmer. Another analogy is an epileptoid;
Excitable (temper, heaviness, pedantry, focus on instincts). An analogue of the epileptoid type according to Lichko.
The other two types - the extraverted and introverted type, were described by K. Leonhard as intermediate types, since they no longer relate so much to character as to the personal level.
Karl Leonhard is primarily a psychiatrist, and his classification of types of accentuation is closest not to healthy people, but to psychiatric practice. A.E. Lichko described to a greater extent mentally safe people and younger people, namely adolescents and young men.
According to the classification of A.E. Lichko, the following types of character accentuations can be distinguished:
Hyperthymic type;
Cycloid type;
Labile type;
Astheno-neurotic type;
sensitive type;
Psychasthenic type;
schizoid type;
epileptoid type;
hysterical type;
Unstable type;
Conformal type.
The Lichko system found further development as a typology of characters or psychotypes. They are described in the books of A.P. Egides, E.A. Nekrasova and V.V. Ponomarenko. A.P. Egides described healthy people and adults, and in his classification are paranoid, epileptoid, hysteroid, hyperthym and schizoid. We emphasize once again that these psychotypes have nothing in common with such diseases as paranoia, epilepsy, hysteria and schizophrenia. We are talking about terms that define the normal "personality pattern".
Types of character accentuations describe not only the character itself, but also the personality. Personality is a broader concept than character, it includes intellect, abilities, worldview... See Personality and character. As in the case of psychopathy, different types can be combined, or mixed, in one person, although these combinations are not arbitrary.
Adolescent accentuations
The relative stability of character traits is a less accessible reference point for assessment at this age; the life path is still too short. Any abrupt changes in adolescence should be understood as unexpected transformations of character, sudden and radical changes in type. If a very cheerful, sociable, noisy, restless child suddenly turns into a gloomy, withdrawn, fenced-off teenager from everyone or a gentle, affectionate, very sensitive and emotional child becomes sophisticatedly cruel, coldly calculating, callous to close young men, then all this is more likely just does not meet the criterion of relative stability, and no matter how expressed psychopathic traits, these cases are often beyond the scope of psychopathy.Usually accentuations develop during the formation of character and smooth out with growing up. Character traits with accentuations may not appear constantly, but only in certain situations, in a certain situation, and almost not be detected under normal conditions. Social maladaptation with accentuations is either completely absent or is short-lived.
Accentuations of character are extreme variants of the norm, in which certain character traits are excessively strengthened, as a result of which selective vulnerability is found in relation to a certain kind of psychogenic influences with good and even increased resistance to others.
Depending on the degree of severity, two degrees of character accentuation are distinguished: explicit and hidden.
obvious accentuation. This degree of accentuation refers to the extreme variants of the norm. It is distinguished by the presence of fairly constant traits of a certain type of character.
In adolescence, character traits are often sharpened, and under the influence of psychogenic factors that address the “place of least resistance”, temporary adaptation disorders and behavioral deviations may occur. When growing up, character traits remain quite pronounced, but they are compensated and usually do not interfere with adaptation.
hidden accent. This degree, apparently, should be attributed not to the extreme, but to the usual variants of the norm. In ordinary, habitual conditions, the features of a certain type of character are weakly expressed or do not appear at all. Even with prolonged observation, versatile contacts and detailed acquaintance with the biography, it is difficult to get a clear idea of a certain type of character. However, traits of this type can be clearly, sometimes unexpectedly, revealed under the influence of those situations and mental traumas that place increased demands on the “place of least resistance”. Psychogenic factors of a different kind, even severe ones, not only do not cause mental disorders, but may not even reveal the type of character. If such features are revealed, this, as a rule, does not lead to noticeable social maladjustment ...
Accentuations according to Leonhard
Leohard distinguished the following types of accentuation of character, temperament, personality:Demonstrative type. It is characterized by demonstrative behavior, liveliness, mobility, ease in establishing contacts, artistry. Prone to fantasy, posturing and pretense. It has an increased ability to repress, it can completely forget what it does not want to know about, which unchains it in a lie. Usually lies with an innocent face, because what he says, at the moment, is the truth for him; apparently, internally he is not aware of his lie, or he is aware without remorse. Lies, pretense are aimed at embellishing oneself. He is driven by a thirst for constant attention (even if negative) to his person. This type demonstrates high adaptability to people, emotional lability in the absence of really deep feelings, a tendency to intrigue (with an outwardly mild manner of communication).
Pedantic type. It is characterized by rigidity, inertness of mental processes, a long experience of traumatic events. Rarely enters into conflicts, at the same time it reacts strongly to any manifestations of a violation of order. Punctual, accurate, scrupulous, clean, conscientious. Assiduous, focused on high quality work and special accuracy, prone to frequent self-checks, doubts about the correctness of the work, formalism.
Stuck (affectively stagnant) type. This type is characterized by a high level of delay of affects - "gets stuck" on their feelings, thoughts, cannot forget insults, is inert in motor skills. Prone to protracted conflicts, clearly defines the circle of enemies and friends. Suspicious, vindictive. Shows great perseverance in achieving his goals.
Excitable type. This type is characterized by insufficient controllability, weakening of control over drives and impulses, increased impulsivity. This type is characterized by instinctiveness, anger, intolerance, and a tendency to conflict. There is a low contact in communication, heaviness of actions, slowness of mental processes. Work and study are not attractive to him, he is indifferent to the future. Lives entirely in the present. Increased impulsivity is extinguished with difficulty and can be dangerous to others. Can be imperious, choosing the weakest for communication.
Hyperthymic type. High spirits are combined with a thirst for activity, increased talkativeness, a tendency to constantly deviate from the topic of conversation. It is characterized by great mobility, sociability, and the severity of non-verbal components of communication. Everywhere they make a lot of noise, they strive for leadership. They have a high vitality, good appetite and healthy sleep. Self-esteem is increased, they are characterized by insufficiently serious attitude to their duties.
It is difficult to endure the conditions of strict discipline, monotonous activity, forced loneliness.
Dysthymic type. Differs in seriousness, depression of mood, slowness, weakness of strong-willed efforts. They are characterized by a pessimistic attitude towards the future, low self-esteem, low contact, and reticence. Often gloomy, inhibited, tend to be fixed on the shady sides of life. Conscientious, have a heightened sense of justice.
Affectively labile type. These are people who are characterized by a change in hyperthymic and dysthymic states, sometimes without visible external causes.
exalted type. Representatives of this type are characterized by a high intensity of the rate of increase in reactions, their external intensity; react more violently than others, and are easily delighted with joyful events and despair with sad ones. Exaltation is most often motivated by subtle, altruistic urges. Attached to family and friends. Joy for them, for their good fortune can be extremely strong. To the depths of their souls, they can be captured by love for art, nature, experiences of a religious order.
Anxious type. Representatives of this type are characterized by low contact, minor mood, fearfulness, self-doubt, touchiness. Anxious children are often afraid of the dark, animals, afraid to be alone. They shun active peers, feel a sense of timidity and shyness. Adult representatives of this type have a sense of duty and responsibility, high moral and ethical requirements. They are characterized by timidity, humility, inability to defend their position in a dispute.
Emotive type. It is characterized by sensitivity and deep reactions in the field of subtle emotions. This type is related to exalted, but its manifestations are not so violent. They are characterized by emotionality, sensitivity, empathy for people, responsiveness, kindness, impressionability. They rarely come into conflict, they carry grievances in themselves without splashing out. This type is characterized by a heightened sense of duty, diligence.
Extrovert type. It is characterized by an appeal to what comes from outside, the orientation of reactions to external stimuli. They are characterized by impulsive actions, the joy of communicating with people, the search for new experiences. Subject to other people's influence, their own opinions are not stable.
introverted type. Lives not so much with perceptions and sensations as with ideas. External events as such affect the life of such a person relatively little, much more important is what he thinks about them. If a reasonable degree of introversion contributes to the development of independent judgment, then a highly introverted person lives mostly in a world of unrealistic ideas. The favorite food for the thinking of introverts is the problems of religion, politics, philosophy. Unsociable, keeps aloof, communicates out of necessity, loves loneliness; immersed in himself, tells little about himself, does not reveal his experiences. Slow and indecisive in actions.
Accentuations according to Lichko
Leonhard's theory of accentuated personalities quickly proved its validity and usefulness. However, its use was limited by the age of the subjects - the questionnaire for determining accentuation is designed for adult subjects. Children and adolescents, having no relevant life experience, could not answer a number of test questions, so it turned out to be difficult to determine their accentuations.The solution of this problem was taken up by the domestic psychiatrist Andrey Evgenievich Lichko. He modified the Leonhard test for determining accentuations in order to use it in childhood and adolescence, revised the descriptions of types of accentuation, changed the names for some of them and introduced new types. A.E. Lichko considered it more appropriate to study accentuations in adolescents, since most of them are formed before adolescence and are most clearly manifested during this period. He expanded the descriptions of accentuated characters with information about the manifestations of accentuations in children and adolescents, and the change in these manifestations as they grow up. Peru A.E. Lichko owns the fundamental monographs "Adolescent Psychiatry", "Psychopathies and Character Accentuations in Adolescents", "Adolescent Narcology".
A. E. Lichko was the first to suggest replacing the term “personality accentuations” with “character accentuations”, arguing that it is impossible to combine all the personal characteristics of a person with the definition of only accentuation. Personality is a much broader concept, including worldview, features of upbringing, education, and response to external events. The character, being an external reflection of the type of the nervous system, serves as a narrow characteristic of the characteristics of human behavior.
Accentuations of character according to Lichko are temporary changes in character that change or disappear in the process of growth and development of the child. However, many of them can turn into psychopathy or persist for life. The path of development of accentuation is determined by its severity, the social environment and the type (hidden or explicit) of accentuation.
Like Karl Leonhard, A.E. Lichko considered accentuations to be a variant of character deformation, in which some of its features become excessively pronounced. This increases the sensitivity of the individual to certain types of influences and makes it difficult to adapt in some cases. At the same time, in general, the ability to adapt remains at a high level, and with certain types of influences (which do not affect the “places of least resistance”), accentuated personalities cope more easily with ordinary ones.
A.E. Lichko considered accentuations as borderline states between the norm and psychopathy. Accordingly, their classification is based on the typology of psychopathy.
A. E. Lichko identified the following types of accentuations: hyperthymic, cycloid, sensitive, schizoid, hysteroid, conformal, psychasthenic, paranoid, unstable, emotionally labile, epileptoid.
Hyperthymic type
People with this accentuation are great tacticians and bad strategists. Resourceful, enterprising, active, easily oriented in rapidly changing situations. Thanks to this, they can quickly improve their official and social position. However, in a distant time, they often lose their position due to the inability to think through the consequences of their actions, participation in adventures and the wrong choice of comrades.
Active, sociable, enterprising, the mood is always good. Children of this type are mobile, restless, often play pranks. Inattentive and poorly disciplined, teenagers of this type learn in an unstable way. Often there are conflicts with adults. They have many superficial hobbies. They often overestimate themselves, strive to stand out, earn praise.
Cycloid type
Cycloid character accentuation according to Lichko is characterized by high irritability and apathy. Children prefer to be alone at home instead of playing with their peers. Hardly experiencing any troubles, irritated in response to comments. The mood changes from good, upbeat, to depressed with a frequency of several weeks.
When growing up, the manifestations of this accentuation usually smooth out, but in a number of individuals they may persist or get stuck for a long time in one stage, more often oppressed melancholy. Sometimes there is a connection of mood changes with the seasons.
sensitive type
It is highly sensitive to both joyful and frightening or sad events. Teenagers do not like active, outdoor games, they do not play pranks, they avoid big companies. They are timid and bashful with strangers, give the impression of being closed. With close friends can be good comrades. They prefer to communicate with people younger or older than them. Obedient, love parents.
Perhaps the development of an inferiority complex or difficulty with adaptation in a team. They make high moral demands on themselves and the team. They have a developed sense of responsibility. Assiduous, prefer complex activities. They are very careful in choosing friends, they prefer older ones.
Schizoid type
Adolescents of this type are closed, they prefer loneliness or the company of elders to communicate with their peers. Defiantly indifferent and not interested in communicating with other people. They do not understand the feelings, experiences, the state of others, do not show sympathy. They also prefer not to show their own feelings. Peers often do not understand them, and therefore are hostile to schizoids.
hysteroid type
Hysteroids are distinguished by a high need for attention to themselves, egocentrism. Demonstrative, artistic. They do not like it when in their presence they pay attention to someone else or praise others. There is a high need for admiration from others. Adolescents of the hysterical type tend to occupy an exceptional position among their peers, draw attention to themselves, and influence others. Often they become the initiators of various events. At the same time, hysteroids are unable to organize those around them, cannot become an informal leader, or earn authority from their peers.
Conmorphic type
Children and adolescents of the conformal type are distinguished by the lack of their own opinion, initiative, and criticality. They willingly submit to a group or authority. Their attitude to life can be characterized by the words "be like everyone else." At the same time, such teenagers are prone to moralizing and are very conservative. In order to protect their interests, representatives of this type are ready for the most unseemly acts, and all these acts find an explanation and justification in the eyes of a conforming personality.
Psychasthenic type
Adolescents of this type are characterized by a tendency to reflection, introspection, evaluation of the behavior of others. Their intellectual development is ahead of their peers. Their indecisiveness is combined with self-confidence, judgments and views are categorical. In moments when special care and attention are needed, they are prone to impulsive actions. With age, this type changes little. Often they have obsessions that serve as a means of overcoming anxiety. It is also possible to use alcohol or drugs. In relationships, they are petty and despotic, which interferes with normal communication.
paranoid type
The types of character accentuation according to Lichko do not always include this variant of accentuation due to its late development. The main manifestations of the paranoid type appear by the age of 30-40. In childhood and adolescence, such individuals are characterized by epileptoid or schizoid accentuation. Their main feature is an overestimation of their personality, and, accordingly, the presence of overvalued ideas about their exclusivity. These ideas differ from delusional ones in that they are perceived by others as real, albeit exaggerated.
Unstable type
Adolescents show an increased craving for entertainment, idleness. There are no interests, life goals, they do not care about the future. Often they are characterized as "going with the flow".
Emotionally labile type
Children are unpredictable, with frequent and violent mood swings. The reasons for these differences are minor trifles (an oblique look or an unfriendly phrase). During periods of bad mood, they require the support of loved ones. They feel good about themselves around them.
epileptoid type
At an early age, such children are often whiny. In the older one, they offend the younger ones, torture animals, mock those who cannot fight back. They are characterized by dominance, cruelty, pride. In the company of other children, they strive to be not just the main, but the ruler. The groups they govern are brutal, autocratic. However, their power rests to a large extent on the voluntary submission of other children. They prefer the conditions of strict discipline, they know how to please the leadership, to seize prestigious positions that make it possible to exercise power, to establish their own rules.
Diagnosis of accentuations
The most modern method for diagnosing accentuation is the Lichko questionnaire. It is called MPDO (Modified Pathocharacterological Diagnostic Questionnaire) and consists of 143 statements. The questionnaire is a modification of Lichko's methodology for identifying character accentuations; Initially, the technique was used in clinical practice, and the examination procedure was a complex time-consuming process (from half an hour to an hour and a half - for the examination of one subject). The questionnaire is a lightweight form of the methodology; when filling out the questionnaire, the subject is asked to mark the most appropriate out of 143 statements. Each of the statements corresponds to a particular type of accentuation. Subsequently, based on the answers, a graph is built that reveals which of the types of accentuation is the main one and which are additional.Using the Lichko questionnaire, it should be remembered that its main task is to identify accentuations in adolescents. The application of this technique to adults is obviously incorrect and can hardly claim reliable results.
Special attention deserves such a concept as "the place of least resistance." It represents a weak point that is present in every type of character accentuation. Hidden accentuation, which does not appear continuously, very clearly makes itself felt when a person finds himself in situations that actualize the “place of least resistance” in character.
For example, the place of least resistance for the unstable type will be the need to perform routine painstaking work for an extended period of time. It is at such moments that accentuations appear brightly, and according to the picture of manifestations, they can even look like a pathology of character.
In general, we can say that accentuation is a double-edged sword, this phenomenon has both its positive and its negative sides. In fact, a person with an accentuation of character has pronounced abilities in some areas at the expense of vulnerability in others.
Schizoid accentuation
How to recognize a schizoid-accented person? Such people, first of all, are distinguished by a lack of desire and inability to communicate with others. People with this character simply do not feel the need for social contacts, they prefer loneliness, fence themselves off from the outside world, withdraw into themselves. Their behavior and personality traits are full of contradictions. The rich inner world of such people is not outwardly manifested in any way; with rational thinking, illogical behavior can be detected. The schizoid is able to simultaneously show unreasonable antipathy and excessive affection, tactlessness and shyness, importunity and unsociableness, perseverance and apathy. Emotionally, such people, against the background of external coldness, may show increased sensitivity, stubbornness is often combined with pliability. An important characteristic feature of schizoid accentuation is the lack of intuition, the ability to use unconscious experience. Such people are not able to empathize, feel the mood of other people and the attitude of others around them. There are two subtypes of schizoid accentuation.sensitive type
These are people with a very fragile inner world, with painful sensitivity. They do not tolerate criticism in their address, a rude attitude, they remember for a long time and replay insults in their heads. Such people are extremely wary of the world around them, therefore they have a limited circle of attachments. They are distinguished by painful pride, daydreaming, they are acutely experiencing their own misdeeds and failures. This type of people is characterized by limiting the number of daily duties, a conscientious and thorough attitude to work. Sensitive schizoids quickly get out of balance under the influence of external factors. At the same time, they are even more fenced off from the surrounding reality, they show distrust, a depressed mood, and become lethargic.
Expansive type
It is difficult for an expansive schizoid to win the sympathy of others, these are people with a bad temper, cruel, heartless, incapable of empathy, absolutely indifferent to the lives of other people. This type of person in a relationship shows coldness, determination, demanding adherence to principles, behaves dryly, officially. He does not particularly consider the opinions of others, is not inclined to hesitate and doubt when making decisions. However, under the mask of arrogance lies self-doubt, dissatisfaction and vulnerability. In critical situations, people of the expansive-schizoid type are prone to impulsive actions, angry outbursts, violent behavior, sometimes even to the manifestation of delusional experiences. In communication, such a person often falls into lengthy discussions, interferes in other people's business, gives advice left and right, because he does not feel the boundaries of morality well and always puts his “I” in the foreground. The extreme degree of expansive schizoidness is manifested by despotic inclinations.
This type is easy to distinguish from other types - it is all in sight. If you see an energetic, cheerful, cheerful, full of energy person, and if this is not a momentary, not spontaneous, but a permanent state of his personality, then you can safely attribute it to the hyperthymic type. Too sharp, painful manifestation of these traits in psychiatry is called a hypermanic state.
People hyperthymic type they love noisy, large companies, where they usually find themselves in the spotlight, they often act as toastmasters, ringleaders of the evening, willingly and a lot telling tales, anecdotes and jokes. With such a person it is usually fun and interesting, you will not get bored with him. He constantly comes up with new stories and games, is the center and soul of the company.
Usually, people of this type have equally well developed thoughts, feelings and volitional components of behavior. Therefore, in all manifestations, such people are fast. They think quickly, speak quickly and make decisions just as quickly, which, however, can be reckless.
They look at life easily and naturally. Jokingly they overcome sadness and despondency. In life, they are optimists and look forward optimistically. Their environment is often amazed, seeing the versatility and diversity of their interests, flexibility of thinking, richness of thoughts, spiritual generosity, kindness and genuine responsiveness.
Due to the seething energy, thirst for activity, restlessness at work, they can achieve significant success in the professional field. The achievement of success is also facilitated by a free mind, ease of approach to problems that give impetus to creative non-standard solutions, a variety of ideas and solutions. They are witty inventors, successful politicians, clever swindlers. They sometimes jokingly climb to the top of the social ladder, but rarely stay on it for a long time - for this they lack seriousness and constancy, writes P. B. Galushkin.
But too restless character, speed and variety of thoughts interfere with constancy, concentration in work, lead to jumps in ideas and unfinished business.
If the hyperthymic temperament is too pronounced, many of the advantages of this person turn into the category of shortcomings. So, talkativeness and sociability turn into talkativeness, such a person interferes with his pestering and talking on inappropriate topics anywhere and at any time. The ease of attitude to life and excessive gaiety prevent him from understanding many of the problems and moments of life when it is necessary to be serious, responsible and have a sense of duty.
That speed, ease, ease with which a person of a hyperthymic type approaches life problems leads to superficiality and instability in views and interests, to a lack of zeal and constancy in work, and enterprise and a wealth of ideas lead to manilovism, building castles in the air. Many of the promises he makes go unfulfilled, so his promises often cannot be trusted. He can be sharp-tongued when someone hurts his pride, because he has a very high opinion of himself.
Such people are closely within the framework of the law, they, without noticing it, violate it, but often, thanks to their extraordinary abilities, they get out of the most difficult situations that they find themselves in by virtue of their character.
Sometimes a thirst for adventure and a passion for risky activities lead them to major scams and scams.
These people are burdened by situations of loneliness, monotonous activities and environments, unhurried analysis and decision-making, strict discipline and strict rules.
character accentuation or personality accentuation- excessive strengthening of individual character traits. This feature of a person determines behavior and actions, leaves an imprint on all spheres of her activity: attitude towards herself, towards others, towards the world. Accentuation is an extreme version of the norm and is not considered a mental disorder or disease.
Prevalence. Personality accentuations are widespread, especially among adolescents. Among young people, explicit or hidden accentuations are found in 95% of those surveyed. With age, people will be able to smooth out unwanted features, and the number of accentuations is reduced to 50-60%.
The benefits and harms of accentuations. On the one hand, an accentuated trait makes a person more stable and successful in some situations. For example, people with hysterical accentuation are talented actors, and people with hyperthymic accentuation are positive, sociable and can find an approach to any person.
On the other hand, an accentuated character trait becomes a vulnerable spot of a person, complicates life for himself and those around him. Situations that are not significant for other people turn into a test for the psyche. For example, people with a hypothymic type of accentuation experience difficulties if it is necessary to get to know each other and make contact.
There is a danger that in difficult situations these enhanced character traits can develop into psychopathy, cause neurosis, become the cause of alcoholism, illegal behavior.
In what cases can accentuations develop into pathology
- Unfavorable environmental conditions that hit the accentuated feature as the weakest point, for example, for conformal accentuation, is the rejection of a person in a team.
- Long-term impact of this factor.
- The impact of an unfavorable factor during the period when a person is most vulnerable. Most often it is junior classes and adolescence.
How do accentuations differ from psychopathy?
Reasons for the formation of accentuations. It is believed that the formation of accentuations is influenced by the innate properties of temperament. So a person born choleric is prone to developing excitable accentuation, and a sanguine person to hyperthymic. The strengthening of certain character traits occurs in childhood and adolescence under the influence of chronic psycho-traumatic situations (constant humiliation by peers) and the peculiarities of education.Degrees of personality accentuations
- Explicit- manifests itself in a person's behavior in most situations, but does not violate his ability to adapt to various social situations (acquaintance, conflict, communication with friends).
- Hidden- does not manifest itself in life, can be detected only in critical situations that affect accentuated character traits.
Psychologists began to deal with the problem of personality accentuations in the second half of the twentieth century. Therefore, in matters of classification, diagnosis and correction, many controversial issues remain.
Types of accentuation
There are many character traits, and each of them can be overly enhanced. It is the accentuated features that determine the type of personality and character traits, make a person different from others. We give short descriptions of the main types of personality. hysteroid type
In other classifications demonstrative type of. Widespread among women. It is especially pronounced in adolescence and young age. Distinctive features:- Eagerness to get attention surrounding to his person. They seek attention by all means - actions, manner of dressing and speaking, appearance. They demand from others respect, surprise, sympathy, in extreme cases, anger. Appearance bright, attractive. Even in the absence of outstanding external data, they know how to look spectacular.
- Increased emotionality. They are highly sensitive and responsive. At the same time, they easily endure mental pain, grief and resentment, although they demonstrate strong emotions. Some emotions are quickly replaced by others. There is a tendency to envy and jealousy. They do not tolerate if the attention of others switches to another person.
- Artistry manifests itself in all life situations. Easily get used to any role, which facilitates adaptation to new situations. They differ in arrogant facial expressions and mannered postures.
- developed imagination and figurative thinking. They believe in what they have imagined. Suggestible. They are fond of applied magic, they believe in horoscopes. They tend to advertise and exaggerate their victories in their personal lives.
- fearful. They tend to exaggerate the danger.
- Positive features: open to communication, easily establish contact with a new person. They adapt well to new situations. They have an active life position. The desire for fame becomes a powerful motivator, which contributes to success in creative professions (actors, singers, dancers, artists).
- Flaws: excessive emotionality, an overly sharp reaction to all events relating to one's own personality, while indifference to the problems of others. Difficulties that have arisen along the way make you abandon your plan. Do not tolerate routine work. They can easily get sick on a nervous basis - psychosomatic diseases develop. Loss of authority can lead to suicidal thoughts. They provoke conflicts, based on the desire to be in the spotlight.
epileptoid type
In other classifications excitable personality type. People with this accentuation, just like hysteroids, seek to attract attention to themselves. But they do it not so defiantly, but with the help of stuttering, coughing, complaints. Distinctive features:- Discontent and irritability. prone to negative emotions. Constantly grumbling, complaining. They fixate on the bad and think about the problem for a long time, while dissatisfaction grows until it spills out in the form of a major quarrel. The behavior model of such people is compared to a steam boiler, the temperature of which increases until an explosion occurs. After discharge, they cannot calm down for a long time. This feature distinguishes them from other types. In family life, they show despotism, arrange frequent scandals over trifles.
- Tendency towards the established order in things, deeds and relationships. They do not like changes, permutations. They keep order themselves and force others, especially family members and subordinates. Clutter can lead to a big fight. Emphasis is placed on rationality, not purity.
- Easy attitude to moral standards. In actions, they are guided only by their own opinion, therefore they can cross the norms of morality, especially in a fit of anger. They can be rude, show disrespect for elders, physical violence towards children and animals. At the same time, they will not even notice the misconduct, and will not be tormented by remorse.
- Structured thinking. When making decisions, they are guided by common sense and logic. However, this does not prevent them from reaching fits of rage if their desires are not fulfilled. They don't consider alternatives. They believe that their point of view is the only correct one.
- incredulity, based on critical thinking. They don't take their word for it, they demand proof. Do not trust strangers. They do not believe in horoscopes and predictions.
- It is difficult to adapt to a new situation.
- Positive features: scrupulousness, increased accuracy, taking care of one's health, the ability to receive benefits, the ability to defend one's interests. In a calm state, they show extreme kindness and care for family members and animals. Energetic and active in matters of maintaining order, which can become part of the profession - managers, managers, housekeepers.
- Flaws violent fits of anger, after which they cool down for a long time, gloom, intolerance to contradictions, lack of respect for other people's opinions. These aspects of character provoke dissatisfaction with others, frequent conflicts in the family and at work. Possible addiction to alcohol, sexual perversion, sadistic inclinations.
Schizoid type
People with a schizoid accentuation are secretive, uncommunicative and outwardly cold. However, this accentuation rarely leads to adaptation disorders. Distinctive features:- Closure. They do not know how and do not want to communicate with others. Strive for loneliness. After trying to make an acquaintance, they note that they have nothing to talk about with a person, which causes disappointment and withdrawal into themselves.
- Combination of conflicting properties: shyness and tactlessness, sensitivity and indifference, compliance and stubbornness.
- Lack of intuition about feelings other people. They cannot understand whether the interlocutor treats them well or badly, how he reacted to their words.
- The inability to empathize. Indifferent, do not show emotions in communication.
- Secretive do not show their inner world. Open only to like-minded people.
- Unusual interests and hobbies. Reading literature of a certain genre, drawing churches, calligraphy, sometimes collecting (for example, only flower stamps).
- Positive features: developed fantasy, creativity, creativity, passion for non-team sports to improve your body (cycling, yoga), playing musical instruments (guitar, violin).
- Flaws. Sometimes there may be a penchant for peeping or exhibitionism, they may take small doses of alcohol or soft drugs to overcome shyness in communication.
- Cycloid type of. Accentuation causes a periodic change in mood (duration of periods from several days to 2 weeks). Distinctive features:
- undulating mood swings. Each phase can last 1-2 weeks. Sometimes there are breaks in "balance" between them. Cycloid accentuation is common in adolescents and smoothes out with age.
- Rise periods- a person full of energy and desire to work. At this time, the cycloids are cheerful and sociable, striving for leadership, achieving success in school and at work. They do not tolerate loneliness, boredom, monotony.
- Recession periods or subdepression- mood and performance are sharply reduced. There is no desire to communicate, do anything, drowsiness develops. They strive for loneliness, entertainment loses its appeal. Become too sensitive to criticism and vulnerable. Self-esteem is sharply reduced, thoughts about their uselessness, inferiority appear.
- Positive features: in the lifting phase, a person is full of strength and desire to work and communicate.
- Flaws. Low activity in the decline phase. In the event that the subdepressive phase is prolonged, thoughts of suicide may arise. Under adverse circumstances, accentuation can develop into bipolar disorder.
- paranoid type. Formed late - by the age of 30. Its main characteristics are perseverance and perseverance in achieving goals. People with a paranoid accent feel bad and are afraid of what others will think of them if they find out about their nature. As a result, they often experience fear and shame. Two personalities coexist in them, they consider one worthless and despise it. The second is perceived as ideal and omnipotent. Between these two poles there is an exhausting internal conflict. Distinctive features:
- Projection of one's own character traits onto other people. They attribute their thoughts and intentions to them. This leads to the fact that they see in others anger, envy. Constantly trying to recognize the malevolence in the behavior of others.
- Focus on self. Selfish, constantly thinking about themselves, experiencing their own internal conflict.
- Over-sensitivity to comments criticism, rejection.
- grumpiness and the constant desire to defend their rights, even if they were not infringed.
- Unreasonable jealousy, suspicions of conspiracies.
- Failure to refuse. They do not know how to say "no", but prefer to make promises and not keep them.
- A penchant for exclusivity and uniqueness in clothes and hobbies.
- Positive features: persistent and purposeful. They have non-standard thinking, are smart, well-read. They are able to analyze and foresee the result of their own and others' actions. They have a sense of style. They can deny themselves excesses for the sake of an idea.
- Flaws: a tendency to hypercontrol over loved ones, suspicion, disgust for people.
- Unstable (rampant) type of. People with an unstable type are distinguished by a desire to have fun. Distinctive features:
- Laziness and weakness. It's hard to force yourself to do something that isn't enjoyable. Under any pretext, they shirk from work or imitate labor activity.
- The instability of emotions. Any event causes a short burst of emotions. Therefore, they need frequent changes of impressions.
- The need for strict control. Only the knowledge that the result of their work will be controlled can force them to complete the task. However, strict control makes them want to run away or quit.
- Tendency to obey an informal leader. They show lack of independence even in the search for entertainment. They follow the lead of others, do what they are offered.
- Positive features. Carelessness, curiosity, an optimistic view of the future.
- Flaws. The constant search for thrills increases the risk of developing drug addiction and alcoholism. They love speed, which increases the risk of accidents when driving a car or motorcycle. prone to gambling.
labile type
People have frequent unpredictable mood swings that occur on any insignificant occasion (did not like the tone or look of the interlocutor). Distinctive features:- mood swings. Mood swings are sharp and deep. People are not just upset, they fall into despair, and after half an hour they can experience sincere joy. Their well-being and performance, their idea of their own future and the structure of the world largely depend on these differences. So, if a person is in high spirits, then he feels great, is friendly even to unfamiliar people, and looks to the future with optimism. If the mood has fallen, then everything becomes negative.
- High sensitivity to praise and criticism. Praise causes joy and stimulates new achievements, but criticism can cause discouragement and abandonment of activities.
- Sociability. They are drawn to their peers, in dire need of communication. They become attached to people and suffer greatly from the breakdown of relationships.
- Positive features: sincere, direct, positive, devoted. This accentuation rarely passes into the phase of psychopathy.
- Flaws. It is difficult to endure losses, have extremely low stress resistance. Not ready to deal with difficulties, they may abandon the goal.
Conformal type
People with a conformal type accentuation tend to trust and follow their surroundings. Distinctive features:- Obedience to the opinion of the majority. They tend to agree with the opinion of the majority in the group to which they belong. There is no critical thinking, they do not analyze how the group decision correlates with the norms of morality, law.
- fashion following. Adhere to fashion trends in clothing, choosing a hobby or profession.
- The desire to be "like everyone else." The unwillingness to stand out from the group stimulates to be no worse than others in study and work. At the same time, they do not have a desire to take the place of a leader, to become better than the majority.
- Conservatism. Tend to adhere to the established order imposed by the majority.
- It's hard to break up with the group. Expulsion from the group, conflict with its leaders and loss of authority cause serious psychological trauma.
- Positive features. Successful in a positive environment. This accentuation rarely becomes the basis of mental disorders.
- Flaws. They do not show independence, independence, initiative. Feel hostility to people of other nationalities, to strangers in the group. Once in a bad company, they follow the lead, consume drugs and alcohol, and break the law.
Astheno-neurotic type
People with an astheno-neurotic type of accentuation are characterized by fatigue, irritability and a tendency to hypochondria. Distinctive features:- Difficulty with mental and physical stress(exams, dissertation defense, competitions). Severe fatigue causes mental and emotional stress. They also experience fatigue from noisy companies, outdoor activities. Try to avoid stress as much as possible.
- Irritability, appearing on the background of fatigue. Its manifestations are short-term and not too strong outbursts of anger, which are associated with increased fatigue of the nervous system. Against this background, sleep worsens and appetite disappears.
- Tendency to hypochondria is characteristic of this type of accentuation. They like to be treated, they are happy to observe bed rest, listen to bodily sensations. They note the connection - the higher the state of health, the better the state of the nervous system. And against the background of a nervous shock, a real, and not far-fetched, disease can develop.
- Positive features. Attachment to loved ones, kindness, good intellectual development, conscientiousness.
- Flaws. The risk of developing neurosis and neurasthenia, they react painfully to jokes addressed to them, high fatigue prevents them from studying well and working productively.
Psychasthenic type
People with psychasthenic accentuation are prone to introspection. Distinctive features:- Reflection- attention is directed inward. They tend to analyze their feelings, actions, emotions.
- indecisiveness. Avoid situations in which you have to make a choice.
- Striving to live up to expectations, which lays on them family, friends, superiors. A developed sense of responsibility, combined with increased fatigue, causes a constant internal conflict between “should” and “can”, which depletes mental strength.
- The development of obsessions. Obsessive thoughts, memories, fears, actions, rituals, superstitions that appear regardless of a person’s desire and cause negative emotions.
- Feelings towards the future. They fear that misfortune may happen to them or their loved ones in the future.
- Pedantry. Strictly follow the rules. These rules can be generally accepted (traffic rules, fire safety) or invented by them. The goal is to keep yourself out of trouble.
- Positive features: kindness, affection for loved ones, adherence to moral principles, high intelligence, developed imagination.
- Flaws: indecision, tendency to obsessive-compulsive disorder.
- Hyperthymic type of. The main feature of people with a hyperthymic type of accentuation is optimism, and short-term outbursts of anger are very rare. Distinctive features:
- A good mood often without good reason - a hallmark of hyperthyms, which makes them the soul of the company.
- Energetic, active, hardy. Everything is done quickly. Sometimes the quality of work can suffer.
- chatty. They like to tell, exaggerate, sometimes embellish the truth.
- Sociable. They love to chat and make new friends. Strive to command. They love jokes and pranks.
- Positive features: high vitality, optimism, endurance to physical and mental stress, stress resistance.
- Flaws: illegibility when choosing acquaintances, the risk of regular consumption of alcoholic beverages. Restless, do not like work that requires accuracy. Wasteful, can borrow and not give back. Among people with hyperthymic accentuation, there is an addiction to petty theft.
sensitive type of
Very sensitive, yet reliable, serious and silent. Mostly depressed mood.- Impressionability. Even in adulthood, they remain extremely susceptible to all external stimuli. They endure stress and conflicts very hard, they endure them for a long time.
- Difficulties in managing yourself in stressful situations. If this situation drags on, they can flare up a lot. Which they later regret. In critical situations, they are capable of courageous deeds.
- Lack of self-esteem. In their imagination they draw a strict “I-ideal”, they worry that they do not correspond to it in real life.
- Pessimism. They see the future in gloomy colors.
- Anxiety about the attitude of others around them. They worry about what other people will think of them. They are afraid of criticism and ridicule.
- Positive features: conscientiousness, diligence, fidelity.
- Flaws: passivity, unpredictability in a stressful situation.
Combinations of types of accentuations
O mixed accentuations they say when not one, but several traits are enhanced in a person’s character. It is these options that are found in the vast majority of cases of accentuations.The most common mixed character accentuations:
- Hyperthymic + conformal;
- Labile + cycloid;
- Sensitive + schizoid;
- Sensitive + astheno-neurotic + psychasthenic;
- Hysteroid + epileptoid.
Classification of accentuations according to Leonhard
The German psychologist Karl Leonhard divided all character traits into basic and additional. The main ones are the core of the personality. They are responsible for her mental health. If one of these features is strengthened (accentuated), then it determines the behavior of a person. When exposed to adverse factors, pathology can develop.| Group | Type of accentuation | Characteristic |
| temperament like a natural formation | emotive | Kind, compassionate, humane, appreciates close friends, peace-loving, executive, has a heightened sense of duty. But at the same time it is distinguished by timidity, tearfulness and shyness. |
| Affectively exalted | Sociable, amorous, distinguished by good taste, attentive to loved ones, altruistic, capable of high feelings. But at the same time, he is prone to panic, gets lost under stress, and is prone to mood swings. | |
| Affectively labile | Soft, vulnerable, capable of empathy, has high moral principles. But he is prone to sharp cyclic mood swings that determine his relationship with people. Does not tolerate loneliness, indifference, rudeness. | |
| alarming | Friendly, loyal, executive, self-critical. The mood is often lowered, timid, does not defend his interests, needs support. | |
| Dysthymic (hypothymic) | Conscientious, serious, laconic, appreciates friends. But at the same time, an individualist, closed, prone to pessimism, passive. | |
| Hyperthymic | Sociable, optimistic, active, hardy, hardworking, does not lose control in stressful situations. Frivolous, rarely brings what he started to the end. Does not tolerate loneliness and strict control. | |
| Types of accentuations related to character how to social education | Excitable | It is characterized by mood swings and violent outbursts of anger. In a calm state, caring, conscientious, accurate. During outbursts of anger, he does not control his condition well, is irritable. |
| stuck | Responsible, stress-resistant, stubborn, hardy, makes high demands on himself and others. But at the same time suspicious, touchy, boring, jealous, somewhat conflicted. He does not tolerate when someone else claims to be in his place. | |
| Pedantic | Neat, strictly adheres to the rules, reliable, conscientious, peaceful. But boredom, grumbling, not work - bureaucracy are often noted. | |
| Demonstrative | Artistic, charismatic, sociable, has a developed imagination, strives for leadership. But at the same time, he is vain and prone to lies, selfish. He does not tolerate when he is not paid attention, suffers if his authority is undermined. | |
| Types of accentuations related to personalities generally | extroverted | Sociable, friendly, attentive, executive, always ready to listen, does not pretend to be a leader. But at the same time, he is talkative, frivolous, easily falls under the influence of others, prone to rash impulsive acts. |
| introverted | Principled, restrained, immersed in his inner world, morally developed, distinguished by a rich imagination. But at the same time, closed, stubborn, defends his point of view, even if it turns out to be wrong. He does not tolerate interference in his personal life. |
Classification of accentuations according to Lichko
Soviet psychiatrist Andrey Lichko considered accentuations as temporary enhancements of character traits that can appear and disappear in childhood and adolescence. At the same time, he recognized the possibility of preserving accentuations for life and their transition to psychopathy. Since Lichko considered accentuations to be a borderline option between the norm and psychopathy, his classification is based on the types of psychopathy.| Type of accentuation | Characteristic |
| Hyperthymic | Cheerful, active, optimistic, self-confident, striving for leadership, resourceful, enterprising. Cons: frivolous, restless, inattentive, not responsible enough for his duties, sometimes irritable. |
| Labile | Empathy is well developed, feels the emotions of others and their attitude towards themselves. Experiencing severe mood swings on minor occasions. Needs the support of loved ones. |
| Cycloid | Cyclical ups and downs in mood. The frequency is several weeks. In periods of upswing, sociable, energetic, joyful, energetic. During the recession - apathetic, irritable, sad. |
| Astheno-neurotic | Disciplined, meticulous. Increased mental fatigue is noted, which makes a person irritable and overly concerned about his health. |
| Psychasthenic (anxious and suspicious) | Intellectually developed. He is prone to reflection, introspection, evaluation of his actions and the actions of others. Inflated self-esteem is combined with indecision. In times of crisis, he can make rash acts. Cons: petty, despotic, prone to the development of obsessive actions. |
| sensitive (sensitive) | High sensitivity to joyful and frightening moments. Obedient, assiduous, responsible, calm, makes high moral demands on himself and others. Cons: unsociable, suspicious, whiny, hard to adapt to a new team. |
| Epileptoid (inert-impulsive) | Strives for leadership, loves to set the rules, enjoys authority with management and among peers. It tolerates harsh discipline well. Cons: can offend the weak, establishes cruel orders, irritable. |
| Schizoid (introverted) | Closed, prefers loneliness or communication with elders. Cons: indifferent, incapable of showing sympathy and empathy. |
| Unstable | Sociable, open, courteous, eager to have fun. Cons: laziness, unwillingness to work and study. Prone to alcohol, drugs, gambling. |
| Hysteroid (demonstrative) | Artistic, impulsive, enterprising, sociable, loves attention, seeks to take a leading position, but is not able to achieve authority. Cons: self-centered, prone to lies. Behavior is unnatural and pretentious. |
| Conformal | There is no criticality and initiative, he is inclined to obey the opinion from the outside. Strives to be different from the rest of the group. For the sake of the group, he can commit unseemly acts, while he is inclined to justify himself. |
| Paranoid | Characteristic features develop by the age of 30. In childhood, he manifests himself as a teenager with an epileptoid or schizoid accentuation. Self-esteem is significantly overestimated, ideas about their exclusivity and genius appear. |
| Emotionally labile | Suffers from frequent and severe mood swings, needs support, feels the attitude of people towards him well. Cons: emotionally unstable. |
Character accentuation test according to Shmishek
The personality questionnaire, developed by G. Shmishek, is designed to identify character accentuations. It is based on the classification of accentuations developed by Leonhard. The adult character accentuation test according to Shmishek consists of 88 questions. Each of them must be answered yes (+) or no (-). It is not recommended to think about questions for a long time, but to answer as it seems at the moment. The children's version of the test is similar and differs only in the wording of the questions.Each of the 88 questions characterizes some accentuated feature.
- Hyperthymia
- distimity
- Cyclothymicity
- Excitability
- Jam
- emotivity
- Exaltation
- Pedantry
- demonstrativeness
| Scale | 1 point is awarded for | Coefficient | |
| Answer "yes" | The answer is "no" | ||
| Hyperthymia | 1, 11, 23, 33, 45, 55, 67, 77 | 3 | |
| distimity | 9, 21, 43, 74, 87 | 31, 53, 65 | 3 |
| Cyclothymicity | 6, 18, 28, 40, 50, 62, 72, 84 | 3 | |
| Excitability | 20, 30, 42, 52, 64, 75, 86 | 3 | |
| Jam | 2, 15, 24, 34, 37, 56, 68, 78, 81 | 12, 46, 59 | 2 |
| emotivity | 3, 13, 35, 47, 57, 69, 79 | 25 | 3 |
| Exaltation | 10, 32, 54, 76 | 6 | |
| Anxiety | 6, 27, 38, 49, 60, 71, 82 | 5 | 3 |
| Pedantry | 4, 14, 17, 26, 36, 48, 58, 61, 70, 80, 83 | 39 | 2 |
| demonstrativeness | 7, 19, 22, 29, 41, 44, 63, 66, 73, 85, 88 | 51 | 2 |
- 0-6 - the trait is not expressed.
- 7-12 - the trait is moderately expressed;
- 13-18 - the severity is above average;
- 19-24 - accentuated feature.
Features of accentuation in adolescents
Personality accentuations are formed in adolescence. In the same period, they appear especially brightly. The reason for this is the impulsiveness of adolescents, the inability to control their emotions and actions. These or other personality accentuations are present in 90-95% of adolescents. The very presence of an enhanced character trait is not dangerous, but it makes a teenager extremely sensitive to external situations and internal conflicts, and affects relationships with parents and peers. The same accentuations under adverse conditions can cause offenses, and with the right approach and the right choice of profession, they will help to achieve success in life.
It is important for parents to know about the presence of character accentuation in a teenager in order to help him adapt to life, to build a parenting style that will be as effective as possible. The task of parents is to develop qualities and skills in a teenager that will smooth out an accentuated character trait.
hysteroid type
"Stars of the class", activists, participate in all events. They differ in artistry and desire to stand out from the background of others. They don't like it if the praise goes to someone else. They exaggerate emotionally react to all events (they sob sobbing in front of the audience).Distinguishing feature. Playing for the public, a constant need for attention, recognition or sympathy.
Characteristic
As long as they feel loved and all the attention is on them, there are no behavioral problems. In everyday life, they attract attention in all possible ways. This is a defiant behavior, an expressive manner of speaking and bright clothes. Take credit for accomplishments. They can boast that they drank a lot, ran away from home. They often lie, mostly fantasies concern their own person. They can’t stand it when the attention of others switches to others (a newcomer to the class, a newborn, a stepfather). They can take actions to get rid of a competitor, “out of spite” to do things that their parents will obviously not like. In words, they defend independence, sometimes with scandals, but they need guardianship and do not seek to get rid of it.
Problems
Often, behavioral problems are an attempt to get the attention of parents. They have suicidal tendencies, but the goal is not to commit suicide, but to avoid punishment or achieve sympathy. Suicide attempts are demonstrative and not dangerous. Easily amenable to suggestion, they run the risk of falling into a "bad" company. They can drink alcohol, but in small quantities. There are cases of minor offenses (fraud, absenteeism, petty theft). Demonstrative and frivolous behavior, revealing clothing and a desire to show one's adulthood can provoke sexual violence.
Positive sides. If they are set as an example, they become very diligent. They study well, especially in the lower grades. Artistic, successful in dancing, vocals, conversational genre.
How to interact
- Encourage only good things to say about others.
- Praise only for real achievements.
- Give a task - help a peer to be in the spotlight. For example, prepare a number in which someone else will be the soloist.
epileptoid type
Personality properties are due to the passivity of the processes occurring in the nervous system. Adolescents with such an accentuation are touchy and get stuck on offense for a long time.Distinctive feature. Periods of intense irritability and hostility to others, lasting up to several days.
Characteristic
Adolescents with epileptoid accentuation are stubborn and uncompromising in nature. They are vindictive and do not forget insults. In the first place put personal interests, do not take into account the opinions of others. The company tries to become leaders by uniting the younger and the weak around them. Since they are despotic, their power rests on fear. The process of growing up is problematic. Teenagers can demand not only freedom, but also their share of property. Sometimes they get angry and cry for hours. Strong emotions provoke bouts of anger and aggression. During seizures, teenagers are looking for a “victim” on whom they can pour out their emotions. During these attacks, they can reach sadism.
Problems.
Suicidal attempts as a reaction to "unfair" punishment. They tend to drink alcohol in large quantities "before memory loss." They do not remember the actions that they perform in this state. But rarely consume other toxic drugs. During puberty, they experience a strong sexual desire, which can lead to the development of perversions. There is a predilection for setting firecrackers and making fires.
Positive sides.
Discipline, accuracy. They know how to win over teachers. They feel comfortable in conditions of strict discipline (boarding school, camp). They love and know how to make things.
How to interact
- Provide security and peace of mind to reduce irritability and aggression.
- Require strict adherence to the rules established at home (do not give unsolicited advice, do not interrupt). This will allow parents to get the status of "strong" in the eyes of a teenager.
Schizoid type
This type of accentuation manifests itself even at preschool age: children prefer playing alone to communicating with peers.Distinctive feature isolation, immersion in a fantasy world.
Characteristic
They prefer to fantasize, to engage in their own hobby, as a rule, highly specialized (they mold soldiers from plasticine, embroider birds). They do not know how and do not want to establish emotional contact and communicate. They do not express their emotions. Closed, do not share their experiences, do not reveal their inner world. Consciously choose loneliness and do not suffer from the absence of friends. Difficulties in communication are associated with a lack of understanding of the feelings of others: “I don’t know if this person likes me, how he reacted to my words.” At the same time, they are not interested in the opinion of others. Not able to rejoice with friends or empathize with someone else's grief. They are not tactful, they do not understand when to remain silent, and when to insist on their own. Speech is florid, statements are often with subtext, which further complicates communication.
Problems. A tendency to take narcotic drugs may develop to enhance fantasies and immersion in their invented world. Occasionally they can commit illegal acts (theft, damage to property, sexual violence), and they think through their actions to the smallest detail.
Positive sides. Developed fantasy, rich inner world, stable interests.
How to interact
- Encourage classes in a theater studio - this will help a teenager learn to express emotions, actively use facial expressions. Encourage dance and martial arts or other sports that train plasticity. They will teach you to control your body, make movements less sharp and angular.
- Encourage you to be in the center. A teenager should periodically feel like an animator in charge of entertaining others. For example, by entertaining his younger brother and his friends, he will learn to speak loudly and emotionally. Learn to read the reaction to your actions.
- Instill a sense of style. It is necessary to teach a teenager to take care of his appearance and fashion.
- Cycloid. In adolescence, cheerful, sociable and active children have long (1-2 weeks) periods of low mood, loss of strength, and irritability. They are called the subdepressive phase. During these periods, adolescents are no longer interested in past hobbies and communication with peers. Problems begin in studies due to a decrease in working capacity.
Characteristic
A lack of perseverance, patience and attention leads to the fact that adolescents with cycloid accentuation do poorly in monotonous scrupulous work. In the subdepressive phase, changes in the usual way of life are poorly tolerated. Become very sensitive to failure and criticism. Their self-esteem drops significantly. They look for and find shortcomings in themselves, they are very upset about this. During periods of recovery, they do not like loneliness - they are open, friendly and need to communicate. The mood rises, there is a thirst for activity. Against this backdrop, performance improves. During periods of recovery, they try to catch up with the lost time in studies and hobbies.
Problems.
Serious problems in a teenager in the subdepressive stage can cause an emotional breakdown or even provoke a suicide attempt. They do not tolerate total control, they can escape in protest. Absences from home can be both short and long. During periods of recovery, they become promiscuous in acquaintances.
Positive sides: during the recovery period, conscientiousness, accuracy, reliability, high productivity.
How to interact
It is necessary to be as tolerant and tactful as possible, especially when a teenager is going through a subdepressive phase.
- Protect from emotional overload.
- Avoid rudeness and insults, as this can provoke a serious nervous breakdown.
- During periods of recovery, you need to help direct the energy in the right direction. Support a teenager in his hobby, teach him to plan his time and finish what he started.
- Support in the negative phase, increase his self-esteem, cheer him up. Convince that the bad period will end soon.
Distinctive feature- high purposefulness.
Characteristic
Sets a goal and looks for means to achieve it. In adolescence, hostility towards others, as the main feature of this accentuation, does not manifest itself in any way. Future accentuation can give out an exaggerated sense of self-worth, ambition and perseverance. Also characteristic is "stuck", when a teenager cannot move away from a state of affect (strong negative emotions) for a long time.
Unstable or unrestrained.
Such teenagers from childhood are distinguished by disobedience and unwillingness to learn. They need strict control. Fear of punishment is the main incentive to study and fulfill duties.Distinguishing feature - weak will, laziness and desire to have fun.
Characteristic
They love pleasure, need frequent changes of impressions. Avoid any work under various pretexts. This is especially noticeable when it is necessary to study or fulfill instructions from parents. Only communication with friends seems attractive to them. On this basis, they run the risk of falling into an asocial company. Easily succumbed to negative influences.
Problems associated with the desire to have fun. On this basis, they begin to drink early and use various intoxicants. The risk of developing drug addiction and alcoholism is quite high. “For fun” they can skip school, steal cars, break into other people’s apartments, commit theft, etc. They have a tendency to wander.
Positive sides. Striving for positive emotions, cheerfulness.
How to interact
- They need strict control. This applies to everything from homework to the quality of errands.
- Management by the "carrot and stick" method. Decide in advance what penalties will be imposed for failure to complete tasks, and what bonuses the teenager will receive for quality work.
- Encourage active sports and other ways to release energy.
Labile
Frequent and rapid mood swings from delight and wild fun to despondency and tears. Often the reasons for changing the mood are the most insignificant (bad weather, tangled headphones).Distinctive feature- Mood volatility for minor reasons.
Characteristic
During periods of good mood, adolescents are talkative, active, and set to communicate. But any little thing can ruin their mood and piss them off. At the same time, they can burst into tears, easily go into conflict, become lethargic and withdrawn.
Problems.
Very dependent on people they value (close friends, parents). The loss of a loved one or his location, separation from him, causes affect, neurosis or depression. A bad mood can cause a deterioration in well-being up to the development of real diseases (bronchial asthma, diabetes mellitus, migraine, nervous tics). Very badly endure criticism and reproaches from teachers, parents, close friends. They become withdrawn, react with tears.
Positive sides. Often talented. They have deep inner peace. Capable of strong affection and sincere friendship. Appreciate people for being kind to them. During periods of good mood, they are full of energy, desire to communicate, learn and engage in hobbies. Empathy is developed - they accurately feel the attitude of others towards them.
How to interact
- Show empathy and openness in communication. Let your teenager know that you share his feelings.
- Give the opportunity to take care of the weaker, take care of younger family members, volunteer.
- Encourage to expand the circle of communication, get acquainted with peers in extracurricular activities.
Conformal
Extremely susceptible to outside influences. Change their minds and behavior to please others. Afraid to stand out from the crowd.Distinctive feature conformity, the desire to please others.
Characteristic
The main desire to "be like everyone else" is manifested in clothes, demeanor, interests. If all friends are into breakdancing, such a teenager will also do it. If the immediate environment (parents, friends) is prosperous, then such teenagers are no different from the rest and the accentuation is practically not noticeable. If they fall under bad influence, they can break the rules and the law. The loss of friends is hard to bear, but they can betray a friend for the sake of someone more authoritative. Conservative, do not like changes in all areas. They rarely show initiative.
Problems
Having contacted a bad company, they can become drunk, addicted to taking drugs. To avoid being accused of cowardice, they may commit acts that endanger their health or harm other people. The prohibition to communicate with the company can provoke a scandal with parents or run away from home.
Positive sides. Appreciate their surroundings. Attached to friends. They love stability and order.
How to interact
- Offer to make your own choice, without relying on someone else's opinion.
- Make sure that the teenager is involved in various teams, has the opportunity to communicate with peers at school, in sports sections, circles. This reduces the likelihood that he will be in bad company.
- To help choose authorities who are truly worthy of emulation.
Astheno-neurotic
Teenagers with such an accentuation are characterized by increased fatigue and irritability.Distinctive feature- fears for their health, increased fatigue.
Characteristic
Mental and emotional stress quickly tire them. The result is irritability when teenagers vent their anger at whoever is at hand. Immediately after this, they become ashamed of their behavior, they sincerely repent, ask for forgiveness. Outbursts of anger are short and not strong, which is associated with low activity of the nervous system. Prone to hypochondria - listen to bodily sensations, perceiving them as signs of illness. They like to be examined and treated. Get attention with complaints.
Problems- high fatigue, the risk of developing neurosis.
Positive sides. Kindness, sympathy, high intelligence. Such teenagers do not run away from home, hooliganism and other illegal actions.
How to interact
- Ignore outbursts of anger that occur against the background of nervous exhaustion.
- Praise for success and notice even minor achievements, which will become a serious motivation.
- Encourage to play sports, do morning exercises, take a contrast shower to increase the efficiency of the nervous system.
- Use peak productivity periods (from 10 to 13) to complete the most difficult tasks.
Psychasthenic
Such adolescents are characterized by: suspiciousness, a tendency to introspection and fear of the future.Distinctive feature high demands on oneself and the fear of not living up to the expectations of others.
Characteristic
This type of accentuation is formed if parents place too high hopes on their child in school or sports. Failure to meet their expectations leaves an imprint on the character. These teenagers have low self-esteem, they are tormented by guilt and fear of failure, which can further disappoint their parents. Teenagers suffer from increased anxiety. They are afraid, no matter how something terrible and irreparable happens to them or their loved ones. Pedantry develops as a defense mechanism. Adolescents draw up a detailed plan of action, believe in omens, develop rituals that should ensure success (not washing your hair before an exam).
Problem. The risk of developing anxiety, obsessive thoughts and actions that are prone to complications.
Positive sides. In critical situations, they quickly find the right solution, are capable of a bold act. Obedient, non-confrontational, as a rule, they are quite successful in their studies, they become good friends.
How to interact
- Model frightening situations and offer to find a solution on your own. For example: “Let’s say you got lost in a strange city. What will you do?"
- Teach a constructive approach to problem solving. What to do? Who to turn to for help? What should I do to prevent what happened from happening again?
Hyperthymic
They are characterized as cheerful, noisy, restless. It is difficult for them to focus on their studies and maintain discipline at school. Often become informal leaders among peers. They do not tolerate strict control by adults, they constantly fight for independence.Distinctive feature- optimism and high spirits, which often pushes them to pranks.
Characteristic
Very sociable, quickly become the center of any company. They do not bring the matter to the end, they are not constant in their hobbies. It is easy to make and break promises. Despite good abilities, they study mediocrely. They easily provoke conflicts, but they themselves can make amends for them. They quickly find peace of mind after failures and quarrels. Outbursts of anger are short lived.
Problems- unable to perform routine work that requires perseverance and intense attention. Illegible in the choice of acquaintances. If such teenagers find themselves in an unfavorable situation, they may develop an addiction to alcohol and soft drugs. They can commit illegal and antisocial acts (vandalism, hooliganism, petty theft). They are characterized by early sexual relations. Prone to risk, extreme hobbies and gambling. Once in conditions of control and strict discipline (hospital, summer camp) they can escape.
Positive sides. Energetic and tireless. They are distinguished by fun, do not lose optimism in difficult circumstances. They find a way out in any situation.
How to interact
The task of adults is to teach a teenager with hyperthymic accentuation to discipline and self-organization.
- Avoid total control.
- Advise the teenager to keep a diary in which it is necessary to write down their plans for the day and independently control their implementation.
- Come up with a punishment for each unfinished business.
- Teach to maintain order on the table, in the closet, in the room. This will stimulate the teenager to systematize and analyze everything that happens.
sensitive type
Signs of this accentuation can be seen in childhood. The sensitive type is manifested by numerous fears that replace each other.Distinctive feature- hypersensitivity.
Characteristic
Teenagers deeply and for a long time experience everything that happens. Praise and criticism are deeply embedded in their memory, and have a significant impact on their self-esteem, behavior and actions. Very shy and for this reason uncommunicative. It is difficult to get used to the new team. They quickly get tired of mental work. Tests and exams cause them considerable stress. They are also very worried about ridicule from their peers. Dreamy, introspective. Conscientious, have a developed sense of duty. Be sure to finish what you started. They are very worried about the result of their actions (control, actions).
Problems. Tendency to self-flagellation and the development of phobias. Tearfulness. Excessive demands on oneself can cause neurosis. A chain of failures can trigger a suicide attempt.
Positive sides. Diligent in studies, responsible attitude to all tasks. Strive to become a good friend, value loved ones.
How to interact
- Increase self-esteem and self-confidence. To do this, it is important to give feasible tasks that will not be too simple, otherwise their solution will not cause self-respect.
- Conduct long conversations to establish contact with a teenager.
- Deserved praise and thanks. Keep criticism to a minimum. Do not criticize qualities, do not hang labels - "lazy", "sloppy". Instead, indicate what needs to be done.
- Encourage auto-training. Repeat formulas to increase self-esteem: “I feel calm and confident”, “I am brave and confident”, “I am a great speaker.”
Factors influencing the formation of personality accentuations
In the vast majority of cases, accentuation is formed in childhood or adolescence. Her appearance is significantly influenced by inharmonious relationships with parents and conflicts with peers. - Overprotection and control by parents and teachers. Promotes the appearance and aggravation of psychasthenic, sensitive, asthenic accentuation;
- Lack of care and parental attention increases the risk of developing hysterical, unstable and conformal personality traits:
- Cruel attitude excessive severity and authoritarian style of communication provokes an increase in epileptoid features;
- Excessive demands on the child leads to psychasthenic character accentuation;
- Lack of emotional contact can cause an increase in labile, sensitive and asthenic features;
- Over-emphasis on well-being and chronic diseases disrupting the normal way of life. Physical defects, defects in appearance and diseases of the nervous system play an important role. The result may be hysteroid or astheno-neurotic accentuations;
- Serious conflicts with peers in adolescence, when communication is most significant, can cause the development of conformal or schizoid accentuation.
- Inability to satisfy basic needs for love, care, security, communication;
- Lack of concepts about moral and cultural norms, interests and hobbies;
- Wrong self-image inferiority complex, high self-esteem;
- Professional factors. Accentuations associated with work often occur among actors, teachers, doctors of some specialties, law enforcement officers and the military;
- genetic predisposition. Features of the functioning of the nervous system are transmitted from parents to children. This is especially true for hyperthymic, cycloid and schizoid accentuation. Therefore, if parents have an accentuated character trait, then it is highly likely that it will be found in the child. Improper upbringing and parental behavior can significantly enhance innate accentuated features.
Techniques for the treatment of accentuations of various types
Treatment of accentuation is based on the smoothing of enhanced features. Correction is necessary if the accentuation of the personality violates its social adaptation. If normally a person changes his behavior depending on the situation and the goals of the activity, then people with a pronounced accentuation constantly demonstrate an enhanced character trait that interferes with themselves and those around them. Although the character cannot be changed, a person can learn to restrain its negative manifestations. This can help work on yourself and psychocorrection. Work on yourself
People with character accentuation rarely seek help from a psychologist, preferring independent work.To correct accentuated traits, training is needed that develops character traits opposite to the accentuated one. At the same time, new models of behavior are mastered and the personality is harmonized.
To correct pronounced character accentuations, exercises have been developed that must be performed daily.
- hysteroid type
- "Calm Quiet Speech". Adopt a phlegmatic conversational style (quiet speech, a minimum of facial expressions and gestures). Think about what you want to say. State the facts, not your emotions about what is happening.
- "Good deeds". Try to do them discreetly and not tell anyone about what you have done. Watch the person's reaction without showing yourself.
- "Invisible". While in company for an hour, try to sit silently, watching others. Don't give in to attempts to draw you into a conversation.
- Do auto-training daily. The goal is to love yourself for who you are and increase your self-esteem. When you achieve this, the praise and attention of others will not seem vital.
- epileptoid type of.
- Forgive and let go of grudges. Realize that resentment is harmful to the mental and physical health of the one who is offended.
- Practice tolerance and kindness to people. Smile at acquaintances when you meet, or try to read the willingness to smile on your face.
- Be generous take part in charity events.
- "Active Listening". Listen to the other kindly, without interrupting or arguing. Encourage the speaker with the phrases: “I understand you”, “I know this”.
- Put yourself in the place of others. This exercise must be done daily. It is important to put yourself in the place of the person with whom you want to enter into an argument.
- Schizoid type.
- Learn to copy the facial expressions of another person and determine his emotion. For this exercise, you will need the help of someone close to you.
- "Calm kindness" will be the best way to communicate with others. Such an even attitude towards the interlocutor must be practiced daily in communication with loved ones. Avoid being overly friendly or hostile.
- « Game of choleric". Try to speak louder, faster, more impulsively. Express your opinion during the conversation. Do it kindly with a smile on your face.
- Cycloid type of.
- Keep a diary. It is necessary for planning and describing your emotions and experiences. During periods of decline, it is useful to reread how the same people and events were perceived during a period of emotional upsurge. It helps to realize that difficulties are temporary.
- Ask yourself a question, “What can I change in myself so that my negative qualities do not interfere with me and others?”
- paranoid type.
- Check your motives don't trust other people's first impressions.
- "Hour without remarks." For a while, completely abandon criticism and moralizing.
- Attend communication training. Read relevant literature and apply knowledge in life.
- Learn practices that make you be "here and now"- meditation, yoga, zen.
- "Compliment". Develop the habit of saying something nice to your loved ones every day.
- unstable type.
- "I can + want." This exercise will help to cope with laziness and force yourself to do the necessary things. If you don’t want to do something, you need to ask yourself the question: “Can I do it? Can I do it?" Second question: Do I want to? Moreover, you can want long-term consequences - I want a salary, so I get a job; I want a slim healthy body, so I go to the gym.
- Increase motivation. Think about what you really want. Write down the goal. Break the path to it into stages and act. A strong desire (car, vacation) will make you move forward.
- Labile type of.
- Rational approach to problem solving. In any unpleasant situation, answer the questions: why did this happen? (what is the reason) what can be done now? (where to start), how to fix the situation? (long-term plans), what can be done to prevent this from happening again?
- Mood Diary. Keep a diary in which you indicate when and for what reason the change of mood occurred.
- Separate the rational and the emotional. It is important to accept and love both sides of yourself. Treat your "emotional" self with indulgence, but don't let your emotions rule your actions.
- Autotraining, which will help balance the processes in the nervous system. This will make you less sensitive to situations that piss you off, help control your emotions.
- Conformal type.
- Develop critical thinking. Consider whether this statement could be false. What are the consequences if you do what you are offered.
- Suggest. Try not to immediately agree with what is offered to you. Make a counter offer. When they tell you, let's go to the cinema - offer to go to a cafe.
- Try something new. Try new foods, buy clothes in a new style for you, visit places you have not been to, communicate with people not from your circle.
- Astheno-neurotic type.
- "Superman". Imagine that you have superpowers. Feel how your inner state changes. The purpose of the exercise is to look, move, talk, feeling your importance and exclusivity. The goal is to keep the image as long as possible.
- Meeting new people. Set a goal - to meet a new person and start a short conversation with him.
- Add some humor. Do not silently swallow ridicule. Learn to answer them with humor, self-irony is also acceptable. To develop a sense of humor, read more humorous literature and watch comedy shows.
- psychasthenic type.
- Imagine that what you fear has happened. Calmly think over the plan of your actions in this situation.
- Deviate from the established order. Do not follow your usual rituals (walk on the left side of the street, do not step on cracks) to make sure that nothing bad happens;
- "Charging for the face." In people with psychasthenic accentuation, the muscles of the forehead and the muscles that lower the corners of the mouth are constantly tense. It is necessary to make grimaces depicting positive emotions (surprise, joy, delight).
- Hyperthymic type.
- Put things in order. Take 15 minutes a day to clean up your desk and closet. It helps to organize thoughts.
- Get the job done. Make a promise to yourself to finish what you started, no matter what happens. Be sure to complete it, and then move on to other activities.
- diary. Planning will help you systematize tasks, prioritize and complete what you started on time. Be sure to include precise deadlines for completing each task. Test yourself and reward your progress.
- sensitive type.
- "Winner". Praise yourself for every success. Break large tasks into stages and do not forget to thank yourself for each successfully completed period.
- "My Dignity" You need to make a poster that lists all the virtues that you value in yourself or that people pay attention to. It is advisable to put it in a conspicuous place.
- Play the joker. Learn funny stories and anecdotes to share with others. Gradually, this will cause less and less psychological discomfort when speaking to the public.
Help from a psychologist
Psychological correction of personality accentuations usually takes from 3 months to several years. It includes work with a psychologist and independent performance of tasks. Main directions: - Individual conversations- the psychologist points out the accentuated character traits and the most vulnerable places of the personality. Tells how to effectively use the strengths of character. Teaches how to change the way you react and behave in different social situations.
- Group lessons. They select a group of people with similar accentuations or choose a topic that would be useful to everyone. The psychologist teaches productive models of behavior in various situations, the rules of communication with others, the intricacies of relationships with family members. The conversation is illustrated with examples from life, the lesson includes practical tasks for each type of accentuation.
- Family Therapy - conversation with family members. It is aimed at establishing relationships with loved ones and improving the psychological atmosphere in the family. One of the main methods when working with teenagers.
- Psychological trainings - active training that teaches the correct behavior in various situations.
- Method of psychodrama- a group method of psychotherapy based on playing an exciting situation (invented or real events). It helps to develop the correct model of behavior and communication in people in various situations.
They are hypertrophied and manifest themselves in the form of "weak points" in the individual's psyche - its selective vulnerability to certain influences with good and even increased resistance to other influences. Separate accentuated character traits are usually quite compensatory. However, in difficult situations, a person with an accentuated character may experience a violation of behavior. Accentuations of character, his "weak points" can be obvious and hidden, manifested in extreme situations. Persons with personal accentuations are more malleable to the influences of the environment, more prone to mental trauma. And if an unfavorable situation strikes at a “weak spot”, then the entire behavior of such persons changes dramatically - accentuation features begin to dominate (Fig. 95).
The types of accentuated personalities have not yet been definitively determined. They are described by K. Leonhard and A. E. Lichko. However, these authors give an overly fractional classification of accentuations. We distinguish only four types of accentuated personalities: excitable, affective, unstable, anxious (Table 12).
Rice. 95. Structure of character
Unlike accentuation of character, they do not cause a general social maladjustment of the individual.
Intensively manifesting itself in adolescence, character accentuations can be compensated over time, and under adverse conditions, develop and transform into "marginal" psychopathy.
Types of character accentuations
The main types of character accentuation include:
- excitable;
- affective;
- unstable;
- anxious;
Sometimes accentuation borders on various types of psychopathy, therefore, in its characterization, typology, psychopathological schemes and terms are used. Psychodiagnostics of the types and severity of accentuations is carried out using the “Pathocharacteristic Diagnostic Questionnaire” (developed by A. E. Lichko and N. Ya. Ivanov) and the MMPI personality questionnaire (the scales of which include zones of accentuated and pathological manifestations of character).
Accentuation of character according to A. Lichko
According to the level of manifestation of character traits, characters are divided into medium (normal), pronounced (accentuated) and beyond the norm (psychopathy).
The central, or pivotal, relations of the individual are the relation of the individual to those around him (the team) and the relation of the individual to work. The existence of central, core relationships and the properties conditioned by them in the structure of character is of great practical importance in the upbringing of a person.
It is impossible to overcome individual character flaws (for example, rudeness and deceit) and cultivate individual positive qualities (for example, politeness and truthfulness), ignoring the central, core relationships of the personality, namely, the attitude towards people. In other words, it is impossible to form only a certain property, it is possible to educate only a whole system of interrelated properties, while paying the main attention to the formation of the central, pivotal relations of the individual, namely, relations to others and work.
The integrity of character, however, is not absolute. It's related to that. that the central, core relationships do not always completely and completely determine the rest. In addition, the degree of integrity of character is individually peculiar. There are people with a more holistic and less holistic or contradictory character. At the same time, it should be noted that when the quantitative expression of one or another character trait reaches the limit values and turns out to be at the border of norms, the so-called accentuation of character arises.
character accentuation- these are extreme variants of the norm as a result of strengthening individual features. Accentuation of character under very unfavorable circumstances can lead to pathological disorders and changes in personality behavior, to psychopathy, but it is wrong to identify it with pathology. Character properties are determined not by biological laws (hereditary factors), but by social (social factors).
The physiological basis of character is an alloy of traits such as higher nervous activity and complex stable systems of temporary connections developed as a result of individual life experience. In this alloy, the systems of temporary connections play a more important role, since the type of the nervous system can form all the social qualities of the personality. But, firstly, the systems of connections are formed differently in representatives of different types of the nervous system and, secondly, these systems of connections manifest themselves in a peculiar way depending on the types. For example, decisiveness of character can be brought up both in a representative of a strong, excitable type of nervous system, and in a representative of a weak type. But it will be brought up and manifested differently depending on the type.
Attempts to construct a typology of characters have been repeatedly made throughout the history of psychology.
All typologies of human characters have proceeded and proceed from a number of general ideas.
The main ones are the following:
- the character of a person is formed quite early in ontogenesis and manifests itself as more or less stable throughout the rest of his life;
- those combinations of personality traits that enter into a person's character are not accidental. They form clearly distinguishable types that make it possible to identify and build a typology of characters.
Most of the people in accordance with this typology can be divided into groups.
One of the curious character classifications belongs to the famous Russian scientist A.E. Lichko. This classification is based on observations of adolescents.
Accentuation of character, according to Lichko, is an excessive strengthening of individual character traits (Fig. 6), in which there are deviations in the psychology and behavior of a person that do not go beyond the norm, bordering on pathology. Such accentuations as temporary states of the psyche are most often observed in adolescence and early adolescence. The author of the classification explains this factor as follows: “... under the action of psychogenic factors addressing “the place of least resistance, temporary adaptation disorders, deviations in behavior may occur.” As the child grows up, the features of his character that manifest themselves in childhood remain quite pronounced, lose their sharpness, but with age they can again appear clearly (especially if a disease occurs).
In today's psychology, from 10 to 14 types (typologies) of character are distinguished.
They can be defined as harmonious and disharmonious.
Harmonious character types are characterized by a sufficient development of the main character traits without isolation, isolation, without exaggeration in the development of any one trait.
Disharmonious ones are manifested with the identification of different character traits and are called accentuated or accentuated.
In 20-50% of people, some character traits are so sharp that there is a “skew” of character - as a result, interaction with people worsens, difficulties and conflicts appear.
The severity of accentuation can be rachtic: from mild, noticeable only to the immediate environment, to extreme options, when you have to think about whether there is no illness or psychopathy. Psychopathy is a painful deformity of character (while maintaining the intellect of a person), as a result of which relationships with other people are sharply violated. But, unlike psychopathy, character accentuations appear inconsistently, over the years they can completely smooth out, approach the norm. Accentuations of character are most often found in adolescents and young men (50-80%), since it is these periods of life that are most critical for the formation of character, the manifestation of originality, and individuality. Then accentuations can be smoothed out or, on the contrary, intensified, developing into neuroses or psychopathy.
Rice. 6. Character accentuation scheme according to E. Filatova and A.E. Testicle
We can consider twelve disharmonious (accentuated) types of character (according to K. Leonhard's typology) and describe their positive and negative qualities that can affect a person's professional activity - we need this to confirm the foundations of personality differentiation in terms of a person's characterological properties.
Hyperthymic type
It is almost always distinguished by a good mood, high vitality, splashing energy, unstoppable activity. Strives for leadership, adventures. It is necessary to be reserved about his unreasonable optimism and overestimation of his capabilities. Features attractive to interlocutors: energy, thirst for activity, initiative, a sense of the new, optimism.
For the people around him, it is unacceptable: frivolity, a tendency to immoral acts, a frivolous attitude to the duties assigned to him, irritability in the circle of close people.
The conflict is possible with monotonous work, loneliness, in conditions of strict discipline, constant moralizing. This causes the person to become angry. Such a person shows himself well in work related to constant communication. These are organizational activities, household services, sports, theater. It is typical for him to often change professions and jobs.
Dysthymic type
The opposite of the first type: serious. pessimist. Constantly low mood, sadness, isolation, reticence. These people are burdened by noisy societies, they do not closely converge with colleagues. They rarely enter into conflicts, more often they are a passive side in them. They greatly appreciate those people who are friends with them and tend to obey them.
People around like their seriousness, high morality, conscientiousness and justice. But such traits as passivity, pessimism, sadness, slowness of thinking, "separation from the team" repel others from acquaintance and friendship with them.
Conflicts are observed in situations that require violent activity. For these people, a change in their usual way of life has a negative impact. They are good at jobs that do not require a wide range of communication. Under unfavorable conditions, they tend to neurotic depression. This accentuation occurs most often in persons of melancholic temperament.
Cycloid type
The accentuation of character is manifested in cyclically changing periods of ups and downs in mood. During the period of mood rise, they manifest themselves as people with hyperthymic accentuation, during the period of decline - with dysthymic. During the recession, they perceive troubles more acutely. These frequent changes in mental state tire a person, make his behavior unpredictable, contradictory, prone to changing profession, place of work, interests.
excitable type
This type of people has increased irritability, a tendency to aggression, intemperance, gloom, boredom, but flattery, helpfulness, a tendency to rudeness and obscene language or silence, slowness in conversation are possible. They actively and often conflict, do not avoid quarrels with superiors, are quarrelsome in a team, are despotic and cruel in a family. Outside of fits of anger, these people are conscientious, accurate and show love for children.
People around do not like their irritability, irascibility, inadequate outbursts of rage and anger with assault, cruelty, weakened control over attraction. These people are well affected by physical labor, athletic sports. They need to develop endurance, self-control. Because of their quarrelsomeness, they often change jobs.
stuck type
People with this type of accentuation "get stuck" on their feelings, thoughts. They cannot forget insults and "settle scores" with their offenders. They have official and domestic intractability, a tendency to protracted squabbles. In the conflict, they are most often the active side and clearly define the circle of friends and enemies for the day. They show dominance.
The interlocutors like their desire to achieve high performance in any business, the manifestation of high demands on themselves, the thirst for justice, adherence to principles, strong, stable views. But at the same time, these people have features that repel others: resentment, suspicion, vindictiveness, arrogance, jealousy, ambition.
A conflict is possible with hurt pride, unfair resentment, an obstacle to achieving ambitious goals.
Pedantic type
These people have a pronounced "tediousness" in the form of experiencing the details, in the service they are able to torture them with formal requirements, exhaust the household with excessive accuracy.
For others, they are attractive conscientiousness, accuracy. seriousness, reliability in deeds and feelings. But such people have a number of repulsive character traits: formalism, "chicanery", "boring", the desire to shift decision-making to others.
Conflicts are possible in a situation of personal responsibility for an important matter, with an underestimation of their merits. They are prone to obsession, psychasthenia.
For these people, professions that are not associated with great responsibility, “paperwork”, are preferred. They are not inclined to change jobs.
alarm type
People of this type of accentuation are characterized by low mood, timidity, timidity, self-doubt. They constantly fear for themselves, their loved ones, experience failure for a long time and doubt the correctness of their actions. They rarely enter into conflicts and play a passive role.
Conflicts are possible in situations of fear, threats, ridicule, unfair accusations.
People around like their friendliness, self-criticism and diligence. But timidity, suspiciousness sometimes serve as a target for jokes.
Such people cannot be leaders, make responsible decisions, as they are characterized by endless experience, weighing.
emotive type
A person of this type of character is overly sensitive, vulnerable and deeply worried about the slightest trouble. He is sensitive to comments, failures, so he most often has a sad mood. He prefers a narrow circle of friends and relatives who would understand him perfectly.
Rarely enters into conflicts and plays a passive role in them. Resentment does not splash out, but prefers to keep them in himself. Those around him like his compassion, pity, expression of joy about other people's successes. He is very executive and has a high sense of duty.
Such a person is usually a good family man. But extreme sensitivity, tearfulness repel others from him.
Conflicts with a loved one, death or illness, he perceives tragically. Injustice, rudeness, being surrounded by rude people are contraindicated for him. He achieves the most significant results in the field of art, medicine, raising children, caring for animals and plants.
Demonstrative type
This person strives to be in the spotlight and achieves his goals at any cost: tears, fainting, scandals, illnesses, boasting, outfits, unusual hobbies, lies. He easily forgets about his unseemly deeds. He has a high adaptability to people.
This person is attractive to others with courtesy, perseverance, focus, acting talent, the ability to captivate others, as well as his originality. He has traits that repel people from him, these traits contribute to conflict: selfishness, unbridled actions, deceit, boastfulness, a tendency to intrigue, shirking from work. A conflict by such a person occurs when his interests are infringed, his merits are underestimated, he is overthrown from the “pedestal”. These situations cause him hysterical reactions.
exalted type
People with this type of accentuation have a very changeable mood, talkativeness, increased distractibility to external events. Their emotions are pronounced and are reflected in amorousness.
Such traits as altruism, artistic taste, artistic talent, brightness of feelings and attachment to friends are liked by interlocutors. But excessive impressionability, pathos, alarmism, susceptibility to despair are not their best features. Failures and sad events are perceived tragically, such people are prone to neurotic depression.
Their environment of existence is the sphere of arts, artistic sports, professions associated with proximity to nature.
introverted type
People of this type of accentuation are characterized by low sociability, isolation. They are aloof from everyone and enter into communication with other people only if necessary, most often immersed in themselves and their thoughts. They are characterized by increased vulnerability, but they do not tell anything about themselves and do not share their experiences. Even to their loved ones, they are cold and reserved. Their behavior and logic are often not understood by others.
These people love solitude and prefer to be alone rather than in noisy company. They rarely enter into conflicts, only when trying to invade their inner world.
They are picky in choosing a spouse and are busy searching for their ideal.
They have a strong emotional coldness and weak attachment to loved ones.
The people around them like them for restraint, degree, deliberateness of actions, the presence of strong convictions and adherence to principles. But the stubborn upholding of their unrealistic interests, views and the presence of their own point of view, which differs sharply from the opinion of the majority, repel people from them.
Such people prefer work that does not require a large circle of communication. They are prone to theoretical sciences, philosophical reflections, collecting, chess, science fiction, music.
Conformal type
People of this type are highly sociable, talkative to the point of talkativeness. Usually they do not have their own opinions and do not strive to stand out from the crowd.
These people are not organized and tend to obey others. In communication with friends and family, they give way to leadership to others. Surrounding in these people like their willingness to listen to another, diligence. But at the same time, these are people "without a king in their heads", subject to someone else's influence. They do not think about their actions and have a great passion for entertainment. Conflicts are possible in a situation of forced loneliness, lack of control.
These people have easy adaptability to a new job and do an excellent job with their job responsibilities when tasks and rules of conduct are clearly defined.
I. Hyperthymic type. Adolescents of the hyperthymic type are distinguished by great mobility, sociability, and excessive independence.
The main feature - an upbeat good mood is combined with good health and high vitality.
Hyperthymic teenagers do not like loneliness, they are drawn to the company of their peers:
Strive for leadership (leader, ringleader);
Unforgiving, quick-witted (quickly put up);
Illegible in the choice of acquaintances (may fall into a dubious company);
In communication they do not experience shyness;
Reaching for adventure, risk.
With good abilities, academic performance can be uneven:
Due to restlessness, inattention, distractibility;
Due to carelessness, indiscipline.
Adolescents of the hyperthymic type cannot do the work carefully, painstakingly; do not like monotonous activities. They are burdened by the monotonous situation, forced idleness.
Their hobbies are very diverse and fickle. In situations where speed, courage, resourcefulness are required, and in an atmosphere of labor upsurge, adolescents are at their best. Hyperthymic teenagers are indignant at:
Opposition from others;
Abrupt suppression of desires and intentions;
Strictly regulated disciplinary regime;
Deprivation of communication, wide contacts with peers;
Lack of opportunities, applying them with more energy.
Leading to conflict:
petty control;
Numerous instructions, moralizing; » “working out” at meetings. As a result:
Strengthening the struggle for independence, » disobedience;
Violation of the rules of conduct. Weak spots:
Intolerance to a monotonous environment;
Monotony of work;
Isolation from peers;
idle situations.
Psychological protection:
Thirst for new activities in a new place, among new people.
II. cycloid type. Two options: typical and labile.
Typical cycloids are characterized by an alternation of high and low mood (1-2 weeks). Upswings are less frequent and not as bright as periods of subdepression.
With an increase in mood, they approach the hyperthymic type (they strive to join the team, claim the role of leader).
With a decrease in mood (subdepressive phase) - interest in everything is lost, lethargy appears.
Adolescents avoid company, become lethargic homebodies.
Failures and troubles are hard to experience (remarks and reproaches, accusations aggravate the depressive state).
There is a thought about one's own inferiority and uselessness (maybe the thought of suicide).
A sharp break in the stereotypes of life (moving, changing educational institutions, etc.) is poorly tolerated.
In labile cycloids, the phases are shorter, 2-3 good days are replaced by several “bad” ones. "Bad days" are more marked by bad mood, lethargy.
Within one period, short mood swings are possible, caused by relevant events and news.
In typical and labile cycloids, the reaction of grouping with peers intensifies during periods of rise.
Hobbies of such teenagers are distinguished by cruelty. During periods of upsurge, teenagers may find themselves prone to drinking in company.
The labile form of character accentuation should not be confused with the labile type of accentuation.
III. Labile type. Extreme mood swings. On the one hand, there is too sharp a change from insignificant reasons: someone said an unflattering word, an unfriendly glance of a random interlocutor. On the other hand, a fleeting compliment cheers up, distracts from troubles. For example, in a frank conversation between a teacher and a teenager, when it comes to various aspects of his life, one can observe moments of a joyful smile and a state of rolling tears.
The state of health, sleep, appetite, working capacity depend on the mood of a given moment (from joyful to dull).
An adult must take into account: labile adolescents have very strong needs for empathy.
Adolescents feel good when an adult is disposed towards them, and immediately respond to him in the same way.
Rewards give them great joy.
Praise increases activity, performance. Devotion to friendship is characteristic. They do not pretend to be the leader. They are content with the position of a pet, who is guarded by comrades.
Emotional rejections of significant persons are hard to experience. The teacher should always treat such students evenly. Communication should not be affected by the bad mood of the teacher, his irritability.
IV. Astheno-neurotic type. From childhood, signs of neuropathy are found: restless sleep, poor appetite, night terrors, fearfulness, tearfulness. In adolescence, astheno-neurotic accentuation unfolds.
Main features: increased fatigue, irritability and a tendency to hypochondria (fixation on one's health). Increased fatigue:
Especially during mental studies and in competition conditions;
Affective outbursts for an insignificant reason. Great irritability:
Easily shifts his difficulties to those around him, sometimes accidentally caught under a "hot" hand. The reason for outbreaks is the increase in fatigue, and not the experienced mood (in the labile type) and not encountered resistance (in the hyperthymic type).
Fixation on one's health (hypochondria):
Carefully listens to his bodily sensations, willingly treated;
Alcoholization, escapes from the house are not observed.
Adults (teachers) should consider:
With not very high academic performance of a teenager, it is not recommended to call to the board to solve complex problems, you can offer to reproduce the progress of solving problems that the teacher has just shown. If the tasks are not solved, there is no need to insist on their solution. It's better to explain again.
V. Sensitive type. In childhood, they give the impression of being closed, fenced off from others. They are timid and fearful.
They are afraid of the dark, shun animals, afraid to be alone.
They shun noisy peers, do not like outdoor games. They prefer games with kids, they feel calmer and more confident among them.
Reading prefer drawing, modeling.
Distinguished by obedience. They are called "home child".
In the lower grades, they slowly get used to the children's team. They are reluctant to go to another.
They usually study hard. But they are afraid of any kind of control work. At the blackboard, they are embarrassed to answer, fearing to stray, to cause laughter.
They answer less than they know. They are afraid of being branded as an upstart.
The difficulty of adaptation usually begins at the age of 16.
During this period, two main features of the sensitive type are exacerbated:
Extreme impressionability;
Feelings of inferiority.
Such adolescents develop a sense of duty and responsibility early.
They are horrified by the rudeness and cruelty of others.
They see many shortcomings in themselves, especially in the field of strong-willed and moral and aesthetic ones.
The feeling of one's own inferiority activates the reaction of self-affirmation. But they assert themselves not in those areas where they can open up, but where they feel their inferiority.
For example: shy girls tend to show their cheerfulness and sociability. Timid boys show arrogance, "demonstrate" energy and will. But in a situation that requires courage, they give up.
Attached to parents, obedient.
Mostly unsociable. But to whom they are used to, they are quite sociable and frank with those.
For example: when a teenager feels sympathy and support, then you can establish trusting contact with him and see his life full of reproaches and self-flagellation; subtle sensitivity and very high demands on oneself.
Under the influence of the sympathy of an adult, tears can well up in a teenager.
If a teacher nominates a teenager of a sensitive type to the post of headman because of his diligence and obedience, then the leadership in such groups goes to others.
They value friendship very much. A friend is preferred by the whole company.
intolerable situations
Relations
Surrounding
ridicule, rudeness,
Suspicion
In bad deeds
unfair accusation
Very sensitive to social evaluations
Possible reaction of a teenager:
Absence from classes and even a complete refusal to go to school;
Run away from home.
IN AND. Lichko gives an example when a 15-year-old girl was on duty in the wardrobe. Lost jacket. She began to be tormented by the thought that "they would consider her a thief." And she dropped out of school.
In a good environment:
Attachment to parents; « obedience;
Confidence.
VI. psychasthenic type. Close to the sensitive type. In childhood, psychasthenic traits manifested in the form of timidity, motor awkwardness, a tendency to reason and early "intellectual" interests.
The main features of the psychasthenic type of character in adolescence:
Indecisiveness in actions and reasoning;
Attempts to foresee everything and act strictly according to the plan;
The tendency to introspection about the motives of their actions. It manifests itself in self-digging, in one's experiences and sensations:
Anxious suspiciousness; » anxiety about one's future;
Inventing signs, rituals to give self-confidence. (For example: walking to school, bypassing all the pits - you won’t fail the exam.)
Do not like:
Change of environment
New items, strangers.
An adult should take into account that the obsession of thinking about, about their actions and great indecision violate:
Adolescent's work capacity
His communication.
Psychasthenic attitudes develop with improper upbringing:
In conditions of increased moral responsibility;
With dominant overprotection.
The high hopes of their parents are an unbearable burden for them.
VII. Schizoid type. As a child, a child likes to play alone, without being attracted to peers. Avoids noisy activities. Prefers to be among adults, listening to their conversations. Childish restraint in the manifestation of feelings is noted.
In adolescence, isolation, isolation from peers is clearly manifested.
Attempts to establish friendly relations are often unsuccessful:
Because of the great sensitivity;
Due to rapid exhaustion in contact.
The inner world is almost always closed from prying eyes; The teacher is not recommended to insist that:
The teenager opened up before him;
The teenager was more sociable with peers;
The teenager established emotional contacts.
Business contacts can be satisfactory.
With individual work, he achieves great results (music, chess, scientific work, etc.).
Hobbies are distinguished by strength, constancy, sophistication.
Rich erotic fantasies are combined with outward asexuality.
The inner world is filled with various hobbies and fantasies that are designed to please oneself.
The incomprehensibility of the inner world of the schizoid makes his actions for others unexpected and incomprehensible.
Such teenagers are not inclined to empathize, emotionally cold. They lack intuition.
They do not know how to guess the desires of others. They don't know how to penetrate other people's feelings.
They do not know how to share the joy or sorrow of another.
They cannot understand the resentment, the excitement of the other.
They cannot convince others verbally.
Once in a teenage group, they remain in a special position in it.
They are ridiculed. But sometimes they can stand up for themselves. Remain independent.
Schizoid accentuation usually does not lead to severe behavioral disorders (alcoholism, suicide).
VIII. epileptoid type.
The main feature is a tendency to a state of maliciously melancholy mood.
Search for an object on which you can vent anger. The reason may be minor.
Affective explosiveness. Strong and long lasting. Unbridled rage, cursing.
Offenses are not forgiven. Subtly vengeful.
Love is often tinged with jealousy.
Sexual attraction of great strength.
Alcohol intoxication with anger and fights (drink until blackout).
They are characterized by:
petty accuracy;
Compliance with all rules, even to the detriment of the case;
Pedantry, striking others;
Performance, often ostentatious;
The desire for innovation is suspect.
In a group, they strive not for leadership, but for domination over their peers.
They adapt well to disciplinary conditions. They have showy performance.
Having seized the right to power over others (for example, the headman), they lose control over themselves: they use force against the “rebellious”.
The reaction of emancipation proceeds hard. A teenager demands freedom, independence, rights.
"Weak point" of epileptoid accentuation:
Intolerance of disobedience to oneself;
Intolerance to material costs.
Psychological protection becomes solitude with some kind of “calming the nerves” activity that requires careful, but monotonous work.
Type difficult for social adaptation.
IX. hysterical type. Main features:
Egocentrism, desire to be the center of attention;
Demonstrative style of behavior;
The need to cause admiration, surprise, sympathy by any means; fantasy, deceit.
All other characteristics of the schizoid type are subject to these features.
In childhood, hysterical character traits manifested themselves when:
Other children were praised more, paid attention to them; » there is a desire to attract attention;
There was a desire to listen to praise in his address;
Academic success is determined by whether they are held up as an example to others.
In adolescence, hysterical traits are sharpened: hobbies are chosen by those that are able to amaze the imagination with their unusualness, provide an opportunity to show off.
In communication with peers, they claim to be the leader, but they turn out to be the leader "for an hour."
When faced with difficulties, they lose their emotional enthusiasm.
If it is impossible to produce an external effect, parents are blamed for not being able to save them from difficulties, to remove obstacles, as it was in childhood.
In order to show off, they exaggerate their alcoholism.
They portray themselves as an "esthete", a connoisseur of brands of all wines.
They prove they don't care. They can make themselves very drunk.
Vulnerable pride (loss of attention, etc.) serves as a reason for suicide. Usually in the form of a demonstration (15-16 years old).
Means are chosen safe: cuts in the veins on the forearm, medicine from a home first aid kit.
There may be runaways from home as a reaction to punishment, due to the loss of attention of others.
Usually they run away to where they will be looked for and quickly found (the teenager, as it were, signals: give me back my former attention and care, otherwise I will be lost!).
The inability to work hard is combined with high expectations regarding the future profession.
Weak link:
Strikes on self-esteem;
Loss of attention of others;
Failure to occupy a prominent position;
Debunked exclusivity. Psychological protection is an active desire
To forget, not to think about troubles, to behave as if nothing had happened.
X. Unstable type.
Main features:
Unwillingness to work (work, study);
Increased craving for pleasure, idleness, idleness;
In everything they show weakness of will.
In childhood, these were naughty, restless children, they climbed into everything everywhere: they hardly learned the rules of behavior; studied hard. They needed strict control. At an opportunity, they shied away from business, classes. Very early, they showed an increased craving for pleasure, idleness, idleness, as a result of improper upbringing.
In adolescence - inability to occupy oneself; they do not tolerate loneliness. Therefore, they are drawn to street teenage groups (often asocial).
In the group they are looking for a change of impressions, thrills: hooligan acts, alcohol, gambling; early sexual life, but romantic love is not characteristic of them.
For them, a company for entertainment is preferable to a friend. Usually in a group they carry out the will of others.
They live one day, extracting maximum pleasure from it. They are indifferent to their future. Plans are not made.
Weak will encourages them to run away from difficulties. For example, wherever hard work is required, where study is difficult, where there is great discipline, an unstable type of accentuation does not occur.
The teacher, using their weakness of will, can keep them in an environment of a rigidly regulated regime with constant monitoring and with the threat of punishment.
The "weak point" of adolescents with unstable accentuation: to be left to oneself, to be in a situation where no one controls you (neglect, an atmosphere of connivance).
Psychological protection: flight "where your eyes look" in order to have fun.
XI. Conformal type.
The main feature is the constant and excessive submission to the opinion of loved ones.
They live by the rule: think like everyone else, act like everyone else, try to have everything like everyone else - from clothes to worldview. Deprived of individuality in actions and judgments.
In good conditions - they are good, diligently study, work.
In a bad environment, they learn the norms, customs, habits of a bad environment.
Conformity is combined with uncriticality:
Are drawn into groups of offenders;
Drink "for the company";
Truth for them is what they hear from others.
They are also characterized by conservatism: they cannot adapt to the new.
In an unusual environment, they master with difficulty, work well where initiative is not needed; do not tolerate breaking life stereotypes; deprived of their usual society, they value their place in the group, their familiar environment.
Self-assessment can be good, fairly accurate.
They do not show personal initiative in study and work.
Questionnaire of Leonhard-Shmishek - determining the type of character accentuation
Instruction
You are invited to answer 88 questions relating to various aspects of your personality. On a separate sheet of paper, write the date, last name if desired, age, class, gender. I will read the question number and the question itself, and you will write down the question number, put a dash and your answer “yes” or “no” (you can put +, -).
Answer quickly, immediately after you understand the meaning of the question. The first reaction is important, not the fruit of lengthy reflection.
Note
The questionnaire serves to determine the accentuation of the character and type of character of a person.
Character accentuation is a pronounced pointed character trait, a special emphasis in the pattern of characterological aspirations and in the pattern of behavioral patterns that implement them. Accentuations of character determine the type of character of a person.
The questionnaire for adults has the same number of questions as for children. The option does not differ in meaning from questions for children. The difference is only in some wording and in the treatment. The key to the questionnaire is the same. Therefore, these questions can be used with some reformulation to study character accentuation in adults.
1. Are you usually calm, cheerful?
2. Are you easily offended, upset?
3. Do you cry easily?
4. How many times do you check for errors?
5. Are you as strong and brave as your classmates?
6. Do you easily move from joy to sadness and vice versa?
7. Do you like to be in charge of the game, to be the center of attention?
8. Are there days when you get angry at everyone for no reason?
9. Are you a serious person?
10. Are you able to admire, admire?
11. Can you invent a new game?
12. Do you soon forget if you offended someone?
13. Do you consider yourself kind?
14. Having thrown a letter into the mailbox, do you check with your hand if it is stuck?
15. Do you try to be the best at school?
16. When you were little, were you afraid of thunderstorms, dogs?
17. Do the guys think you are too neat and diligent?
18. Does your mood depend on school and household chores?
19. Do all your friends love you?
20. Do you have inner restlessness, emotional outbursts?
21. Are you usually a little sad?
22. Have you experienced grief, have you ever cried in front of other people?
23. Do you find it difficult to stay in one place?
24. Do you fight against injustice against you?
25. Can you cut a live bird?
26. Does it annoy you if the tablecloth or curtain hangs unevenly?
27. Are you afraid to be alone in the house?
28. Does it happen that you are either happy or sad for no reason?
29. Are you one of the best students in the class?
30. Do you get angry easily, do you get angry?
31. Do you often have fun, fool around?
32. Do you feel happy sometimes?
33. Do you know how to cheer up the guys?
34. Can you directly tell someone what you think of them?
35. Are you afraid of blood?
36. Are you willing to carry out responsible assignments?
37. Do you stand up for everyone who has been treated unfairly?
38. Do you find it unpleasant to enter a dark room?
39. Do you like slow and precise work more than fast and inaccurate work?
40. Is it easy for you to get acquainted with children?
41. Are you willing to perform at matinees or evenings at school?
42. Have you ever run away from home?
43. Does life seem hard to you?
44. Have you ever gotten so upset over a fight with a teacher or kids that you couldn't go to school?
45. Can you laugh at yourself even if you fail?
46. Do you try to make up if you offended someone?
47. Do you like animals?
48. Has it ever happened to you that when you left home, you returned to check if something had happened?
49. Do you sometimes think that something must happen to you or your parents?
50. Your mood sometimes depends on the weather, what do you think?
51. Do you find it difficult to answer in class, perform on stage?
52. Can you, if you are angry with someone, start to fight?
53. Do you like being among the guys?
54. If something fails, do you fall into despair?
55. Do you stubbornly achieve your goal, even if you encounter difficulties?
56. Do you like to organize games, work?
57. Have you ever cried because of a sad movie or book?
58. Do you find it difficult to fall asleep because of worries and future affairs?
59. Do you prompt and let you write off?
60. Are you afraid to walk alone on a dark street in the evening?
61. Do you make sure that every thing is in its place?
62. Does it happen to you that you go to bed in a good mood and wake up with a bad one?
63. Do you feel at ease with strangers in a new place?
64. Do you have a headache?
65. Do you often laugh?
66. Can you behave in such a way that the person you treat badly does not notice this?
67. Can you do many different things in one day?
68. Do you suffer from injustice?
69. Do you love nature?
70. Leaving home, going to bed, do you check that the door is locked?
71. Are you fearful, what do you think?
72. Does your mood change at the festive table?
73. Do you participate in a drama circle (do you like to read poetry from the stage)?
74. Do you dream about something tempting and unknown?
75. Do you sometimes think about the future with sadness?
76. Do you have sudden transitions from joy to longing?
77. Can you entertain guests?
78. Are you angry or offended for a long time?
79. Do you greatly experience the grief of your loved ones?
80. Can you rewrite a page in a notebook because of a blot?
81. Do you consider yourself distrustful?
82. Do you often have bad dreams?
83. Have you ever wanted to jump out a window or throw yourself under a car?
84. Do you feel happier when everyone is having fun?
85. If you are in trouble, can you forget about them for a while?
86. Do you do impulsive acts unexpected for yourself?
87. Do you say little more often than a lot?
88. Could you, participating in a drama circle, get into the role so much that at the same time you forget that you are not the same as on stage?
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