Trying to independently assess the degree of their own or someone else’s adequacy, people often wonder where the line between normal and pathological psyche and behavior lies. Various accentuations of character are defined as an extreme degree of clinical norm on the border with pathology.

In the second half of the last century, namely in 1968, the German psychiatrist K. Leonhard introduced the concept of “accentuation.” He defined it as abnormal, overly enhanced individual personality traits.

Nine years later, in 1977, the Soviet scientist A.E. Lichko proposed using a more precise and narrow term “character accentuation.” It was these two scientists (K. Leongrad and A. E. Lichko) who made an invaluable contribution to the science of psychology, developing close, complementary concepts and classifications of accentuations.

Character accentuation is the excessive expression of certain traits.
Accentuation is a sign of disharmony and imbalance in a person’s inner world.

When some are too hypertrophied and pronounced, while others are suppressed, the individual becomes vulnerable to certain psychogenic influences and experiences difficulty maintaining a normal lifestyle.

Excessive emphasis and sharpness of certain character traits is perceived by a person and his environment as a kind of psychological problem that interferes with life, and therefore is mistakenly classified as a mental disorder.

Differences between personality accentuation and personality disorder

• Influence on a certain area of ​​life. Accentuation manifests itself in specific stressful and crisis situations affecting one area of ​​life. Personality disorder affects all areas of a person's life.
• Temporality. Character accentuation most often manifests itself in adolescents and occasionally in adulthood. Serious mental disorders develop and tend to intensify later in an individual's life.
• Short duration of social maladaptation or its complete absence. Social maladjustment is a partial or complete loss by an individual of the ability to adapt to the conditions of the social environment. Accentuation, unlike a personality disorder, does not prevent a person from adapting to society and being a full-fledged member of it, or “unsettles” it for a short time.
• Accentuation of character can serve as an impetus for the formation of psychopathy only when the traumatic factors and impact are too strong and prolonged. Also, such a negative impact can provoke acute emotional reactions and nervousness.

Classification of accentuations according to Leonard

The very first scientific classification of accentuations, proposed by the German scientist K. Leonhard, is also considered a typology of characters. It is based on assessing the individual’s communication style with the people around him.

Brief description of twelve types of accentuations according to K. Leonhard:

• Hyperthymic – active, sociable, proactive, irresponsible, conflictual, irritable.
• Disthymic – serious, conscientious, fair, passive, slow, pessimistic.
• Cycloid is a type that alternately manifests itself as hyperthymic and dysthymic.
• Excitable – conscientious, caring, quarrelsome, domineering, irritable, quick-tempered, instinct-oriented.
• Stuck - purposeful, strong-willed, demanding, suspicious, touchy, vindictive, jealous.
• Pedantic – non-conflict, neat, conscientious, reliable, boring, indecisive, formalist.
• Anxious – friendly, efficient, self-critical, fearful, timid, submissive.
• Emotive – kind, compassionate, fair, tearful, overly vulnerable and soft-hearted.
• Demonstrative - courteous, extraordinary, charismatic, self-confident, selfish, vain, boastful, hypocritical, inclined to deceive.
• Exalted - emotional, amorous, altruistic, fickle, changeable, prone to panic and exaggerate.
• Extroverted – active, sociable, friendly, frivolous, short-sighted, subject to outside influence.
• Introverted - reserved, principled, non-conflict, reasonable, little subject to outside influence, closed, stubborn, rigid.

Classification of accentuations according to Lichko

The peculiarity of the classification of character accentuations according to A.E. Lichko is that the Soviet scientist built it on the basis of the results of observations of deviant behavior of adolescents and young men. The theoretical basis for it was the work of K. Leonhard and the Soviet psychiatrist P. B. Gannushkin.

According to A.E. Lichko, character accentuations manifest themselves most at a young age, later they lose their severity, but can become aggravated under unfavorable circumstances.

A.E. Lichko worked with teenagers, but did not limit the scope of his concept strictly to this age period.

Classification of types of character accentuations according to A. E. Lichko:

• Hyperthymic

These are hyperactive, mobile, sociable, cheerful people. Their mood, as a rule, is always high. At the same time, they are restless, undisciplined, conflict-ridden, easily but superficially carried away, overly self-confident, inclined to overestimate their abilities, and boastful. Such people love turbulent companies, excitement and risk.

• Cycloid

Hyperthymia in this case is observed for one to three weeks, and then gives way to subdepression (minor depression). The constant change of elated and depressed mood determined the name of this type of accentuation.

During periods of high spirits, such a person is cheerful, proactive, and sociable. When the mood changes, sadness, apathy, irritability, and a desire for loneliness appear. During periods of subdepression, the cycloid type reacts very sharply to criticism and minor troubles.

• Labile

This type of accentuation differs from the previous one by a sharp and often unpredictable change in mood. Any little thing can cause it. Being in a depressed state, such people seek the support of loved ones, do not isolate themselves, but resort to help, ask for it, and need to be cheered up and entertained.

A labile personality is sensual and sensitive; the attitude of others is felt and understood by her very subtly. Such people are driven, sympathetic, kind, and are strongly and sincerely attached to loved ones.

• Asthenoneurotic

People of this type are disciplined and responsible, neat, but at the same time they get tired too quickly, especially if they have to do difficult mental work or participate in competition. Accentuation manifests itself as irritability, suspiciousness, capriciousness, hypochondria, emotional breakdowns when something does not go according to plan.

• Sensitive

These are very subtle, empathetic and vulnerable people; they acutely feel both joy and sadness and fear. Modest, shy in front of strangers, they are open and sociable with those closest to them.

Unfortunately, these kind and sympathetic people are often insecure and suffer from low self-esteem and an inferiority complex. The sensitive type has a well-developed sense of duty and honor, increased moral requirements and diligence. They know how to be friends and love.

• Psychasthenic

These are intellectually developed people who are inclined to reason, philosophize, and engage in introspection and reflection. Accuracy, calmness, prudence and reliability in their character are combined with indecisiveness, fear of significant responsibility and high demands.

• Schizoid

Closed people who live their own inner world, stable fantasies and interests. They prefer loneliness, are laconic, reserved, demonstrate indifference, are incomprehensible to others and do not understand well the feelings of others.

• Epileptoid

These are cruel, domineering, selfish and at the same time whiny people; their mood is almost always angry and melancholy. They are characterized by the following character traits: jealousy, pettiness, scrupulousness, pedantry, formalism, punctuality, thoroughness, attentiveness.

• Hysterical

Accented, there is a tendency towards theatricality, pathos, and envy. Such people crave increased attention to their person, compliments, praise, delight and admiration, and do not tolerate comparisons that are not for the better. They are active, sociable, and proactive.

• Unstable

These are frivolous, lazy and idle people; they, as a rule, have no desire for educational or work activities, they only want to relax and have fun, and do not think about the future. The unstable type craves absolute freedom and does not tolerate self-control. Such people have a tendency to dependency, are very talkative, open, and helpful.

• Conformal

These are opportunistic people who strive to think and act “like everyone else” and to please society. Such people are friendly and non-conflicting, but their thinking and behavior are rigid. A conformist can mindlessly obey an authority figure or the majority, forgetting about humanity and morality.

In addition to eleven types of accentuation, A. E. Lichko identified two of its degrees:

1. Hidden accentuation is a common variant of the norm, manifests itself in cases of mental trauma, and does not lead to maladjustment.
2. Explicit accentuation is an extreme variant of the norm; accentuated character traits consistently manifest themselves throughout life, even in the absence of mental trauma.

The classification of accentuations by A. E. Lichko remains relevant and popular in our time.

To summarize, we can say that the accentuation of character is the “highlight” that distinguishes an individual from a “normal” person and the “fly in the ointment” in his personality.

The psychological term “character accentuation” is used quite often in everyday life. Many people interested in psychology use special tests to determine whether they belong to a certain psychotype. However, in order to understand the phenomenon of accentuation as best as possible, you should learn about what character is and what factors influence its formation. Let's understand the terminology and consider the classification of accentuations that 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 communication connections with people around you;
• influence on the lifestyle and activity of a particular individual.

What is personality accentuation

The founder of the doctrine associated with accentuation of character is Karl Leonhard. Thanks to his theory, psychologists were able to classify all people into separate groups, depending on their personality type. The only drawback of this theory was that only adults could cope with the test questions. In contrast, adolescents and children lack the necessary life experiences on which to base their testing. This explains the difficulty of determining a child’s character type.

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

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

According to Lichko, studying the accentuation of teenage character is the most important. Many specific personality traits inherent in a person during 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 question was raised in the following works of an outstanding scientist:

1. “Psychopathy and character accentuations in adolescents”;
2. "Adolescent Psychiatry";
3. "Teenage drug addiction."

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

Lichko classification

It was Lichko who was the first scientist who proposed modifying the term “personal accentuation”. In his opinion, this term did not fully reveal the entire nature of this phenomenon. The proposed term “character accentuation” is more correct, since many specific personal characteristics 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 characteristics of upbringing.

Character is an external behavioral and mental reaction to the influence of various events. Such reactions are closely interrelated with the activity of the nervous system and are included in a number of narrow characteristics 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 characteristics eventually transform into psychopathy. The development of accentuation is associated with the influence of such factors 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 traits become more pronounced. Such changes lead to the fact that a person becomes more sensitive to the influence of certain factors. This influence can cause difficulty in adapting to changes in various conditions. But in most cases, the ability to adapt is preserved, but resisting the influence of various factors can be difficult.

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

Degree of accentuation severity

In his research, Lichko notes the existence of two forms of accentuated personality traits. The first form is explicit, and the second is hidden. 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 maladjustment. Hidden accentuations arise against the background of mental trauma, as well as under the influence of stress factors. Such traits rarely impair the ability to adapt, but can cause short-term maladjustment.

Lichko was the first to propose replacing the term “personality accentuation” with “character accentuation”

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 area.

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 obvious accentuations may begin to change, becoming hidden. Hidden accentuations of a certain personality psychotype are revealed under the influence of stress factors and traumatic situations. Certain types of accentuations are characterized by various disorders, which include deviant behavior, acute affective reactions and neuroses. It should also be noted that the influence of external factors and internal mechanisms can lead to transformation of accentuations and contribute to the emergence of psychopathy.

Factors influencing the development of accentuation

Features of human character are closely related to teenage accentuation. In his research, Andrei Lichko raised the question of the connection between a certain age and the development of psychopathy in a given period. According to the scientist, many character traits that are pathologically expressed are reflected in many areas of human life. The severity of various traits determines the behavioral model when communicating with parents, close friends and strangers.

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

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

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

There are certain patterns in the development of different types of accentuation in adolescents. The impact of social and biological factors can lead to the transformation of the hyperthymic type into the cycloid form. Accentuation of character 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 obvious forms into an acute form.

It should be noted that adolescents with obvious accentuations are part of a unique risk group. Exposure to traumatic circumstances and other stimuli can lead to the transformation of pronounced traits into psychopathy. Such 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;
• hysterical (demonstrative);
• labile;
• schizoid (introverted);
• conformal;
• sensitive (sensitive);
• epileptoid (inert-impulsive).

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

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

People with a psychasthenic personality are characterized by increased anxiety, suspiciousness, indecisiveness and pedantry. In contrast, the labile form manifests itself in the form of frequent mood swings, a tendency to affective disorders, infantility and emotional fragility. Such people need constant emotional support from others.

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

Individuals belonging to the asthenoneurotic category are characterized as overly irritable and capricious individuals. Rapid fatigue combined with a low level of concentration is accompanied by physical weakness and suspiciousness. The schizoid type of accentuation manifests itself 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 hysterical 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 the negative influence of external stimuli.

The epileptoid character can be described as impulsiveness and inertia of the behavioral model. Such personalities are characterized by such traits as pedantry, determination and painstakingness. Negative traits include groundless irritability, passion for conflict, and natural hostility.

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

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

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

Character accentuations are often found in adolescents and young men (50-80%). The type of accentuation or its absence can be determined using special psychological tests, for example the Leonhard-Smishek 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 behavioral characteristics depending on the types of accentuation:

1) hyperthymic (hyperactive) - excessively high spirits, 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 low mood, sadness, isolation, taciturnity, pessimism, is burdened by noisy society, does not get along well with colleagues. Rarely enters into conflicts; more often he is a passive party in them;

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

4) emotive (emotional) - excessive sensitivity, vulnerability, deeply experiences the slightest troubles, overly sensitive to comments, failures, so he is often in 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 hobbies, lies. Easily forgets about his unseemly actions;

6) excitable - increased irritability, lack of restraint, aggressiveness, sullenness, “boringness,” but flattery and helpfulness are possible (as a disguise). Tendency to be rude and use obscene language or remain silent and slow in conversation. Actively and often conflicts;

7) stuck - “stuck” on his feelings, thoughts, cannot forget grievances, “settles scores”, intractability at work and in everyday life, a tendency to protracted squabbles, in conflicts they are more often the active party;

8) pedantic - pronounced tediousness in the form of “experiencing” details, in the service he is able to torment visitors with formal requirements, exhausts his family with excessive neatness;

9) anxious (psychasthenic) - low mood, fears for oneself, loved ones, timidity, self-doubt, extreme indecision, experiences failure for a long time, doubts one’s actions;

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

11) introverted (schizoid, autistic) - low sociability, closed, aloof from everyone, communication is necessary, self-absorbed, does not say anything about himself, does not reveal his experiences, although he is characterized by increased vulnerability. Restrainedly cold towards other people, even close ones;

12) extroverted (conformal) - highly sociable, talkative to the point of talkativeness, does not have his own opinion, is not very independent, strives to be like everyone else, disorganized, prefers to obey.

According to the concept of K. Leonhard, in the personality structure, some accentuated traits are determined to a greater extent by temperamental characteristics, and some by character traits. K. Leonhard includes demonstrative, pedantic, stuck and excitable types of accentuations as accentuations of character traits. The remaining variants of accentuations are classified 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 come to the conclusion that only the average person can be considered normal, and any deviation from the average (average norm) would have to be recognized as a pathology. This would force us to take beyond the norm those individuals who, with their originality, clearly stand out from the background of the average level. However, this category would also include that category of people about whom they say “personality” in a positive sense, emphasizing that it has a clearly expressed original mental makeup.”

Thus, accentuated individuals 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. We can talk about pathology only when the accentuated trait is expressed to a very strong degree and has a destructive effect on the personality as a whole.

A.E. Lichko identifies the following types of accentuations: hyperthymic, cycloid, labile, astheno-neurotic, sensitive, psychasthenic, schizoid, epileptoid, hysterical, 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. He is almost always distinguished by a good, even slightly elevated mood, high vitality, bursting energy, and uncontrollable activity. A constant desire for leadership, and informal leadership at that. A good sense of new things is combined with instability of interests, and great sociability with promiscuity in choosing acquaintances. Easily adapt to unfamiliar surroundings. They tend to overestimate their capabilities and have 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 communication process. It is difficult to establish informal emotional contacts, and this inability is often difficult to experience. Rapid exhaustion in contact encourages even greater withdrawal into oneself. Lack of intuition is manifested by the inability to understand other people's experiences, guess the desires of others, and guess what is unspoken out loud. The inner world is almost always closed to others and filled with hobbies and fantasies that are intended only for oneself and serve to console ambition or are of an erotic nature. Hobbies are distinguished by strength, constancy and often unusualness and sophistication. Rich erotic fantasies are combined with external asexuality. Alcoholism and delinquent behavior are quite rare.”

What situations are difficult for hyperthymic people? Those where their behavior is strictly regulated, where there is no freedom to show initiative, where there is monotonous work or forced inaction. In all these situations, hyperthymas give rise to 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, give acute negative reactions, even running away from home.

For persons with schizoid accentuation, it is most difficult to enter into emotional contacts with people. Therefore, they become maladapted where it is necessary to communicate informally (which is very suitable for hypertimus). Therefore, they should not be entrusted, for example, with the role of 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 situation, and flexibility of behavior.

For a hysterical accentuator, the most difficult thing to endure is lack of attention 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 psychasthenic alone; to do the same with a hysteroid means creating a situation of psychological discomfort and even stress.

From the above examples it is clear how different and sometimes even qualitatively opposite the “weak links” of different character types are, as well as their strengths. Knowledge of these strengths and weaknesses is absolutely necessary to implement an individual approach to a person.

The introduction of the concept of the “place 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 significance. You need to know the weak points of each character in order to avoid wrong steps, unnecessary stress and complications in the family and at work, when raising children, organizing your own life, etc.

A stuck person under unfavorable circumstances may become an intractable arguer who does not tolerate objections, 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, may develop obsessive-compulsive neurosis; under favorable circumstances, he will become an exemplary worker with a great sense of responsibility for the work assigned.

A demonstrative personality can act out rental 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, and with a positive picture, rather, an accentuation of the personality. This approach is sufficiently justified, since a mild degree of deviation is more often associated with positive manifestations, and a high degree - with negative ones.

The designation “pathological personalities” 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 edge cases need to be taken into account.

There is no hard boundary between normal, average people and accentuated individuals. Here, too, I would not like to approach these concepts too narrowly, i.e. It would be wrong to immediately see in him a deviation from the norm based on some minor feature of a person. But even with a fairly broad approach to what qualities can be called standard, normal, and not conspicuous, there are still many people who have to be classified as accentuated personalities.

personality character accentuation informal

They are hypertrophied and manifest themselves in the form of “weak points” in the individual’s psyche - its selective vulnerability to certain influences with good and even increased resistance to other influences. Individual accentuated character traits are usually sufficient compensation. However, in difficult situations, a person with an accentuated character may experience behavioral disturbances. Accentuations of character, its “weak points” can be obvious and hidden, manifesting themselves in extreme situations. Persons with personal accentuations are more susceptible to environmental influences and are more susceptible to mental trauma. And if an unfavorable situation strikes a “weak spot,” then the entire behavior of such individuals changes sharply—the features of accentuation begin to dominate (Fig. 95).

The types of accentuated personalities have not yet been definitively determined. They are described by K. Leongard and A. E. Lichko. However, these authors give an overly detailed classification of accentuations. We distinguish only four types of accentuated personalities: excitable, affective, unstable, anxious (Table 12).

Rice. 95. Character Structure

Unlike accentuation of character, they do not cause general social maladjustment of the individual.

Manifesting intensely in adolescence, character accentuations can be compensated over time, and under unfavorable conditions, develop and transform into “edge” psychopathy.

Types of character accentuations

The main types of character accentuation include:

• excitable;
• affective;
• unstable;
• anxious;

Sometimes accentuation borders on various types of psychopathy, therefore, when characterizing and typologizing it, psychopathological schemes and terms are used. Psychodiagnostics of the types and severity of accentuations is carried out using the “Pathocharacteristic Diagnostic Questionnaire” (developed by A. E. Lichko and N. Ya. Ivanov) and the MMPI personality questionnaire (the scales of which include zones of accentuated and pathological manifestations of character).

Accentuation of character according to A. Lichko

According to the level of manifestation of character traits, characters are divided into average (normal), expressed (accentuated) and beyond the norm (psychopathy).

The central, or core, relationships of the individual are the relationship of the individual to others (the team) and the relationship of the individual to work. The existence of central, core relationships and the properties determined by them in the structure of character has important practical significance in the upbringing of a person.

It is impossible to overcome individual character flaws (for example, rudeness and deceit) and cultivate individual positive qualities (for example, politeness and truthfulness), ignoring the central, core relationships of the individual, namely, attitude towards people. In other words, you cannot form only a certain property; you can only cultivate a whole system of interrelated properties, while paying the main attention to the formation of central, core relationships of the individual, namely relationships to others and work.

Integrity of character, however, is not absolute. This is related to that. that the central, core relationships do not always completely determine the others. In addition, the degree of integrity of character is individually unique. There are people with more integral and less integral or contradictory characters. At the same time, it should be noted that when the quantitative expression of a particular character trait reaches extreme values ​​and appears at the border of norms, so-called character accentuation occurs.

Accentuation of character- these are extreme variants of the norm as a result of strengthening of individual traits. 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 ones (social factors).

The physiological basis of character is a fusion of traits such as higher nervous activity and complex stable systems of temporary connections developed as a result of individual life experience. In this fusion, systems of temporary connections play a more important role, since the type of nervous system can form all the social qualities of a person. But, firstly, systems of connections are formed differently in representatives of different types of nervous systems and, secondly, these systems of connections manifest themselves in a unique way depending on the types. For example, decisiveness of character can be cultivated both in a representative of a strong, excitable type of nervous system, and in a representative of a weak type. But it will be nurtured and manifested differently depending on the type.

Attempts to construct a typology of characters have been made repeatedly throughout the history of psychology.

All typologies of human characters proceeded and proceed from a number of general ideas.

The main ones are the following:

• a person’s character is formed quite early in ontogenesis and throughout the rest of his life manifests itself as more or less stable;
• Those combinations of personality traits that make up 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 people can be divided into groups according to this typology.

One of the interesting 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 deviations in human psychology and behavior that do not go beyond the norm, bordering on pathology, are observed. Such accentuations, as temporary mental states, are most often observed in adolescence and early adolescence. The author of the classification explains this factor as follows: “...under the influence of psychogenic factors that are addressed to the “place of least resistance,” temporary adaptation disorders and deviations in behavior may occur.” As the child grows up, the characteristics of his character that appear in childhood remain quite pronounced and lose their severity, but with age they can again appear clearly (especially if a disease occurs).

In today's psychology, there are 10 to 14 types (typologies) of character.

They can be defined as harmonious and disharmonious.

Harmonious character types are characterized by sufficient development of the main character traits without highlighting, isolation, or exaggeration in the development of any particular traits.

Disharmonious ones manifest themselves by identifying different character traits and are called accentuated or accentuated.

In 20-50% of people, some character traits are so sharpened that a “distortion” of character occurs - as a result, interaction with people worsens, difficulties and conflicts arise.

The severity of accentuation can be variable: from mild, noticeable only to the immediate environment, to extreme variants, when you have to think about whether there is a disease - psychopathy. Psychopathy is a painful deformity of character (while maintaining a person’s intelligence), as a result of which relationships with other people are sharply disrupted. But, unlike psychopathy, character accentuations manifest themselves inconsistently, over the years they can completely smooth out and approach the norm. Accentuations of character are most often found in adolescents and young men (50-80%), since these are precisely the periods of life that are most critical for the formation of character, the manifestation of uniqueness, and individuality. Then the accentuations can be smoothed out or, on the contrary, intensified, developing into neuroses or psychopathy.

Rice. 6. Character accentuation scheme according to E. Filatova and A.E. Testicle

We can consider twelve disharmonious (accentuated) character types (according to K. Leonhard’s typology) and describe their positive and negative qualities, which can be reflected in a person’s professional activity - we need this to confirm the foundations of personality differentiation in the aspect of a person’s characterological properties.

Hyperthymic type

He is almost always distinguished by a good mood, high vitality, bursting energy, and uncontrollable activity. Strives for leadership and adventure. It is necessary to be cautious about his unfounded optimism and overestimation of his capabilities. Traits that are attractive to interlocutors: energy, thirst for activity, initiative, a sense of new things, optimism.

What is unacceptable for the people around him is: frivolity, a tendency to immoral acts, a frivolous attitude towards the responsibilities assigned to him, irritability in the circle of close people.

Conflict is possible during monotonous work, loneliness, under conditions of strict discipline, constant moralizing. This causes that person to become angry. Such a person performs well in work that requires constant communication. These are organizational activities, consumer services, sports, theater. It is typical for him to frequently 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 and do not get along closely with their colleagues. They rarely enter into conflicts; more often they are a passive party in them. They greatly value those people who are friends with them and tend to obey them.

People around them like their seriousness, high morality, conscientiousness and fairness. But such traits as passivity, pessimism, sadness, slowness of thinking, “separation from the team” repel others from getting to know and become friends with them.

Conflicts occur in situations that require vigorous activity. For these people, changing their usual lifestyle has a negative impact. They do well in work that does not require a wide range of communication. Under unfavorable conditions, they show a tendency to neurotic depression. This accentuation occurs most often in people of melancholic temperament.

Cycloid type

The accentuation of character is manifested in cyclically changing periods of rise and fall of mood. During periods of rising mood, people manifest themselves as people with hyperthymic accentuation, and during periods of declining mood, as people with dysthymic accentuation. During a recession, they perceive troubles more acutely. These frequent changes in mental state tire a person, make his behavior unpredictable, contradictory, and prone to changing professions, places of work, and interests.

Excitable type

This type of people has increased irritability, a tendency to aggression, lack of restraint, sullenness, and boringness, but flattery, helpfulness, a tendency to rudeness and obscene language or silence, and slowness in conversation are possible. They actively and often conflict, do not avoid quarrels with their superiors, are difficult to get along with in the team, and are despotic and cruel in the family. Outside of fits of anger, these people are conscientious, careful and show love to children.

Those around them do not like their irritability, short temper, inadequate outbursts of rage and anger with assault, cruelty, and weakened control over desire. These people are well influenced by physical labor and athletic sports. They need to develop self-control and self-control. Due to their lack of harmony, they often change jobs.

Stuck type

People with this type of accentuation get stuck on their feelings and thoughts. They cannot forget grievances and “settle scores” with their offenders. They have official and everyday intractability and a tendency to protracted squabbles. In a conflict, they are most often the active party and clearly define their circle of friends and enemies. They show a love of power.

The interlocutors like their desire to achieve high performance in any business, the manifestation of high demands on themselves, a thirst for justice, integrity, strong, stable views. But at the same time, these people have traits that repel others: touchiness, suspicion, vindictiveness, arrogance, jealousy, ambition.

Conflict is possible when pride is hurt, unfair resentment, or an obstacle to achieving ambitious goals.

Pedantic type

These people have a pronounced “boringness” in the form of worrying about details; in the service they are capable of tormenting them with formal requirements, and exhausting their families with excessive neatness.

They are attractive to others because of their conscientiousness and accuracy. seriousness, reliability in deeds and feelings. But such people have a number of repulsive character traits: formalism, “cunning”, “boringness”, the desire to shift decision-making to others.

Conflicts are possible in a situation of personal responsibility for an important matter, when their merits are underestimated. They are prone to obsession and psychasthenia.

For these people, professions that are not associated with great responsibility, “paper work,” are preferred. They are not inclined to change jobs.

Anxious type

People of this type of accentuation are characterized by low mood, timidity, timidity, and lack of self-confidence. They constantly fear for themselves and 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, and unfair accusations.

People around them like their friendliness, self-criticism and diligence. But timidity and suspiciousness sometimes serve as a target for jokes.

Such people cannot be leaders or make responsible decisions, since they are characterized by endless worry and weighing.

Emotive type

A person of this type of character is overly sensitive, vulnerable and deeply worries about the slightest troubles. He is sensitive to comments and failures, which is why he is most often in a sad mood. He prefers a narrow circle of friends and relatives who would understand him perfectly.

He rarely enters into conflicts and plays a passive role in them. He does not splash out his grievances, but prefers to keep them inside. Those around him like his compassion, pity, and expression of joy at the success of others. He is very efficient and has a high sense of duty.

Such a person is usually a good family man. But his extreme sensitivity and tearfulness repel those around him.

He perceives conflicts with a loved one, death or illness tragically. Injustice, rudeness, and 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 due to his courtesy, perseverance, focus, acting talent, ability to captivate others, as well as his originality. He has traits that repel people from him, these traits contribute to conflict: selfishness, unbridled actions, deceit, boastfulness, a tendency to intrigue, shirking from work. A conflict for such a person occurs when his interests are infringed, his merits are underestimated, or he is toppled from his “pedestal.” These situations cause him to have hysterical reactions.

Exalted type

People with this type of accentuation have a very changeable mood, talkativeness, and increased distractibility to external events. Their emotions are clearly expressed and are reflected in falling in love.

Traits such as altruism, artistic taste, artistic talent, brightness of feelings and affection for friends are liked by interlocutors. But excessive impressionability, pathos, alarmism, and susceptibility to despair are not their best traits. Failures and sad events are perceived tragically; such people have a tendency to neurotic depression.

Their environment of existence is the sphere of arts, artistic sports, professions associated with closeness to nature.

Introverted type

People of this type of accentuation are characterized by low sociability and isolation. They are aloof from everyone and enter into communication with other people only when necessary; most often they are immersed in themselves and their thoughts. They are characterized by increased vulnerability, but they do not say anything about themselves and do not share their experiences. They even treat their loved ones coldly and reservedly. 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.

People around them like them for their restraint, sedateness, thoughtfulness of actions, strong convictions and adherence to principles. But stubbornly defending one’s unrealistic interests, views and having one’s own point of view, which is sharply different from the opinion of the majority, pushes people away from them.

Such people prefer work that does not require a large social circle. They are prone to theoretical sciences, philosophical reflections, collecting, chess, science fiction, and music.

Conformal type

People of this type are highly sociable, talkative to the point of talkativeness. Usually they do not have their own opinion and do not strive to stand out from the crowd.

These people are not organized and tend to obey others. When communicating with friends and family, they cede leadership to others. Those around these people like their willingness to listen to others, their diligence. But at the same time, these are people “without a king in their heads”, subject to the influence of others. They do not think about their actions and have a great passion for entertainment. Conflicts are possible in situations of forced loneliness and lack of control.

These people are easily adaptable to new work and cope well with their job responsibilities when tasks and rules of behavior are clearly defined.

In addition to the classification of K. Leongrard, psychologists and psychiatrists use accentuations of Lichko's character.

He expanded and supplemented this concept and developed his own typology of characteristics of sharpened personality traits.

How to help a teenager gain self-confidence? Find out about this from ours.

Brief background

A. Lichko derived his taxonomy of character accentuations, based on G.E. Sukhareva and P.B. Gannushkin.

However, she a little different.

Classification is intended first for the study of adolescence, covers not only accentuations, but also psychopathological character deviations.

Lichko proposed replacing the term “personality accentuations” with “character accentuations,” explaining that personality is a broader concept and cannot be assessed only from the point of view of accentuations.

Attention in research was directed to adolescence, because during this period various psychopathies begin to manifest themselves most clearly.

Types of character accentuation according to Lichko:

Accentuations of character from the point of view of A. E. Lichko

According to Lichko's theory, accentuation is temporary. In the process they may appear and disappear. These changes and personality traits sometimes develop into psychopathy and persist into adulthood.

The direction of development of sharpened personality traits is determined by the social environment and the type of accentuation. It happens obvious and hidden.

According to psychiatrist A. Lichko, accentuations are borderline states between normality and pathology.

Therefore, he built his classification on the basis of types of psychopathy.

Character accentuations - examples:

Classification

The following types of accentuations were identified:

1. Hyperthymic type. Active, restless, poorly controlled by teachers. Labile, easily adapts to changing situations. Teenagers are prone to conflicts with adults, including teachers. They are not afraid of change. The mood is predominantly positive. tend to overestimate their capabilities, so they are able to take risks without hesitation.

   Excitement, noisy, active companies and entertainment are acceptable to them. There are many hobbies, they are superficial.

2. Cycloid. Characterized by frequent mood swings - from good to bad. They prefer loneliness and being at home than active entertainment in the company. Troubles are hard to bear. Reacts painfully to criticism and comments. There is a tendency towards apathy and is easily irritated. Changes in mood can be tied to the time of year.

   In the process of growing up, pronounced features of accentuation can be smoothed out, but sometimes they get stuck at a depressed-melancholic stage. During the period of recovery, when the mood is good, one observes cheerfulness, optimism, high activity, sociability, and initiative. In the opposite state - a bad mood - they show increased sensitivity and react sharply to criticism.

3. Sensitive. People of this type are highly sensitive. Teenagers give the impression of being withdrawn, they do not strive to play together, and are fearful. They treat their parents well and behave obediently. It may be difficult to adapt to a team. An inferiority complex may develop.

   People of this type have a developed sense of responsibility and place high moral demands on themselves and others.

   Perseverance allows you to successfully engage in painstaking work and complex activities. choose carefully. They prefer to communicate with those who are older.

4. Schizoid type. There is isolation, a desire to spend time alone, and isolation from the world. They are indifferent to other people and communication with them, which can manifest itself in a demonstrative avoidance of contacts. They lack such a quality as sympathy, they do not show interest in the people around them, there is no empathy and understanding of the feelings of others. they do not strive to show people their feelings, so their peers do not understand them, considering them strange.
5. 
   Hysterical. They are characterized by a high degree of egocentrism. They need attention from other people and will do anything to get it. Demonstrative and artistic. They worry if attention is paid not to them, but to someone else. They should be admired - one of the important needs of the individual. Hysteroids become the initiator of activities and events, but they themselves are not able to clearly organize them. It is also problematic for them to earn authority among their peers, despite the fact that they strive for leadership. They need praise addressed to them, but they take criticism painfully. Feelings are shallow.

   Prone to deception, fantasies, pretense. They often display a demonstrative type of suicide in an attempt to attract attention and earn the sympathy of others.

6. Conformal type. Teenagers with such accentuation easily obey the will of other people. They have no opinion of their own and follow the group. The basic principle is to be and act like everyone else. At the same time, they are distinguished by conservatism. If they need to protect their interests, they will do anything, finding justification for them. Prone to betrayal. Finds a way to survive in a team by adapting to it and adapting to the leader.
7. Psychasthenic type. Characterized by indecisiveness and unwillingness to take responsibility. They are prone to introspection and are critical of their personality and actions. They have high mental abilities, ahead of their peers. Behavior may be impulsive and thoughtless in actions. They are careful and reasonable, quite calm, but at the same time indecisive and incapable of active actions that require risk and taking responsibility.

   To relieve tension, they tend to use alcohol or drugs. Psychasthenics manifest themselves despotic in personal relationships, which can ultimately lead to their destruction. They are also prone to pettiness.

8. Unstable. They show little interest in studying, which causes a lot of worry for parents and teachers. They have a penchant for entertainment. There are no goals in life, they live one day at a time, and are not interested in anything. The main features are frivolity, laziness, idleness. They are not interested in work either. They do not like to be controlled and strive for complete freedom. They are open to communication, communicative, love conversations. They have a tendency to different types of addictions. They often end up in dangerous companies.
9. Emotionally labile type. Sudden, unpredictable changes in mood. Any little thing, even the wrong glance or spoken word, can be the reason for changes in the emotional state.

   The type is sensitive and needs support, especially during periods of bad mood.

   Treats peers well. Has sensitivity, understands the attitude and mood of others. They become strongly attached to people.

10. Epileptoid type. One of the expressed character traits is cruelty; they tend to offend younger and weaker animals. He prefers to make friends and communicate with adults; the need to establish communication with peers causes discomfort. At an early age they show traits of capriciousness, tearfulness, and require attention.

    They have pride and a desire for power. If they become a boss, their subordinates are kept in fear. Of all accentuations, it is considered the most dangerous personality type, as it has a high degree of cruelty. If they need to make a career and achieve a high position, they know how to please top management, adapt to their requirements, while not forgetting about their interests.

11. Asthenoneurotic type. Show discipline and responsibility. However, they have a high degree of fatigue, this is especially noticeable during monotonous activities or the need to participate in competitive work. Drowsiness and fatigue can occur for no apparent reason. The manifestations of accentuation include irritability, increased suspiciousness, and hypochondria.

    There is a possibility of emotional breakdowns, especially if events do not happen the way asthenics want. Irritability gives way to remorse.

In addition to pronounced types, there may also be mixed characters.

Character accentuation table:

Where is the technique used?

Lichko test expanded to 143 questions. Aimed more at children and teenagers.

Used to identify pronounced problems and accentuations in character, allows you to predict the appearance of psychopathy, begin timely correction of negative conditions, and identify dangerous individuals.

Lichko believed that it was important to study accentuations already in adolescence, since most during this period manifest themselves most clearly and are formed before adolescence.

The use of diagnostic methods, testing, and conversation allows identify the problem in a timely manner and develop a correction program.

How to identify character accentuations? Psychologist's comment: