Classification of character accentuations. Types of character accentuation

“The students with whom she most often had to work are extremely hot-tempered. Many of them, deprived of elementary moral principles, habitually lied, hooliganized, cheated, but at the same time fell into boundless, genuine rage from undeserved accusations.

JK Rowling "Random Job"

This quote from the famous work perfectly characterizes the fullness of the unpredictability and inconsistency of a person who yesterday was carefree, distinguished by “even” behavior, and today is absolutely inadequate for others and even for himself, reacts and acts in those situations that did not previously cause no special emotions. It is true that a teenager is not yet an adult, but is no longer a child. An adult mature personality is characterized by stability of character, while a teenager is just setting foot on the path of personal development. It was at this time that character accentuations began to stand out for the first time - pointed features that manifest themselves in specific situations.

The domestic scientist, Doctor of Medicine A.E. Lichko created a typology of character accentuations, in which he combined knowledge of psychopathy and the Leonhard classification of accentuations already existing at that time. Psychopathies are deviations in character that affect all areas of a person's life. proceed from the concept of "accentuated personality", while personality is a broader concept than character. Character accentuations according to Lichko are a typology of pointed character traits as an extreme variant of the mental norm. These are not deviations or violations, but those character traits that form the personality of a teenager.

The professional psychological technique PDO (pathocharacterological diagnostic questionnaire) was created by A. E. Lichko specifically to identify character types in the presence of certain accentuations. This technique is useful in that timely identified accentuations make it possible to correct their negative impact on the formation of a mature personality. The technique helps the psychiatrist to identify psychopathy, and the psychologist - character accentuations.

It's time to consider in detail the character accentuations according to Lichko, which form the character of a teenager and influence the formation of his personality.

Hyperthymic type

These are very mobile, sociable and even sometimes talkative people who strive for independence. They usually stay in a positive-high mood, which can be replaced by discontent, anger or anger in a situation of misunderstanding of their behavior by other people. In place of joy comes despondency also due to dissatisfaction with oneself. In stressful situations, they demonstrate a large supply of vital energy and optimism. High vitality can lead to reassessment of their capabilities. They are often promiscuous in acquaintances, which can lead to negative consequences: antisocial behavior, the formation of bad habits.

This type of accentuation is manifested by cyclicity, when the hyperthymic phase is replaced by depressive manifestations. Each phase has its "weak points". During the hyperthymic phase, these are all the same indiscriminate connections, intolerance to monotony and painstaking work. All this is replaced by the collapse of life stereotypes in the depressive phase, when the usual way of life ceases to suit, irritability appears. Sensitivity is aggravated in remarks and reproaches, which are perceived as confirmation of their insolvency and weakness. If these feelings are exacerbated, there may be a threat of suicidal behavior. Licko points out that these phases can change every three or four days, or drag on for longer periods.

labile type

The main feature of this type is the extreme variability of mood and general emotional state. If in other unstable types variability is manifested in behavior, then in the labile type it is the emotional state that changes. This feature can be explained by a simple example: in the absence of obvious failures and problems, the mood of such a person can change dramatically from very cheerful to gloomy and depressive, because a random passerby “cast” an unfriendly look, or it started to rain at the wrong time. Usually these experiences are very deep and manifest as lack of appetite, disability, striving for loneliness.

Asthenoneurotic type

This type of accentuation is characterized by a tendency to hypochondria - exaggerated worries about possible illnesses. Such people are prone to increased fatigue and irritability. This is especially evident with excessive mental stress. Irritation can be very strong when others can get "under the hot hand." But this state is abruptly replaced by repentance and even tears. Self-esteem in these people is associated with manifestations of hypochondria: if the state of health and mood are good, then they manifest themselves quite confidently and optimistically.

sensitive type

These are people who from an early age are distinguished by anxiety, shyness, and at an older age, in connection with this, they show isolation and closeness. It is difficult for them to relax in a noisy company and find a common language with an unfamiliar person. However, in a close environment they are open and sociable people. Entering adulthood, they experience a sense of isolation and inferiority, which gives rise to hypercompensation reactions. This means that a person does not avoid his “weak zones”, but, on the contrary, strives to assert himself in them. For example, a shy guy acts cheeky and arrogant. But at the moment when circumstances require decisive action from him, his weaknesses appear.

Psychasthenic type

One of the most important features of this type of accentuation is a tendency to obsessive states that manifest themselves from childhood in the form of various fears and phobias. They are prone to introspection, anxious suspiciousness, which arises on the basis of uncertainty in their future. These are strong feelings about possible, often unlikely future events. To extinguish the effect of this anxiety, they come up with various helping rituals. For example, in order not to get sick, you can not touch the doorknobs. There is also formalism and pedantry. This behavior brings confidence that if everything is planned in advance, then nothing bad will happen.

Schizoid type

This type of accentuation can be characterized by the lack of "internal unity". This is evidenced by a combination of the following features: coldness and sensitivity, isolation and talkativeness, inactivity and purposefulness, affection and antipathy, the depth of the inner world and the superficiality of its manifestation. The most striking features of the type are considered to be a low need for communication and isolation from others. In adolescence, these traits are strongly sharpened and become noticeable. Low capacity for intuition and empathy is felt as coldness. The inconsistency of these people is manifested in the fact that they would rather open up to a stranger than be frank with loved ones.
Video about the schizoid type of character accentuation according to Lichko:

A striking feature of this type is dysphoria - a viciously angry state in which anger and aggression accumulate, and after a while are thrown out in the form of prolonged outbursts of anger. Inertia is characteristic in all aspects: life values, emotional sphere, in movements. These features are manifested in intense jealousy, often unfounded. They do not like "empty dreams", they try to live in reality and not build illusions. Epileptoid accentuation is one of the most difficult in terms of social adaptation.

hysteroid type

Increased egocentrism, a thirst for universal love and recognition, high demonstrativeness form the basis of this type. Such people perceive hatred and a negative opinion about their personality much better than a neutral attitude and even indifference. They are very afraid to go unnoticed. An important feature of this type is suggestibility, but there is no trace of it if the suggestion is not aimed at emphasizing the merits and admiration.

Unstable type

Actually, the instability of these people is manifested in the inability to follow socially acceptable forms of behavior. From an early age, there is a reluctance to learn, to obey elders, at an older age they experience difficulties in romantic relationships from difficulties in establishing deep emotional ties. These people try to live in the present, do not make plans for the future and do not strive for achievements.

Conformal type

These are people whose main feature is the desire to “merge” with others. This is manifested in the acceptance of other people's points of view, the management of other people's desires and common goals. They try not to be different from others, they are very attached to their inner circle. In the professional sphere, lack of initiative is pronounced. Any job is suitable for them, as long as it is not associated with the need to take the initiative.

Accentuation of character is an excessive manifestation of certain personality traits. As a result, selective vulnerability to some psychogenic influences is observed while maintaining resistance to others.

concept

The concept of "accentuated personality" was introduced by the German psychiatrist, psychopathologist Karl Leonhard. His classification of personalities had much in common with the concept of "latent psychopathy", proposed earlier by the Soviet scientist Pyotr Gannushkin. However, it was developed by Leonhard into an independent theory.

The scientist presented his reflections on the typology of character in the work "Accentuated Personalities". In the first part of the monograph, a classification and analysis of various accentuations is given, in the second - accentuated types are considered on the example of the heroes of classical works of world literature.

Although according to the International Classification of Diseases ICD-10, accentuated personality traits are included in the list of problems associated with difficulties in organizing a normal lifestyle (class 21 / paragraph Z73.1), the presence of accentuation does not equate to a mental disorder!

At first glance, Leonhard's character accentuations are similar to personality disorders, which leads to the assumption that there is a connection between them. However, the scientist only sought to identify those personality traits that bring difficulties to their owners in life. When describing accentuations, Leonhard turned to the negative manifestations of certain character traits in an extreme, most pronounced form. Therefore, his characterization of psychological types is perceived as an illustration of human shortcomings, painful patterns of behavior. However, according to Leonhard, accentuations are still a manifestation of the clinical norm, albeit in a pointed form, therefore they cannot be used as a psychiatric diagnosis.

Psychologists and psychotherapists around the world are actively interested in issues of accentualization, since the disproportionate development of certain personality traits creates conditions for the formation of appropriate mental or psychosomatic disorders.

In Russian psychology, Leonhard's typology was developed and supplemented by the scientist Andrey Lichko, who changed the original term "accentuated personality" to "accentuation of character". After all, an accentuated personality, according to a Soviet psychiatrist, is too complex a concept, more in line with the idea of ​​psychopathy.

Correspondence table of accentuations according to Leonhard and Lichko.

№	K.Leonhard (questionnaire H. Smishek)	A.E.Lichko (questionnaire PDO)
1.	–	Astheno-neurotic
2.	dysthymic	–
3.	Demonstrative	hysterical
4.	–	Unstable
5.	stuck	–
6.	Pedantic	Psychasthenic
7.	–	Schizoid
8.	Hyperthymic	Hyperthymic
9.	–	–
10.	Excitable	epileptoid
11.	Anxious and fearful	sensitive
12.	Cyclothymic	Cycloid
13.	Affectively exalted	labile hysteroid
14.	emotive	Labile
15.	–	Conformal
Total	10	12

Types of accentuations

Allocate into separate groups types of temperament and character accentuation according to Leonhard.

Temperament

To temperament, as a biologically conditioned formation, the scientist attributed six types of accentuations. Let's talk briefly about each of them.

1. Hyperthymic (hypomanic) temperament. It is characterized by a predominance of an optimistic mood, a thirst for activity, a focus on success, and sociability. In the negative, superficiality develops, the inability to bring the matter to the end. There is a violation of ethical standards, a waste of opportunities.
2. Dysthymic type (subdepressive). The opposite of hyperthymia. Differs in orientation to failure, pessimism, serious ethical position, extreme passivity in actions, lethargy.
3. Affectively labile type (cyclomic). It is characterized by a frequent change of hyperthymic and dysthymic states.
4. Anxious. Characterized by the inability to defend their point of view in the dispute, timidity, timidity, alertness, humility, humiliated position. Compensation is possible in the form of feigned self-confidence or even impudent behavior.
5. The affective-exalted type is distinguished by the intensity of experiences, violent emotional reactions, and a tendency to extreme manifestations of feelings (enthusiasm, despair). Easily charged with the mood of others.
6. The emotive type is characterized by the ability to deeply feel, empathize. Differs in impressionability, kindness, compassion.

Character

The classification of character according to Leonhard is represented by four types.

1. Demonstrative (hysterical) type. The peculiarity of accentuation is a hypertrophied tendency to repress. This explains the property of a hysteric to embellish reality. A person, as it were, enters the desired image, starting to believe his fantasies. Thanks to this trait, it easily adapts to the environment, instilling in itself a feeling of love, sympathy for others. The notorious "need for recognition", as one of the motives of the demonstrative type, is exaggerated. Rather, the passion for self-praise is associated with the ability to displace objective information about oneself. In an ordinary person, if they want to embellish the real state of things, the brakes are turned on. The hysteric tends to forget himself, which often leads to rash acts.
2. Pedantic character. In contrast to the demonstrative type, the repression mechanism is poorly developed. People with this type of personality are not able to displace doubts, discard irrelevant details of the issue, so they can hardly choose any solution. Hence indecision, scrupulousness in work, hypochondria.
3. Stuck type. Differs in resistance of affective reactions. A tendency to ideas that completely take over the thinking of a person. Stuck affect is most clearly manifested in the case when the personal interests of a person are affected. The affect in these cases turns out to be a response to wounded pride, as well as to various forms of suppression, although objectively the moral damage may be negligible. As a result, the stuck type develops traits such as suspicion, hostility, jealousy, and morbid ambition.
4. Excitable type (epileptoid). It is characterized by following the lower instinctive impulses and ignoring the voice of reason. As a result, impulsiveness, intemperance, exactingness, intolerance, irascibility, conflict develop.

extraversion/introversion

Character types according to Leonhard also include extraverted and introverted personality accentuations.

The psychiatrist's understanding of extra-, introversion differs from the popular definitions of these terms by Eysenck and Myers, and Briggs in socionics.

Due to the fact that most psychologists rely on the interpretation of terms according to Eysenck, and psychiatrists - according to Leonhard, such a terminological discrepancy creates a problem in finding a common language between specialists.

According to Leonhard, an extroverted personality type is a conformist who does not subject to special analysis information coming from outside, and therefore easily amenable to other people's influence. An introvert, on the other hand, does not blindly give in to the sensations of the present moment, focusing primarily on previous life experience and his own conclusions. Here, Leonhard's opinion coincides with the point of view of Carl Jung, who attributed the features of thinking types to introverts, and ethical (experiencing) types to extroverts.

Methods for diagnosing personality

Leonhard considered observation and conversation to be the most reliable diagnostic methods. In a personal conversation, the scientist should not study the verbal information coming from the patient, but focus on his facial expressions, changes in the intonation of the voice. The study of the patient's behavior at work, in a relaxed home environment, in communication with other people, according to Leonhard, provides comprehensive information about the characteristics of his personality.

Accentuation of character - too pronounced character traits in a certain person, which are not considered pathological, but are an extreme version of the norm. They arise due to improper upbringing of the individual in childhood and heredity. There are a large number of accentuations, which are characterized by their own characteristics. In most cases, they occur during adolescence.

Character accentuation: what is it?

Accentuation (accentuated personality) is a definition used in psychology. This term is understood as the disharmony of character development, which manifests itself in the excessive severity of its individual features, causing an increased vulnerability of the individual to certain types of influences and making it difficult to adapt to some specific situations. Accentuation of character arises and develops in children and adolescents.

The term "accentuation" was first introduced by the German psychiatrist K. Leonhard. Accentuation of character, he calls overly pronounced individual personality traits that have the ability to move into a pathological state under the influence of adverse factors. Leonhard owns the first attempt to classify them. He argued that in a large number of people, character traits are pointed.

Then this question was considered by A.E. Lichko. Under the accentuation of character, he understood the extreme variants of his norm, when some features are excessively strengthened. At the same time, selective vulnerability is noted, which refers to certain psychogenic influences. Any accentuation cannot be presented as a mental illness.

A.E.Lichko

Causes

An accentuated character arises and develops under the influence of many reasons. The most basic is heredity. The reasons for the occurrence also include an insufficient amount of communication in adolescence, both with peers and with parents.

The social environment of the child (family and friends), the wrong parenting style (hyper-custody and hypo-custody) influence the appearance of pointed character traits. This leads to a lack of communication. Lack of satisfaction of personal needs, an inferiority complex, chronic diseases of the nervous system and physical ailments can also lead to accentuation. According to statistics, these manifestations are observed in people who work in the field of "man-man":

• teachers;
• medical and social workers;
• military;
• actors.

Types and types, main clinical manifestations

There are classifications of character accentuations that were distinguished by A. E. Lichko and K. Leonhard. The first proposed a typology of accentuations, consisting of 11 types, each of which is characterized by specific manifestations that can be observed in adolescence. In addition to types, Lichko distinguished types of accentuation, which differ depending on the degree of severity:

• explicit accentuation - an extreme version of the norm (character traits are expressed throughout life);
• hidden - the usual option (pointed character traits appear in a person only in difficult life circumstances).

Types of accentuations according to A. E. Lichko:

View	Manifestations
Hyperthymic	There is increased activity and mood. Such individuals cannot endure loneliness and monotony in life. They love communication, there is a tendency to frequent changes in hobbies and hobbies. They rarely finish what they start.
Cycloid	There are cyclic changes in mood from hyperthymic to dysphoric (evil)
Emotionally labile	Unreasonable and frequent mood swings. People are highly sensitive. They openly express their positive emotions towards the people around them. Responsiveness, altruism and sociability are noted
sensitive	Such individuals are characterized by the presence of a sense of inferiority. There is an increased sensitivity. Interests lie in the intellectual and aesthetic sphere
Astheno-neurotic	There is increased moodiness and tearfulness. Such people quickly get tired and exhausted, against the background of this, irritability often occurs.
Schizoid	Such people are characterized by isolation and like to spend time alone. It is typical for adolescents that they do not communicate with their peers. They like to be around adults.
Psychasthenic	Personalities with this character are prone to careful introspection and reflection. They take a long time to make a decision regarding any situation, to be afraid of responsibility. self-critical
epileptoid	The behavior is characterized by bouts of anger towards other people. Increased irritability and tension
hysterical	They love to be the center of attention. Prone to demonstrative suicide and fear of ridicule from others
Conformal	Dependent on other people. Submit to authority. Strive to be different from others
Unstable	Craving for various interests and hobbies. Such people are lazy. They have no plans for their future

Leonhard identified a classification of character accentuations, consisting of 12 types. Some of them coincide with the typology of A. E. Lichko. He studied the typology of characters in adults. The species are divided into three groups:

1. 1. temperament (hyperthymic, dysthymic, exalted, anxious and emotive);
2. 2. character (demonstrative, stuck and excitable);
3. 3. personal level (extroverted and introverted).

Types of accentuations according to K. Leonhard:

View	Characteristic features
Hyperthymic	Ready to contact at any time. There is a pronounced expression of facial expressions and gestures during communication. Energetic and proactive. In some cases, there is conflict, irritability and frivolity
dysthymic	Lack of sociability. Pessimistic and melancholic mood and outlook on the future
Cycloid	Frequent and sudden mood swings. The behavior and manner of communication with other people depends on the mood.
Excitable	Slow verbal and non-verbal reactions to situations. If a person is emotionally aroused, then irritability and aggression are noted.
stuck	There is boredom. They are prone to teaching and resentment. In some cases, such people are able to take revenge
Pedantic	In conflicts they are passive. Conscientiousness and accuracy in the performance of affairs is noted. There is a tendency to boredom
alarming	There are anxiety states with and without it. Such individuals are insecure
emotive	They feel comfortable exclusively next to loved ones. The ability to empathize and sincerely rejoice in the happiness of others is noted. There is increased sensitivity
Demonstrative	Such individuals strive to take a leadership position. They are artistic. There is non-standard thinking, selfishness, hypocrisy and a tendency to boast
Exalted	They like to communicate, altruists. There is a tendency to commit impulsive actions
extroverted	Personalities of this type willingly make contact with people, have a large number of friends. They are non-conflict, easily amenable to other people's influence. Sometimes rash actions and a tendency to spread gossip are noted.
introverted	Closedness, a tendency to fantasize and loneliness are noted

Peculiarities

According to A. E. Lichko, most types are sharpened in adolescence. Certain types of accentuations occur at a particular age. Sensitive arises and develops by the age of 19. Schizoid - in early childhood, and hyperthymic - in adolescence.

Character accentuations are found not only in pure form, but also in mixed forms (intermediate types). Manifestations of accentuation are fickle, they tend to disappear in some periods of life. Character accentuation is found in 80% of adolescents. Some of them, under the influence of adverse factors, can turn into a mental illness at a later age.

In the development of character accentuations, two groups of changes are distinguished: transient and persistent. The first group is subdivided into acute emotional reactions, psycho-like disorders and psychogenic mental disorders. Acute affective reactions are characterized by the fact that such people harm themselves in various ways, there are suicide attempts (intrapunitive reactions). This behavior occurs with sensitive and epileptoid accentuation.

Extrapunitive reactions are characterized by the displacement of aggression on random persons or objects. Characteristic for hyperthymic, labile and epileptoid accentuation. The immune reaction is characterized by the fact that a person avoids conflicts. It occurs with unstable and schizoid accentuation.

Some people have demonstrative reactions. Psycho-like disorders are manifested in petty misdemeanors and offenses, vagrancy. Sexual deviant behavior, the desire to experience a state of intoxication or experience unusual sensations through the use of alcohol and drugs, is also found in individuals of this type.

Against the background of accentuations, neuroses and depressions develop. Persistent changes are characterized by a transition from an explicit form of character accentuation to a latent one. Perhaps the emergence of psychopathic reactions with prolonged exposure to stress and critical age. Persistent changes include the transformation of types of accentuations from one to another due to improper upbringing of the child, which is possible in the direction of compatible types.

Karl Leonhard developed the well-known classification of personality accentuations, in addition, the classification of character accentuations by the famous child psychiatrist, Professor A.E. Lichko. However, in both approaches, a common understanding of the meaning of accentuations is preserved.

Leongrad distinguishes 12 types of accentuation, each of them predetermines a person’s selective resistance to one life’s adversities with increased sensitivity to others, to frequent conflicts of the same type, to certain nervous breakdowns. In favorable conditions, when it is precisely the weak links of the personality that do not fall under attack, such a person can become outstanding. For example, the accentuation of character according to the so-called exalted type can contribute to the flowering of the talent of an artist, an artist.

Character accentuations are often found in adolescents and young men (50-80%). You can determine the type of accentuation or its absence using special psychological tests, for example, the Leonhard-Shmishek test. Often you have to deal with accentuated personalities and it is important to know and anticipate the specific features of people's behavior.

Here is a brief description of the behavioral features depending on the types of accentuation:

1) hyperthymic (hyperactive) - overly elated, always cheerful, talkative, very energetic, independent, strives for leadership, risks, adventures, does not respond to comments, ignores punishments, loses the line of what is permitted, lacks self-criticism;

2) dysthymic - constantly depressed mood, sadness, isolation, reticence, pessimism, burdened by a noisy society, does not closely converge with colleagues. He rarely enters into conflicts, more often he is a passive side in them;

3) cycloid - sociability changes cyclically (high during a period of high mood and low during a period of depression);

4) emotive (emotional) - excessive sensitivity, vulnerability, deeply worried about the slightest troubles, overly sensitive to comments, failures, therefore he often has a sad mood;

5) demonstrative - the desire to be in the center of attention and achieve one's goals at any cost is expressed: tears, fainting, scandals, illnesses, boasting, outfits, unusual hobby, lies. Easily forgets about his unseemly deeds;

6) excitable - increased irritability, intemperance, aggressiveness, gloom, "boring", but flattery, helpfulness (as a disguise) are possible. A tendency to rudeness and obscene language or silence, slowness in conversation. Actively and often conflicts;

7) stuck - "gets stuck" on his feelings, thoughts, cannot forget insults, "settles scores", official and domestic intractability, a tendency to protracted squabbles, they are more often in conflicts, the active side;

8) pedantic - pronounced boredom in the form of "experiencing" the details, in the service is able to torture visitors with formal requirements, exhausts the household with excessive accuracy;

9) anxious (psychasthenic) - lowered background of mood, fear for oneself, loved ones, timidity, self-doubt, extreme indecision, long experiences failure, doubts one's actions;

10) exalted (labile) - a very changeable mood, emotions are pronounced, increased distractibility to external events, talkativeness, amorousness;

11) introverted (schizoid, autistic) - low sociability, closed, aloof from everyone, communication out of necessity, immersed in himself, does not tell anything about himself, does not reveal his experiences, although increased vulnerability is characteristic. Restrainedly coldly treats other people, even relatives;

12) extroverted (conformal) - high sociability, talkativeness to the point of talkativeness, has no opinion, is not very independent, strives to be like everyone else, disorganized, prefers to obey.

According to the concept of K. Leonhard, in the structure of personality, some accentuated features are more determined by the characteristics of temperament, some - by character traits. K. Leonhard refers to the accentuations of character traits as demonstrative, pedantic, stuck and excitable types of accentuations. The remaining variants of accentuations are referred to by K. Leonhard as accentuations of temperament.

Explaining his understanding of accentuated personalities, Leonhard emphasized that they, as a rule, are not pathological, and argued his position as follows: “With a different interpretation, we would be forced to conclude that only an average person can be considered normal, and any deviation from the middle (average norm) should have been recognized as a pathology. This would force us to transcend the norm of those individuals who, by their originality, clearly stand out against the background of the average level. However, that category of people about whom they say “personality” in a positive sense, emphasizing that it has a pronounced original mental warehouse, would also fall into this rubric.

Thus, accentuated personalities potentially contain both the possibility of socially positive achievements and a socially negative charge. A mild degree of accentuation is most often associated with positive manifestations of personality, a high degree with negative manifestations. One can talk about pathology only when the accentuated feature is expressed to a very strong degree and has a devastating effect on the personality as a whole.

A.E. Lichko distinguishes the following types of accentuations: hyperthymic, cycloid, labile, astheno-neurotic, sensitive, psychasthenic, schizoid, epileptoid, hysteroid, unstable and conformal.

As in the case of psychopathy, different types can be combined, or mixed, in one person, although these combinations are not arbitrary.

"Hyperthymic type. It is almost always distinguished by a good, even slightly elated mood, high vitality, bursting energy, irresistible activity. Constant striving for leadership, moreover informal. A good sense of the new is combined with the instability of interests, and great sociability with promiscuity in the choice of acquaintances. Easily mastered in unfamiliar surroundings. There is an overestimation of one's capabilities and overly optimistic plans for the future. Short bursts of irritation are caused by the desire of others to suppress their activity and leadership tendencies.

"Schizoid type. The main features are isolation and lack of intuition in the process of communication. It is difficult to establish informal emotional contacts, this inability is often hard to experience. Rapid exhaustion in contact encourages even greater withdrawal into oneself. The lack of intuition is manifested by the inability to understand other people's experiences, to guess the desires of others, to guess about what was not said aloud. The inner world is almost always closed to others and filled with passions and fantasies that are intended only for themselves and serve to console ambition or are of an erotic nature. Hobbies are distinguished by strength, constancy and often unusual, sophistication. Rich erotic fantasies are combined with outward asexuality. Alcoholization and delinquent behavior are quite rare.”

What situations are difficult for hyperthyms? Those where their behavior is strictly regulated, where there is no freedom to take the initiative, where there is monotonous work or forced inaction. In all these situations, hyperthymas give explosions or breakdowns. For example, if a teenager of this type has overprotective parents who control his every step, then very early he begins to protest, to give sharp negative reactions, up to running away from home.

For individuals with schizoid accentuation, it is most difficult to enter into emotional contacts with people. Therefore, they are maladapted where it is necessary to communicate informally (which is just very suitable for hyperthym). Therefore, they should not be entrusted, for example, with the role of the organizer of a new business: after all, this will require him to establish many connections with people, take into account their moods and relationships, fine orientation in the social environment, flexibility of behavior.

For a hysterical accentuator, the most difficult thing is to endure inattention to his person. He strives for praise, fame, leadership, but soon loses his position as a result of business immaturity and then suffers greatly. It is possible, and sometimes even necessary, to leave a schizoid or a psychasthenic alone; to do the same with an hysteroid means to create a situation of psychological discomfort and even stress.

The above examples show how different and sometimes even qualitatively opposite are the "weak links" of different types of character, as well as their strengths. Knowledge of these weaknesses and strengths is absolutely necessary for the implementation of an individual approach to a person.

The introduction of the concept of "places of least resistance" (or "weak link") of character, as well as the description of these places in relation to each type, is an important contribution to the psychological theory of character. It also has invaluable practical value. The weak points of each character must be known in order to avoid wrong steps, unnecessary stress and complications in the family and at work, when raising children, organizing one's own life, etc.

A person who gets stuck under adverse circumstances can become an intractable, brusque debater, but if circumstances favor such a person, it is possible that he will turn out to be a tireless and purposeful worker.

A pedantic personality, under unfavorable circumstances, can become ill with obsessive-compulsive disorder, under favorable circumstances, an exemplary worker will come out of it with a great sense of responsibility for the task assigned.

A demonstrative personality can act out a rent neurosis in front of us; under other circumstances, it can stand out with outstanding creative achievements. In general, with a negative picture, doctors tend to see psychopathy, with a positive picture, rather, personality accentuation. Such an approach is sufficiently justified, since a mild degree of deviations is more often associated with positive manifestations, and a high degree is associated with negative ones.

The designation "pathological personality" should be used only in relation to people who deviate from the standard and when external circumstances that impede the normal course of life are excluded. However, various border cases must be taken into account.

There is no hard border between normal, average people and accentuated personalities. Here, too, we would not like to approach these concepts too narrowly; it would be wrong, on the basis of some small peculiarity of a person, to immediately see in him a deviation from the norm. But even with a fairly broad approach to what qualities can be called standard, normal, not conspicuous, there are still many people who have to be attributed to accentuated personalities.

personality character accentuation informal

The typology of characters is usually built on the existence of certain characteristics. Typical are traits and manifestations of character that are common and indicative for a certain group of people.

Accordingly, the type of character should be understood as an expression in the individual character of traits common to a certain group of people.

It should also be noted that all typologies of human characters, as a rule, proceed from a number of general ideas.

1. The character of a person is formed relatively early in ontogenesis and manifests itself as a more or less stable personality formation throughout the rest of life.

2. Combinations of personality traits that are part of a person's character are not random.

3. Most people, in accordance with their main character traits, can be divided into typical groups.

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. The classification proposed by Leonhard includes the following types:

1. Hyperthymic type. He is characterized by extreme contact, talkativeness, expressiveness gestures, mimics, pantomimes. Such a person often spontaneously deviates from the original topic of conversation. He has episodic conflicts with people around him because of an insufficiently serious attitude to his official and family responsibilities. People of this type are often the initiators of conflicts themselves, but are upset if others make comments to them about this. Of the positive features that are attractive to communication partners, people of this type are characterized by vigor, a thirst for activity, optimism, and initiative. At the same time, they also have some repulsive features: frivolity, a tendency to immoral acts, increased irritability, projectionism, and an insufficiently serious attitude to their duties. They can hardly endure the conditions of strict discipline, monotonous activity, forced loneliness.

1. Distinctive type. He is characterized by low contact, reticence, and a dominant pessimistic mood. Such people are usually homebodies, burdened by a noisy society, rarely come into conflict with others, lead a secluded life. They highly value those who are friends with them, and are ready to obey them. They have the following personality traits that are attractive to communication partners: seriousness, conscientiousness, a heightened sense of justice. They also have repulsive features. This is passivity, slowness of thinking, slowness, individualism.

3. Cycloid type. He is characterized by fairly frequent periodic mood swings, as a result of which the manner of communicating with people around him also often changes. In a period of high mood, such people are sociable, and in a period of depression, they are closed. During a spiritual upsurge, they behave like people with a hyperthymic character accentuation, and during a recession, they behave like people with a dysthymic accentuation.

4. Excitable type. This type is characterized by low contact in communication, slowness of verbal and non-verbal reactions. Often such people are boring and gloomy, prone to rudeness and abuse, to conflicts in which they themselves are an active, provocative side. They are quarrelsome in the team, powerful in the family. In an emotionally calm state, people of this type are often conscientious, accurate, love animals and small children. However, in a state of emotional arousal, they are irritable, quick-tempered, and have poor control over their behavior.

5. Stuck type. He is characterized by moderate sociability, boringness, a tendency to moralize, and taciturnity. In conflicts, such a person usually acts as an initiator, an active party. He strives to achieve high performance in any business he undertakes, makes high demands on himself; especially sensitive to social justice, at the same time touchy, vulnerable, suspicious, vengeful; sometimes overly arrogant, ambitious, jealous, makes exorbitant demands on relatives and subordinates at work.

6. Pedantic type. A person with this type of accentuation rarely enters into conflicts, acting as a passive rather than an active side in them. In the service, he behaves like a bureaucrat, presenting many formal requirements to those around him. At the same time, he willingly concedes leadership to other people. Sometimes he harasses the household with excessive claims to accuracy. Its attractive features are: conscientiousness, accuracy, seriousness, reliability in business, and repulsive and conducive to the emergence of conflicts - formalism, tediousness, grumbling.

7. Alarm type. People with this type of accentuation are characterized by: low contact, timidity, self-doubt, minor mood. They rarely come into conflict with others, playing a mostly passive role in them, in conflict situations they seek support and support. Often they have the following attractive features: friendliness, self-criticism, diligence. Due to their defenselessness, they also often serve as "scapegoats", targets for jokes.8. Emotive type. These people prefer communication in a narrow circle of the elite, with whom good contacts are established, whom they understand "perfectly". Rarely do they themselves enter into conflicts, playing a passive role in them. Grievances are carried in themselves, not “spilling” out. Attractive traits: kindness, compassion, heightened sense of duty, diligence. Repulsive features: excessive sensitivity, tearfulness.

9. Demonstrative type. This type of accentuation is characterized by the ease of establishing contacts, the desire for leadership, the thirst for power and praise. Such a person demonstrates high adaptability to people and, at the same time, a tendency to intrigues (with an external softness of the manner of communication). People with this type of accentuation annoy those around them with self-confidence and high claims, systematically provoke conflicts themselves, but at the same time actively defend themselves. They have the following features that are attractive to communication partners: courtesy, artistry, the ability to captivate others, originality of thinking and actions. Their repulsive features: selfishness, hypocrisy, boasting, shirking work.

10. Exalted type. He is characterized by high contact, talkativeness, amorousness. Such people often argue, but do not bring matters to open conflicts. In conflict situations, they are both active and passive side. At the same time, the faces of this typological group are attached and attentive to friends and relatives. They are altruistic, have a sense of compassion, good taste, show brightness and sincerity of feelings. Repulsive features: alarmism, susceptibility to momentary moods.

11. Extroverted type. Such people are distinguished by high contact, they have a lot of friends, acquaintances, they are talkative to the point of talkativeness, open to any information, rarely come into conflict with others and usually play a passive role in them. In communication with friends, at work and in the family, they often give up leadership to others, prefer to obey and be in the shadows. They have such attractive features as a willingness to listen carefully to another, to do what is asked, diligence. repulsive peculiarities: susceptibility to influence, frivolity, thoughtlessness of actions, passion for entertainment, participation in the spread of gossip and rumors.

12. Introverted type. It, unlike the previous one, is characterized by very low contact, isolation, isolation from reality, and a tendency to philosophize. Such people love solitude; come into conflict with others only when trying to unceremoniously interfere in their personal lives. They are often emotionally cold idealists with relatively little attachment to people. They have such attractive features as restraint, strong convictions, adherence to principles. They also have repulsive features. This is stubbornness, rigidity of thinking, stubborn upholding of one's ideas. Such people have their own point of view on everything, which may turn out to be erroneous, differ sharply from the opinions of other people, and yet they continue to defend it, no matter what.

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 adaptation disorders and behavioral deviations may occur” (Lichko A.E., 1983). 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 hyperthymp type often overestimate their abilities, are too self-confident, strive to show themselves, show off, and 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. The reasons for an unexpected change in mood can be the most insignificant, for example, someone accidentally dropped a word, someone's unfriendly look. All of them are able to plunge into despondency and a gloomy mood in the absence of any serious troubles 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 peers to communicate with kids and adults. 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, these adolescents develop a sense of duty quite early, 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 outward 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 in difficult times, but no matter what he does, he will always find a “moral” justification for his act, and often not even one.

There are other classifications of character types. For example, the typology of character, built on the basis of a person's attitude to life, society and moral values, is widely known. Its author is E. Fromm, who called this classification a social typology of characters. for this group. According to the author of this concept, the social character determines the thinking, emotions and actions of individuals. The various classes and groups of people that exist in society have their own social character. On its basis, certain social, national and cultural ideas develop and gain strength.

However, these ideas are in themselves passive and can become real forces only when they meet special human needs.

Summarizing the observational data on the behavior of various people and correlating them with the practice of working in the clinic, E. Fromm deduced the following main types of social characters.

1. “Masochist-sadist. This is the type of person who tends to see the causes of his successes and failures in life, as well as the causes of observed social events, not in the circumstances, but in people. In an effort to eliminate these causes, he directs his aggression towards the person who seems to him to be the cause of failure. If it is about himself, then his aggressive actions are directed at himself; if other people act as a cause, then they become victims of his aggressiveness. Such a person is engaged in self-education, self-improvement, "remaking" people "for the better" a lot. With his persistent actions, exorbitant demands and claims, he sometimes brings himself and those around him to a state of exhaustion. Such a person is especially dangerous for those around him when he gains power over them: he begins to terrorize them, proceeding from “good intentions”.

According to Fromm, people of this type, along with masochistic tendencies, almost always have sadistic tendencies. They manifest themselves in the desire to make people dependent on themselves, to acquire complete and unlimited power over them, to exploit them, to inflict pain and suffering on them, to enjoy how they suffer. This type of person was called by Fromm an authoritarian personality. Such personality traits were characteristic of many famous despots in history; Fromm included among them Hitler, Stalin and a number of other famous historical figures.

2. ^Destroyer. It is characterized by pronounced aggressiveness and an active desire to eliminate, destroy the object that caused frustration, the collapse of hopes in this person. “Destructiveness,” writes Fromm, “is a means of getting rid of an unbearable feeling of impotence.” Destructiveness as a means of resolving their life problems is usually addressed by people who experience a sense of anxiety and powerlessness, are limited in the realization of their intellectual and emotional capabilities. During periods of great social upheavals, revolutions, upheavals, they act as the main force that destroys the old, including culture.

3. "Conformist-machine". Such an individual, faced with intractable social and personal life problems, ceases to "be himself." He unquestioningly submits to circumstances, society of any type, the requirements of a social group, quickly assimilating the type of thinking and mode of behavior that is characteristic of most people in a given situation. Such a person almost never has either his own opinion or a pronounced social position. He actually loses his own "I", his individuality and is used to experiencing exactly the feelings that are expected of him in certain situations. Such a person is always ready to submit to any new authority, if necessary, quickly and without problems changes his beliefs, not particularly thinking about the moral side of such behavior. This is a type of conscious or unconscious opportunist.

The classification of characters depending on belonging to the extraverted and introverted type, proposed by K Jung, has become widespread. As you remember, extraversion-introversion is considered by modern psychology as a manifestation of temperament. The first type is characterized by the orientation of the personality to the surrounding world, the objects of which, like a magnet, attract the interests, vital energy of the subject, what in