Character accentuation - norm or pathology

Character accentuations are borderline variants of the norm, in which one character traits are developed too much, while others are in oppression. That is, mental health is formally in order, but the character is unharmonic, with some "pointed corners".

The author of the concept of character accentuation is Carl Leonhard, a German psychiatrist. He belongs to the term "accentuated personality", and the Soviet psychologist A.E. Lichko clarified that the personality is too broad a notion, therefore the concept of accentuation is better attributed to the character of a person.

The severity of manifestations of accentuations can be of two types: explicit and hidden.

The hidden variant is the usual norm, but stressful situations and difficult life conditions begin to show accentuated features.

But the obvious and systematic manifestations of character accentuation make one think about possible disorders of the human psyche. In their extreme manifestations of accentuation are similar to psychopathy, but still these are different concepts.

Psychopathy is a painful, socially dangerous behavior change that does not affect the intellectual sphere, but significantly hinders communication with other people. If the manifestations of psychopathy become stronger only over the years, the character accentuations are often smoothed out and cease to be too noticeable.

The character accentuation for Leongard is divided into 10 main types.

Demonstrative type

The main task in communication for such a person is to attract attention. He seeks to impress the surrounding people in all possible ways. His stories are mostly about himself, his experiences, events from his life. The demonstrative type is very vain, likes to show off and be in the spotlight. For this, it uses all methods, both with a plus sign, and with a minus sign.

Excitable type

Its main feature is the impulsiveness of behavior. Logic and rational thinking do not matter to him. Such a person is guided by attraction, impulse, uncontrollable motivation. Excitable people have absolutely no tolerance for others and the ability to wait.

Hypertensive type

It is characterized by an upbeat mood and an optimistic outlook on life. Even if there are no external reasons, hypertim is still smiling and sincerely believes that everything will be fine. He is always active, sociable and possessed by a thirst for action. At the same time, he really overcomes difficulties by virtue of his positive attitude and active nature.

Dysthymic type

This is the opposite of the hypertimic type. Dysthymas tend to see life in gloomy tones, they are waiting for bad events and bad attitude of other people. These are extremely serious individuals who are not characterized by vivacity and activity.

Exalted type

Such people are very expressive of their emotions. Any event causes an explosion of enthusiasm or tears of despair. Extreme internal impressionability finds the brightest external expression.

Pedantic type

People of this type are distinguished by indecision, caution and increased accuracy in everything. They are very difficult to decide on any changes in life, they carefully think and weigh everything. In everyday life very conscientious, from others require cleanliness and order.

Alarm type

Anxiety and heightened anxiety due to hypothetical failures and losses are peculiar to such people. At the same time, objective reasons for experiences will be insignificant or even invented. People of anxious type are characterized by shyness, submissiveness and insecurity.

Cyclotymic type

In the cyclothymus, in turn, hypertimic and dysthymic features manifest themselves. His behavior is a change in the phases of recovery and recession. Joyful events make him thirst for activity, talkative, optimistic. And the sad can lead to slow reactions, thinking, to suppress the expression of emotions.

Jamming type

People who are stuck in the type for a very long time retain an emotional response to negative events. The surrounding characterizes them as vindictive and vindictive people. Stuck-up people can fantasize about revenge for their offender for a long time, and conduct dialogue dialogues with him. The painful touchiness of this type of personality is immediately evident.

Emotional type

They are kind-hearted, kind, sincere people. They have an extremely developed ability to empathize and empathize. The pain and suffering of other people make them very often cry. Thin emotions they literally miss through their heart - this is very noticeable when dealing with emotive people.

Character accentuations are found in every second teenager, therefore at the age of 13-14 years it is necessary to conduct a test for character accentuation. This will help adolescents understand themselves, and adults will find it easier to explain and predict the behavior of children.