Typology of character accentuation in a personal way. Accentuations of human character: classification according to Leonhard and Lichko

36. ACCENTUATIONS OF CHARACTER. TYPES OF ACCENTUATIONS

accentuationcharacter- this is an extreme version 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 resistance to others. In other words, accentuation is a variant of mental health (norm), which is characterized by a special severity, sharpness, disproportion of some character traits to the whole personality and leads it to a certain disharmony.

The author of the concept of accentuation is the German psychiatrist Karl Leonhard; he coined the term "accentuated personality". A. E. Lichko clarified this term, changing it to the term "accentuation of character", since personality, in his opinion, is too complex a concept, more suitable for psychopathy.

According to A. E. Lichko, two types (two stages) of accentuations can be distinguished according to the degree of severity:

Explicit accentuation is an extreme version of the norm. Problematic character traits are quite pronounced throughout life, in situations that are both problematic and prosperous. Explicit accentuation in everyday life is called - Psychopath (not to be confused with Psychopathy as a personality disorder).

Hidden accentuation is a common variant of the norm. The problematic character traits of this type are manifested mainly in difficult life situations, in stress and conflicts, although in favorable circumstances we may have a very nice person in front of us.

Accentuation - personality traits, more pronounced than the personality pattern, but not as prominent as in psychopathy. Accentuation of character is a consequence of both heredity factors and one or another type of child upbringing. The factors of upbringing that provoke and reinforce accentuations include hyper-custody, conniving upbringing, emotional rejection, cruel or contradictory upbringing, upbringing in the conditions of the "cult of the disease"

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:

1.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.

2.Emotive(kindness, timidity, compassion). - An analogue of the labile type according to Lichko.

3. Hyperthymic(desire for activity, pursuit of experiences, optimism, focus on good luck);

4. Dysthymic(inhibition, emphasizing ethical aspects, worries and fears, focus on failure);

5.Labile(mutual compensation of traits, focus on different standards);

6.Alarming(fearfulness, timidity, humility);

7. Exalted(inspiration, elevated feelings, erection of emotions into a cult). An analogue of the labile type according to Lichko.

8.Pedantic(indecision, conscientiousness, hypochondria, fear of inconsistency with ideals). An analogue of the psychasthenic type according to Lichko.

9.Stuck(suspiciousness, resentment, vanity, transition from rise to despair); - an analogue of Ixotim, Viscous character according to Kretschmer. Another analogy is epileptoid.

10. Excitable(temper, heaviness, pedantry, focus on instincts). An analogue of the epileptoid type according to Lichko.

The other two types are extroverted and introverted type, were described by K. Leonhard as intermediate types, since they no longer refer 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 - a constant sign is a good mood. Energetic, hyperactive. Friendship is superficial, the soul of the company. Unforgiving. Conformist. Romantic. Loves sex. Straightforward. fair. The family are entertainment partners. Easy to get along with others. With money - goof. Doesn't make a career. The organizer is not bad, but temporarily. Hardworking as part of a team. Working professions. Drink. Non-domestic person. Speech is fast and slurred. Memory and erudition are mediocre. Reflection is weak or absent. Thinks in terms of axioms. Adventurer. Creativity is primitive, unsophisticated. Self-taught. The will is strong. Easily influenced. Dared. Angry. Authentic, not trying to impress. The level of claims is low. Humor greasy, rude. Not religious. Empathy is not well developed. Characterized by anarchy.

Cycloid type - with a cycloid type of character accentuation, the presence of two phases is observed - hyperthymia and subdepression. They are not expressed sharply, usually short-term (1-2 weeks) and may be interspersed with long breaks. A person with a cycloid accentuation experiences cyclical mood swings, when depression is replaced by elevated mood. With a decline in mood, such people show increased sensitivity to reproaches, they do not tolerate public humiliation. However, they are proactive, cheerful and sociable. Their hobbies are unstable, during the recession there is a tendency to abandon business. Sexual life is highly dependent on the ups and downs of their general condition. In the elevated, hyperthymic phase, such people are extremely similar to hyperthyms.

​Labile type - the main feature of the labile type is extreme variability of mood, fast and little predictable switching of the emotional state ... Rich sensory sphere, high sensitivity to signs of attention. Severe mental pain with emotional rejection from loved ones, loss of loved ones and separation from those to whom they are attached. Sociability, good nature, sincere affection, social responsiveness. They are interested in communication, reach out to their peers, are content with the role of a ward.

Astheno-neurotic type- the overall picture is a thin person with narrow shoulders, thin arms and hands, a long and narrow chest, and a belly devoid of fat. The face of an asthenic is usually long, narrow and pale, in profile there is a sharp discrepancy between the elongated nose and a small lower jaw, and therefore it is called angular in shape. The corresponding type of character is schizotim. Closed (the so-called autism), serious, prone to fluctuations in emotions from irritation to dryness, stubborn, inflexible to change attitudes and views. With difficulty adapts to a new environment, prone to abstraction.

sensitive type - excessive sensitivity, impressionability, high moral requirements, first of all, to oneself, low self-esteem, timidity and shyness. Under the blows of fate, they easily become extremely cautious, suspicious and withdrawn. Tastefully dressed, moderately. Good-natured and attentive facial expression. Precautionary, monitors the reactions of others. Executive and dedicated. Able to show kindness and mutual assistance. Very sociable, sociable. Social recognition is important. Interests in the intellectual and aesthetic sphere.

Psychasthenic type - determines the tendency to introspection and reflection. Psychasthenics often hesitate in making decisions and cannot bear the high demands and burden of responsibility for themselves and others. Such subjects demonstrate accuracy and prudence, a characteristic feature for them is self-criticism and reliability. They usually have an even mood without sudden changes. In sex, they are often afraid to make a mistake, but in general, their sex life is uneventful.

schizoid type - Speech: "porridge in the mouth." Non-plastic. This is a formula man. Thinking is original, but inconsistent. In creativity, the process is important, not the result. In science - a generator of ideas. In religion, the theologian. The ideas are paradoxical and often premature. Schizoids are the mind of the earth. Intellectual aggression. Feel bad for others. Creators of semantic humor (including black). Wooden face mask. Lack of image. Sex is speculative. The family is an application to intellectual being. There is a mess on the table. He gravitates towards theoretical research and calculations.

epileptoid type - speech is intelligible. Thinking is standard. Restrained, but explosive. Likes order. Ultimate. Lawyer. Moralizer. tight-fisted. Conservative. Esprit de corps. The conductor of ideology. Inquisitor. Career "gradual". Brings justice. Reliable. Sex is normal. Family man. My home is my castle. "Trench" friendship. He is an officer, teacher, doctor.

hysterical type - hysterical personality, hysteroid - consists of the following features. Firstly, this is the desire to stand out, to attract the attention of others, to be in the center of attention. Secondly, artistry, imagination, ease of getting used to any role and any invented truth. And, thirdly, the lack of objectivity in relation to others and to oneself. Ease of self-justification, natural self-deception is characteristic. You probably learned - these are the most characteristic feminine traits. True, hysteroids are more often women.

Unstable type- an unstable type of character accentuation determines laziness, unwillingness to conduct labor or educational activities in a person. These people have a pronounced craving for entertainment, idle pastime, idleness. Their ideal is to be left without outside control and be left to their own devices. They are sociable, open, helpful. They talk a lot. Sex for them is a source of entertainment, sexual life begins early, the feeling of love is often unfamiliar to them. Prone to alcohol and drug use.

Conformal type- the conformal type is characterized by conformity to the environment, such people tend to "think like everyone else." They do not tolerate drastic changes, breaking the stereotype of life, deprivation of their familiar environment. Their perception is extremely rigid and severely limited by their expectations. People with this type of accentuation are friendly, disciplined and non-confrontational. Their hobbies and sex life are determined social environment. Bad habits depend on the attitude towards them in the nearest social circle, on which they are guided in the formation of their values.

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 intelligence, abilities, worldview ...

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

Accentuations are overly pronounced character traits related to the extreme version of the norm, bordering on psychopathy. With this feature, some traits of a person's character are pointed, disproportionate in relation to the general personality type, leading to a certain disharmony.

The term "personality accentuation" was introduced in 1968 by a psychiatrist from Germany, K. Leonhard, who described this phenomenon as overly pronounced individual personality traits that tended to go into a pathological state under the influence of adverse factors. Later, this issue was considered by A.E. Lichko, who, on the basis of the works of Leongrad, developed his own classification and introduced the term “character accentuation” into everyday life.

And although the accentuated character is by no means identified with a mental illness, it is important to understand that it can contribute to the formation of psychopathologies (neurosis, psychosis, etc.). In practice, it is very difficult to find the line to separate "normal" from accentuated personalities. However, psychologists recommend identifying such people in teams, because accentuation almost always determines special abilities and psychological disposition to specific activities.

Classifications

Accentuations of character in terms of severity can be explicit and hidden. Explicit accentuation is an extreme version of the norm, when certain character traits are expressed throughout life. The manifestation of hidden accentuations is usually associated with some kind of traumatic circumstances, which, in principle, is the usual version of the norm. During a person's life, the forms of accentuations can change from one to another under the influence of various external and internal factors.

Lichko classification

The most common and understandable classifications of character types include the aforementioned systems developed by Leonhard and Lichko. Lichko studied character accentuations that can be observed in adolescence to a greater extent, and the following types are distinguished in his classification:

View	Characteristics
Hyperthymic	This type is characterized as "overactive", with its inherent increased vitality and mood. Personalities with such accentuations cannot endure any monotony and loneliness, crave communication, are prone to frequent changes in hobbies and activities, as a result of which they rarely finish what they started
Cycloid	Hyperthymia alternates with a subdepressive phase with characteristic cyclic mood changes
Labile	Emotional lability is expressed in frequent and causeless mood swings. People with this character trait are extremely sensitive, tend to openly demonstrate positive emotions in relation to others, are distinguished by social responsiveness and sociability.
sensitive	Often, sensitive accentuations are manifested in an inferiority complex, shyness, and increased impressionability. The interests of such personalities often lie in the intellectual and aesthetic spheres.
Astheno-neurotic	Manifested in capriciousness, suspiciousness, increased irritability, fatigue during any mental work
Schizoid	Individuals of the schizoid type are usually very reserved, preferring solitude. If we talk about teenagers, then they may not be drawn to their peers at all, preferring to be in the company of adults. With external indifference inner world such personalities are often filled with a variety of fantasies and hobbies
Psychasthenic	People with a psychasthenic type accentuation are prone to introspection, long-term hesitation when it is necessary to make a decision, fear of responsibility, self-criticism
epileptoid	Character traits the individual is determined by authoritarianism, increased excitability, tension, irritability with bouts of anger
hysterical	Hysteroid personalities always want to be in the center of everyone's attention, they are self-centered, afraid of becoming the object of ridicule, prone to demonstrative suicide
Conformal	The individual tends to mindlessly obey any more authoritarian person, strives not to differ from others in any way, in fact, being an opportunist
Unstable	People of this type often have a craving for various kinds of entertainment, laziness, lack of reflection on the future and professional interests.

Classification of Leongrad

In many ways, the classification of character types proposed by Leongrad, who studied character accentuations mainly in adults, is similar and identified the following types:

View	Characteristic
Hyperthymic	Talkativeness, readiness to always make contact, pronounced facial expressions and gestures, energy and initiative, sometimes conflict, frivolity and irritability
distymny	The opposite of the previous type, characterized by low contact and a generally pessimistic attitude and passivity
Cycloid	Frequent mood swings, which affect the behavior and manner of communication with other people
Excitable.	It is characterized by delayed non-verbal and verbal reactions, however, in a state of emotional arousal, irritability and even aggression are possible.
stuck.	Boredom, a tendency to instruct, touchy, and sometimes even vindictive
Pedantic	In conflicts, such an individual usually participates as a passive observer, is distinguished by conscientiousness and accuracy, but is prone to formalism and tediousness.
alarming	Depression, self-doubt, performance
emotive	Such individuals feel comfortable only in the circle of selected close people, are able to empathize and sincerely rejoice in someone else's happiness, are tearful and hypersensitive.
Demonstrative	There is a pronounced desire for leadership, artistry, non-standard thinking, selfishness, hypocrisy, a tendency to boast
Exalted	Talkativeness, altruism, a tendency to commit impulsive acts
extroverted	Personalities of this type usually make contact easily, have many friends, are non-conflict, but quite easily succumb to other people's influence, sometimes commit rash actions, have a tendency to spread gossip
introverted	From previous given type has low contact. Introverted personalities show a tendency to philosophize, loneliness, adherence to principles, restraint, stubbornness

One of the modifications of the Leongarad classification is the Shmishek system, which proposed to divide the types of accentuations into accentuations of temperament and character. So, he attributed hyperthymia, distimism, cyclothymia, anxiety, exaltation and emotiveness to accentuations of temperament. But the author ranked excitability, stuckness, demonstrativeness and pedantry directly as accentuations of character.

Examples

The most striking examples of types of character accentuations can be popular heroes of modern animated films and literary works, endowed with pronounced personal characteristics. So, an unstable or dysthymic type of personality is well illustrated in the hero of the famous children's work"The Adventures of Pinocchio" by Pierrot, whose mood is usually bleak and depressed, and his attitude to surrounding events is pessimistic.

The donkey Eeyore from the cartoon about Winnie the Pooh is best suited to the asthenic or pedantic type. This character is distinguished by unsociableness, fear of disappointment, concern own health. But the White Knight from the famous work "Alice in Wonderland" can be safely attributed to an extroverted schizoid type, characterized by intellectual development and unsociableness. Alice herself belongs rather to the cycloid type, which is characterized by alternating increased and decreased activity with corresponding mood swings. The same way The character of Don Quixote Cervantes is also revealed.

The accentuation of the character of the demonstrative type is clearly manifested in Carlson - narcissistic a character who loves to show off, striving to always be the object of everyone's attention. Winnie the Pooh from the children's book of the same name and the cat Matroskin can be safely attributed to the excitable type. These two characters are similar in many ways, as both are distinguished by an optimistic warehouse, activity and immunity to criticism. An exalted character can be observed in the hero of the modern cartoon "Madagascar" King Julian - he is eccentric, inclined to exaggerate his own emotions, does not tolerate inattention to himself.

The labile (emotional) type of character accentuation is revealed in Tsarevna-Nesmeyana, but the fisherman from A.S. Pushkin "On the Fisherman and the Fish" is a characteristic representative of the conformal (extroverted) type, who finds it easier to adapt to the opinions of others than to defend his point of view. The paranoid (stuck) type is typical for most purposeful and self-confident super-heroes (Spider-Man, Superman, etc.), whose life is a constant struggle.

Formation factors

The accentuated character is formed, as a rule, under the influence of a combination of various factors. There is no doubt that one of the key roles in this is played by heredity, that is, some innate personality traits. In addition, the following circumstances may influence the appearance of accentuations:

• Appropriate social environment. Since character is formed from an early age childhood, greatest influence the development of personality is influenced by the people around the child. He unconsciously copies their behavior and adopts their features;
• Destructive upbringing. Lack of attention from parents and other people around, excessive guardianship or severity, lack of emotional closeness with the child, excessive or conflicting demands, etc.;
• Dissatisfaction of personal needs. With an authoritarian type of management in the family or school;
• Lack of communication in adolescence;
• Inferiority complex, high self-esteem or other forms of disharmonious self-image;
• Chronic diseases, especially those affecting the nervous system, physical disabilities;
• Profession. According to statistics, character accentuations are more often observed among representatives of such professions as actors, teachers, medical workers, military, etc.

According to scientists, the accentuation of character is more often manifested in the puberty period, but as they grow older, it turns into a latent form. As for the genesis of the phenomenon under consideration, a number of previous studies show that, in general, education itself cannot create conditions in which, for example, a schizoid or cycloid personality type could be formed. However, with certain relationships in the family (excessive indulgence of the child, etc.), it is quite possible that the child will develop a hysterical character accentuation, etc. Very often, people with a hereditary predisposition have mixed types of accentuations.

Peculiarities

Accentuations of character are found not only in their "pure" form, easily classifiable, but in a mixed form. These are the so-called intermediate types, which are the result of the simultaneous development of several different features. Taking into account such personality traits is very important when raising children and building communication with adolescents. It is also necessary to take into account the features of an accentuated character when choosing a profession, when identifying a predisposition to a particular type of activity.

Very often, an accentuated character is compared with psychopathy. It is important to take into account the obvious difference here - the manifestation of accentuations is not permanent, since over time they can change their degree of expression, smooth out or disappear altogether. Under favorable life circumstances, individuals with an accentuated character are even able to reveal special abilities and talents in themselves. For example, a person with an exalted type can discover the talent of an artist, actor, etc. in himself.

As for the manifestations of accentuations in adolescence, this problem is very relevant today. According to statistics, almost 80% of adolescents have character accentuations. And although these features are considered temporary, psychologists talk about the importance of their timely recognition and correction. The fact is that some of the pronounced accentuations under the influence of certain adverse factors can transform a mental illness already in adulthood.

Treatment

Excessively pronounced accentuation of character, leading to a clear personality disharmony, may indeed require some treatment. It is important to emphasize that therapy for the problem under consideration should be inextricably linked with the underlying disease. For example, it has been proven that with repeated craniocerebral injuries against the background of an accentuated character, the formation of psychopathic disorders is possible. Despite the fact that character accentuations themselves are not considered pathologies in psychology, they are quite close to mental disorders in a number of ways. In particular, an accentuated character is one of the psychological problems in which it is not always possible to maintain normal behavior in society.

Explicit and hidden character accentuations are diagnosed during special psychological tests using appropriate questionnaires. Treatment is always prescribed individually, depending on the specific type of accentuation, its causes, etc. As a rule, correction is carried out with the help of psychotherapy in an individual, family or group form, but sometimes additional drug therapy may be prescribed.

The psychological term "character accentuation" is used quite often in Everyday life. Many people who are interested in psychology use special tests to determine their belonging to a particular psychotype. However, in order to understand the phenomenon of accentuation as best as possible, one should learn about what character is and what factors influence its formation. Let's look at the terminology and consider the classification of accentuations, which was proposed by the Soviet psychiatrist Andrei Lychko.

The theory of accentuated personalities quickly proved its validity and usefulness.

First you need to understand the meaning of the word "character". This term is used in psychology to describe a set of specific personality traits that determine the worldview, attitude towards other people and define a person in society. There are three character traits:

• formation of an individual behavioral model of a person;
• assistance in creating communicative links with other people;
• impact on the way of life and activity of a particular individual.

What is personality accentuation

The founder of the doctrine associated with character accentuation is Karl Leonhard. Thanks to his theory, psychologists were able to classify all people into separate groups, depending on the type of their personality. The only drawback of this theory was that only adults could handle the questions on the test. In contrast, adolescents and children do not have the necessary life experience based on which they could be tested. This explains the difficulty of determining the type of character in a child.

Andrey Lichko, a domestic specialist in the field of psychiatry, devoted his research to this problem. His work is a modified test of Leonhard, which can be applied to any person, regardless of belonging to a certain age group.

Types of character accentuation according to Lichko are a completely reworked model proposed by Leonhard, to which several new types of character have been added.

According to Lichko, the study of adolescent accentuation is the most important. Many specific personality traits inherent in a person in childhood manifest themselves most clearly in adolescence. It was this factor that made it possible to expand the characteristics of many types of accentuations, as well as to study their modification as they grow older. This issue was raised in the following works of an outstanding scientist:

1. "Psychopathies and character accentuations in adolescents";
2. "Adolescent Psychiatry";
3. "Adolescent Addiction".

Andrey Lichko modified the Leonhard test for determining accentuations in order to use it in childhood and adolescence

Lichko classification

It was Lichko who was the first scientist who proposed to modify the term "personality accentuation". In his opinion, this term did not fully reveal the full nature of this phenomenon. The proposed term "character accentuation" is more correct, since many specific personality traits cannot be generalized under a single concept. human personality is a collective concept that includes the level of education, mental and behavioral reactions, worldview and features of education.

Character - is an external behavioral and mental reaction to the influence of various events. These reactions are closely related to the activity nervous system and are included in a number of narrow characteristics of the features of the behavioral model. According to the psychiatrist, some character traits are temporary in nature and, as they grow older, they change or completely disappear. Some of these features eventually transform into psychopathy. The development of accentuation is associated with the influence of factors such as a specific type of accentuation, the severity of this type and social influence.

In psychology, accentuation is one of the types of character deformation, in which certain features become more pronounced. Such changes lead to the fact that a person becomes more sensitive to the influence of certain factors. This influence can make it difficult to adapt to changes. various conditions. But in most cases, the ability to adapt remains, however, the opposition to the influence of various factors can be difficult.

According to Lichko, accentuation is a kind of border located between psychopathy and a normal psyche. This means that the classification of accentuations is closely related to the typology of psychopathy.

The degree of severity of accentuation

In his research, Lichko notes the existence of two forms of accentuated personality traits. The first form is explicit, and the second is hidden. An explicit degree is a condition in which pronounced features persist throughout a person's life. Such traits are compensated by the psyche, even in the absence of mental trauma. At the same time, pronounced accentuations in adolescents can cause maladaptation. Hidden accentuations occur against the background of mental trauma, as well as under the influence of stress factors. Such traits rarely disrupt the ability to adapt, but can cause short-term maladjustment.

Lichko was the first to propose replacing the term "personality accentuations" with "character accentuations"

Despite the fact that the phenomenon of accentuation has been studied for more than fifty years, science has not been able to find answers to questions related to the dynamics and development of certain types of accentuation. Andrey Lichko, who devoted his life to studying this phenomenon, is one of those who made a significant contribution to the development of this direction.

According to experts, the formation and development of accentuations begins in adolescence.. At the end of puberty, such features become smoother and are compensated by others. Some of the overt accentuations may begin to change, becoming hidden. Hidden accentuations of a certain psycho-type of personality are revealed under the influence of stress factors and psycho-traumatic situations. For certain types of accentuations, various violations are characteristic, which include deviant behavior, acute affective reactions and neuroses. It should also be noted that the impact of external factors and internal mechanisms can lead to the transformation of accentuations and contribute to the emergence of psychopathy.

Factors affecting the development of accentuation

Features of the human character are closely related to adolescent accentuation. In his research, Andrei Lichko raised the issue of the relationship between a certain age and the development of psychopathy in a given period. According to the scientist, many character traits that have a pathological severity are reflected in many areas of human life. The severity of various traits determines the behavioral model during communication with parents, close friends and strangers.

Thanks to this factor, it becomes possible to accurately identify adolescents with a hyperthymic behavior pattern, which is characterized by a strong release of energy, as well as a hysterical behavioral model, which manifests itself in the form of an uncontrollable desire to be in the center of attention of people around. In addition, psychiatrists have the opportunity to identify schizoid behavior, which manifests itself in the form of voluntary social isolation.

In adolescence, many personality traits are stable, but at a certain period they become sharper. It is this time period that is the most critical, since there are all the necessary conditions for the emergence of psychopathy. Each of the psychopathy occurs in a certain age period . A person with a schizoid type of character can be identified in the first years of his life. The hyperthymic type of accentuation manifests itself between the ages of twelve and sixteen.

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

In development different types accentuation in adolescents, there are certain patterns. The impact of social and biological factors can lead to the transformation of the hyperthymic type into the cycloid form. Character accentuation is more typical for adolescence, since specific personality traits appear at puberty with maximum brightness. At the end of this period of time, they acquire a smoother shape and are compensated. However, there is a possibility of transformation of explicit forms into an acute form.

It should be noted that adolescents with obvious accentuations are in a kind of risk group. The impact of psychotraumatic circumstances and other irritants can lead to the transformation of pronounced traits into psychopathy. Such a transformation becomes the cause of deviation, delinquency and the emergence of suicidal tendencies.

Classification system

The methodology developed by Andrey Lichko is based on the classification systems proposed by Leonhard and Gannushkin. This classification includes the following forms of accentuations:

• cycloid;
• unstable;
• psychasthenic (anxious-manic);
• hyperthymic;
• asthenoneurotic;
• hysteroid (demonstrative);
• labile;
• schizoid (introvertive);
• conformal;
• sensitive (sensitive);
• epileptoid (inert-impulsive).

In addition to the above, there is also a mixed form, which combines the features of different types of accentuation.

The hyperthymic form of accentuation can be characterized as a tendency to positive, rare temper and irritability. This character warehouse is characterized by high energy, combined with vital activity, good health and increased performance. The sensitive form appears as high level responsibility, unstable self-esteem and hypersensitivity. Such people are shy, impressionable and shy of others. The cycloid type of character manifests itself in the form of frequent changes in mood, irritability and a tendency to depressive disorder. Despite this, such people are often in high spirits and positively look at the world around them.

For people with a psychasthenic personality, increased anxiety, suspiciousness, indecision and pedantry are characteristic. In contrast, the labile form manifests itself in the form of frequent mood changes, a tendency to affective disorders, infantilism and emotional fragility. Such people need constant emotional support from others.

The path of development of accentuation is determined by its severity, the social environment and the type (hidden or explicit) of accentuation

Individuals belonging to the asthenoneurotic category are characterized as overly irritable and capricious persons. Rapid fatigue, combined with a low level of concentration, is accompanied by physical weakness and suspiciousness. Schizoid type accentuation is manifested in the form of empathy and pronounced emotionality. Such people prefer isolation and voluntary social isolation.

The conformal type of character implies high social adaptation, conservatism and stereotyped thoughts. The hysteroid group is more characterized by demonstrative behavior, increased emotionality, unstable self-esteem and a thirst for public attention. People belonging to the unstable category have a weak will and rarely resist negative influence external stimuli.

The epileptoid character warehouse can be described as impulsiveness and inertia of the behavioral model. Such personalities are characterized by such traits as pedantry, purposefulness and painstakingness. Among negative traits groundless irritability, a passion for conflicts and natural hostility should be highlighted.

It is important to pay attention to the fact that this system was developed to classify the behavioral model of adolescents. However, it is the Lichko system that is most often used to determine the type of character in adults. Knowing the key character traits allows you to create a more productive communication between people. This means that personality classification systems help to identify features in a behavioral pattern and understand the incentives that a particular individual pursues.

Accentuations (from Latin accentus - stress, underline) - extreme variants of the norm, in which individual character traits 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 stability to other influences.

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.

Fig.1.

We distinguish only four types of accentuated personalities: excitable, affective, unstable, anxious.

Unlike psychopathy, character accentuations do not cause a general social maladjustment of the personality.

Intensively manifesting itself in adolescence, character accentuations can be compensated over time, and with 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 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).

Character accentuation is the extreme version 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 also be brought up in a representative of a strong, excitable type 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 ontogeny and during the rest of his life manifests himself as more or less stable;

§ those combinations of personality traits that are part of a person's character are not random. 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 that address "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 a “skew” of character occurs - 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 - psychopathy. Psychopathy is a painful deformity of character (while maintaining the intellect of a person), as a result of which relationships with surrounding 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.

Figure 2. Scheme of character accentuation according to E. Filatova and A.E. Testicle

You can consider twelve disharmonious (accentuated) types of character (according to the typology of K. Leonhard) and describe their positive and negative qualities that may affect professional activity of a person - we need this to confirm the foundations of personality differentiation in terms of the characterological properties of a person.

Hyperthymic type

Almost always different 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 have 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 work well. physical work, 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 the center of attention 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 features that repel people from him, these features 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 affection for 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 realm of the arts, artistic views 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 when 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 in solitude 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, sedateness, thoughtfulness of actions, the presence of strong convictions and adherence to principles. But the stubborn upholding of one's unrealistic interests, views and the presence of one's 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 are easily adaptable to new job and do an excellent job with their job responsibilities when tasks and rules of conduct are clearly defined.

Conclusion on the fourth chapter

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.

character personality age psychological