character accentuation

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Accentuation of character is an extreme version of the norm, in which individual 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 the usual version 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 is a personality trait that is more pronounced than a 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”.

Character accentuations have characteristic types, such as schizoid, hysteroid, epileptoid and other types.

Note that talking about personality accentuations is always talking about the negative, about problematic personality traits. Understanding myself, who I am — more schizoid or paranoid, is no more inspiring than seeing others as a severe epileptoid, or a hysterical lady. In the circle of problem people, talking about accentuations is appropriate, in the circle of developed, educated, prosperous and mentally healthy people, looking at accentuations is no longer appropriate. What is appropriate? To note the orientation of the personality and a specific ethic type (Consumer or Creator?), who is close to socionics — sociotype, to look closely, what is the predominant style of influence (Silovik? Darling? Tactician?), the development of traits and features important for business or relationships: the level of energy, the degree of decency, the development of positive, constructive and responsible.