Schizoid disorder personality or schizoid psychopathy are behavioral characteristics of a person that manifest themselves in avoidance of relationships that may be rich in emotions and experiences. And both negative and positive. Warm feelings or experiences are replaced by fantasies, overly “thought out”, rethought and theorized. This kind of substitution and avoidance occurs due to the fact that real relationships and emotional connections with other people bring fatigue and discomfort.
Speaking about the schizoid personality type, it is worth saying that the most noticeable signs may be precisely this disinterest in any contacts with others and a clear disregard for social norms. Such people may not respond to greetings, dress “strangely” even for the current very tolerant times, do not respect the chain of command, which is why they have constant problems in socialization, both at the stage of training and in the process of trying to get a job. They often have an attitude towards society as a “herd”, which adjusts them to its laws, and therefore a disdainful attitude towards the majority of people, above whom they feel themselves.
It is believed that there are generally eight character types: narcissistic, paranoid, obsessive-compulsive, psychopathic, hysterical, depressive-manic, masochistic and schizoid.
The schizoid type of character is caused by a certain discrepancy between the feeling of oneself and the world around us, a feeling of detachment.
Many famous geniuses were schizoid: Albert Einstein, Van Gogh, Kant, Hegel, Archimedes, Newton, Bach... Among living people, these include the intellectual Anatoly Wasserman and the mathematician Grigory Perelman, who refused the European Mathematical Society Prize in 1996, in 2006 – Fields Medal and in 2010 – the Clay Mathematical Institute Millennium Prize.
Besides, schizoid type character is even attributed to fictional heroes: Don Quixote and the Hedgehog in the Fog.
People with a schizoid character type tend to:
How and why this type is formed
On this score there is a large number of theories. From a physiological point of view, the nerve endings of schizoids are more sensitive. Even at a very young age, such children may show irritation or depression from the strong lighting of the room or the constant hubbub. It’s no secret that many kids, on the contrary, love the constant presence of adults, it calms them down and gives them a feeling of security. In schizoids, on the contrary, “extra people and movements” tire.
Other theories explain development in connection with the specifics of upbringing: a tough, nervous, explosive, critical father and a “loving” mother who violates personal boundaries. In addition, significant factors for the formation of this type are:
Such a child spends his childhood alone and often in a harassed state. He is better off alone, alone with books, fantasies and conclusions. But, despite their well-read and calm nature, teachers also do not like such a child: he does not participate in amateur activities, cannot explain or write anything beautifully, and “too much” knowledge in narrow areas can generally cause a feeling of competition and a desire to “punish an upstart who undermines authority.” teacher."
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of schizoid psychopathy can be made by a specialist if four or more symptoms are present:
However, a schizoid personality is not always the same in behavior if you observe it. Manifestations can be either of the autistic type with all additional signs (including an extreme degree of problems with socialization), or of the sthenic schizoid type with high success in narrowly focused areas of activity that require extreme forms of pragmatism, coldness and unemotionality in decision making.
One example describes a human resources policy advisor for a large enterprise, who became famous for his absolutely “impersonal” approach to assessing the importance of a particular employee for the overall successful operation of the enterprise, regardless of the employee’s length of service, his prior contribution, current family circumstances, health status and other additional nuances that emotionally responsive people always look at. As a result, he fired workers who had devoted their entire lives to this production and were currently experiencing any life difficulties. And the case became famous due to several suicides committed by fired people and which did not cause any emotional reaction in the described adviser.
However, schizoid personality disorder is never diagnosed in the presence of schizophrenia, Asperger's syndrome and delusional disorders.
According to Theodore Millon, there are four subtypes of this disorder:
- exhausted, lethargic type, which is characterized by chronic exhaustion, fatigue, lethargy, slowness, apathy;
- an anxious, distant type, which is characterized by isolation and separation from the realities of life, isolation, wandering, the inability to stay in one job for a long time and to find a job at all;
- depersonalized type, the main specificity of which is a feeling of separation of one’s body and consciousness, absorption in fantasy;
- the unemotional type, gloomy and the most emotionally unperturbed.
According to the classification, schizoid disorder belongs to the cluster of unusual and eccentric disorders. The manifestations that were described earlier should be observed from the period of early maturity, that is, from eighteen years of age and older.
It should also be emphasized that some signs must be correlated with age criteria, physiological characteristics and aspects of upbringing. For example, the need for sexual contact may fade with age or be suppressed by a certain upbringing, and the lack of friends may be due to negative life experience or a physical feature that becomes a psychological barrier. However, in these cases, the person does not lose his emotional assessment of this fact: he complains, worries, gets angry, ironizes, makes excuses. In a word, he shows emotions.
In psychoanalysis, such problems are interpreted from the point of view of the presence of a borderline level of development of personal organization in the schizoid personality type. The schizoid type has a tendency to “defensive fantasizing.” Another of his defense mechanisms is intellectualization, which allows him to reduce the emotional significance of events without avoiding the events themselves.
Moreover, his necessary support is sublimation, which is based on his fantasies. With its help, internal tension is relieved, and energy is redistributed in another direction, which is more acceptable for such a person: drawing, sculpture, solving incredible problems.
The main meaning of this approach is that the primary conflict that forms schizoidism is the problem of rapprochement and distance. Such a person constantly maintains a distance from other people, which makes him want to get closer. However, he regards rapprochement as a violation of personal boundaries and absorption, which forces the schizoid to jealously maintain this very distance in order to preserve personal space in his concept. This explains the eccentricity and dissimilarity of many such individuals: following generally accepted norms is also regarded as “absorption.” Therefore, the schizoid clearly neglects the laws of society and social norms.
However, this type of personality does not always act independently. Most often, we are faced with a schizoid-hysteroid personality type, in which schizoid personality disorder adds symptoms of hysteroid: suggestibility, inadequate demonstration of one’s sexual and external attractiveness, posing and “showing off” are added.
Moreover, it should be noted that since he demonstrates this same “attractiveness,” such a person often fits into public opinion: “you can’t look without tears.” Too bright color combinations, overtly emphasizing their shapes. In a word, a red skirt, green tights, an incomprehensible, old-fashioned, but revealing top and at the same time not washed hair- a completely normal picture of such a girl. Remarks about the absurdity of her appearance cause surprise and can be considered envy.
Many relatives whose loved ones suffer from schizoid personality disorder wonder: is it dangerous? As can be seen from what was stated earlier, such people are characterized by isolation and focus on their inner world. They do not show aggression; on the contrary, they try in every possible way to reduce the number of contacts. So they are absolutely safe for others.
In addition, their emotional detachment from the suffering of others is absolutely not equivalent to a lack of understanding of what is happening, because the intellect does not suffer. As a result, a schizoid psychopath, in the event of committing offenses, is fully liable, because they are not mentally ill. But for the person himself, such a disorder can turn into trouble, both in the form of employment problems, and in the form of ridicule and bullying, which begin from school and are caused by some detachment, extravagance and the inability to join the company.
But in the case of a confirmed diagnosis in persons with schizoid personality disorder, the army is most likely excluded.
Treatment
In the case of classic schizoid personality disorder, treatment is extremely difficult, not because these cases are not treatable, but because the patients themselves do not consider their condition a problem. They cannot understand why they are forced to “fit into the herd.” Therefore, they come to the appointment either under pressure from relatives, or with other complaints, for example, with the problem of addiction. The problem of socialization is perfectly solved with the help role playing games. Schizoids in literally accounted for: what people feel and what they are offended by.
A frequent problem is the selection of the necessary psychologist who is able to make contact extremely intelligently, without violating the boundaries of the schizoid and, at the same time, without getting carried away by his philosophizing and reasoning that is not the essence of the problem.
As for drug treatment, the appropriateness of its use has recently been called into question.
But who really needs a psychologist is the relatives of such a person, because it is their isolation and alienation of the child that causes panic, they worry about his future and suffer from his coldness. All this accumulates in a large lump of unspokenness, which can subsequently result in personal health problems: gastrointestinal diseases, heart diseases, diabetes, etc. Work with relatives is aimed at relieving anxiety, tension, and “recharging with love and warmth” in the form of supportive sessions. And the most important thing is the opening of the opportunity to accept such a child as he is.
According to the classical understanding, the schizoid personality appears to be struggling with problems at the oral level: she is preoccupied with the need to avoid the danger of being absorbed, sucked in, chewed, attached, and eaten. The world feels like a space full of consuming, perverting, destructive forces that threaten security and individuality. It is possible that the schizoid personality suffers from basal security anxiety. Temperamentally, individuals who become schizoid are hyper-reactive and easily overstimulated, as if the nerve endings of schizoids are closer to the surface than those of others.
The primary conflict in the area of relationships in schizoid people concerns intimacy and distance, love and fear. Their subjective life is permeated by a deep ambivalence about attachment. They crave intimacy even though they feel the constant threat of being swallowed up by others. They seek distance to maintain their safety, but at the same time suffer from remoteness and loneliness. The alienation from which people suffer so much schizoid people, partly stems from the experience that their emotional, intuitive and sensory capabilities have not been sufficiently appreciated - others simply do not see what they are doing. Schizoid individuals, more than others, turn out to be “outsiders”, observers, researchers of human existence. The “splitting” contained in the etymology of the word “schizoid” manifests itself in two areas: between one’s own self and the surrounding world; between the experienced self and desire.
The main defense of the schizoid personal organization is withdrawal into the inner world, into the world of imagination. In addition, schizoids often use projection and introjection, idealization, and devaluation. Among more mature defenses, intellectualization is preferred.
One of the most striking aspects of people with schizoid personality organization is their disregard for conventional social expectations. Many observers describe the dispassionate, ironic and slightly contemptuous attitude of many schizoid individuals towards others. However, schizoid people can be very caring towards other people, although they continue to need to maintain a protective personal space.
In terms of physique, people belonging to this type are most often ectomorphs, and it would be reasonable to assume that the cerebrotonic disposition of this type contributed to their choice of withdrawal as a way of solving life problems.
Thus, the core characteristic of this type character – withdrawal into oneself (increased introversion) with a deep inability to establish significant, emotional interpersonal relationships(Popov, Vid, 2000). Closedness is their main personality trait. They cannot be called completely unemotional - coldness and inaccessibility in communicating with people can be combined with a strong attachment to animals. They may be distinguished by a passion for some non-human science, such as mathematics or astronomy, where they are able to give the world creative ideas of high value. The statements may convey unexpected warmth towards people whom they know little or have not seen for a very long time. They tend to be fascinated by inanimate objects and metaphysical constructs that attract their interest. Characterized by frequent enthusiasm for various philosophies, ideas for improving the world, and construction schemes healthy image life (due to unusual diets, sports activities), especially if this does not require direct dealing with other people. Schizoids are at high risk of becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol for pleasure.
To be diagnosed with schizoid personality disorder, the condition must meet at least four of the following traits or behaviors:
1) only a few activities bring joy;
2) emotional coldness, distance or flattened affect;
3) reduced ability to express warm, tender feelings or anger towards others;
4) external indifference to the praise and criticism of others;
5) decreased interest in sexual experiences with other people (taking into account age);
6) almost constant preference for solitary activities;
7) excessive depth in fantasy and introspection;
8) lack of close friends (at best, no more than one) or trusting relationships and reluctance to have them;
9) clearly insufficient consideration of social norms and requirements, frequent unintentional deviations from them.
The structure of the schizoid character described by Loewen (Loewen, 2000) is as follows. The term "schizoid" describes a person whose sense of self is diminished, whose ego is weak, and whose contact with the body and with the feelings is greatly weakened.
Energy is removed from the peripheral structures of the body, namely from those parts through which the body is in contact with the outside world: the face, hands, genitals and legs. They are not completely energetically connected to the center, i.e. excitation from the center does not flow freely to them, but is blocked by chronic muscle tension at the base of the skull, in the joints of the shoulders, legs, pelvis and in the diaphragm area. The latter is usually so powerful that it splits the body into two parts, and there is often a noticeable discrepancy between the upper and lower halves of the body. In many cases, they do not look like they belong to one person; the person does not feel whole. The tendency towards disunity, which arises at the bodily level due to insufficient energetic connection between the head and the body, leads to a split personality.
Schizoid type
The most significant feature of this type is considered to be isolation, isolation from the environment, inability or unwillingness to establish contacts, and a decreased need for communication. A combination of contradictory traits in personality and behavior - coldness and refined sensitivity, stubbornness and pliability, wariness and gullibility, apathetic inactivity and assertive determination, unsociability and unexpected importunity, shyness and tactlessness, excessive attachments and unmotivated antipathies, rational reasoning and illogical actions, the wealth of inner peace and the colorlessness of its external manifestations - all this made us talk about the lack of “internal unity”. Recently, attention has been drawn to the notion that lack of intuition is the main defect. By intuition here we should mean, first of all, the use of unconscious past experience.
Schizoid traits are revealed earlier than the character traits of all other types. From the first childhood, I am amazed by a child who likes to play alone, is not drawn to peers, avoids noisy fun, prefers to stay among adults, and sometimes silently listens to their conversations for a long time. To this is sometimes added some kind of coldness and childish restraint.
Adolescence is the most difficult period for schizoid psychopathy.
With the onset of puberty, all character traits appear with particular brightness. The isolation and isolation from peers is striking. Sometimes spiritual loneliness does not even bother a schizoid teenager who lives in his own world, with his interests and hobbies that are unusual for others, treating with condescending disdain or obvious hostility towards everything that fills the lives of other teenagers. But more often, schizoids themselves suffer from their isolation, loneliness, inability to communicate, and inability to find a friend to their liking. Unsuccessful attempts to establish friendly relationships, mimosa-like sensitivity at the moments of their search, rapid exhaustion in contact (“I don’t know what else to talk about”) often encourage even greater withdrawal into oneself.
Lack of intuition is manifested by the lack of a “direct sense of reality”, the inability to penetrate into other people’s experiences, guess the desires of others, guess about hostility towards oneself or, conversely, about sympathy and disposition, to grasp the moment when one should not impose one’s presence, and when, on the contrary, , you need to listen, sympathize, and not leave the interlocutor to himself.
To the deficiency of intuition should be added the closely related lack of empathy - the inability to share the joy and sadness of another, to understand the insult, to feel another's excitement and anxiety. This is sometimes referred to as a weakness of emotional resonance. The lack of intuition and empathy probably causes what is called the coldness of schizoids. Their actions can be cruel, which is more likely due to an inability to empathize with the suffering of others than a desire to receive sadistic pleasure. To the range of schizoid characteristics we can add the inability to convince others with our own words.
Inner world almost always closed from prying eyes. Only for a select few can the curtain suddenly rise, but never completely, and just as unexpectedly fall again. A schizoid often reveals himself to people he doesn’t know well, even randomly, but somehow appeals to his whimsical choice. But he may forever remain a hidden, incomprehensible thing within himself for those close to him or those who have known him for many years.
The wealth of the inner world is not characteristic of all schizoid adolescents and, of course, is associated with a certain intelligence or talent. Therefore, not every one of them can serve as an illustration of Kretschmer’s words about the similarity of schizoids to “decorated Roman villas, the shutters of which are closed from the bright sun, but in the twilight of which luxurious feasts are celebrated.” But in all cases, the inner world of schizoids is filled with hobbies and fantasies.
Schizoid teenagers fantasize for themselves; they are not inclined to talk about their dreams to others, nor to mix everyday life with the beauties of their fictions and dreams. This is the fundamental difference between schizoid and hysterical fantasies. Schizoid fantasies either serve to console one’s own pride or are of an erotic nature.
The inaccessibility of the inner world and restraint in the manifestation of feelings make many of the actions of schizoids incomprehensible and unexpected for those around them, because everything that preceded them - the entire course of experiences and motives - remained hidden. Some antics are eccentric in nature, but unlike hysterics, they do not serve the purpose of attracting everyone's attention.
The reaction of emancipation often manifests itself in a very peculiar way. A schizoid teenager can endure petty supervision in everyday life for a long time, obey the routine and regime established for him, but react with violent protest to the slightest attempt to invade the world of his interests, hobbies and fantasies without permission. At the same time, emancipatory aspirations can easily turn into social nonconformity - indignation at existing rules and orders, ridicule of the ideals, spiritual values, interests widespread around, and rancor about the “lack of freedom.” Judgments of this kind can be nurtured for a long time and secretly and, unexpectedly for others, come to fruition. public speaking or decisive action. Often one is struck by straightforward criticism of others without taking into account its consequences for oneself.
The grouping reaction is usually weakly expressed outwardly. As a rule, schizoid teenagers stand apart from their peers. Their isolation makes it difficult to join the group, and their intractability to the general influence, the general atmosphere, their non-conformity does not allow them to either merge with the group or submit to it. Having found themselves in a teenage group, often by accident, they remain black sheep in it. Sometimes they are ridiculed and even brutally persecuted by their peers, but sometimes, thanks to their independence, cold restraint, and unexpected ability to stand up for themselves, they inspire respect and force them to keep their distance. Success in a peer group may be the deepest dreams of a schizoid teenager. In his fantasies, he creates similar groups, where he occupies the position of leader and favorite, where he feels free and easy and receives those emotional contacts that he lacks in real life.
The reaction of infatuation in schizoid adolescents is usually more pronounced than all other specific behavioral reactions of this age. Hobbies are often distinguished by their unusualness, strength and stability. Most often we come across intellectual and aesthetic hobbies. Most schizoid teenagers love books, devour them voraciously, and prefer all other entertainments to reading. The choice for reading can be strictly selective - only a certain era from history, only a certain genre of literature, a certain movement in philosophy, etc. In general, in intellectual and aesthetic hobbies, one is struck by the whimsical nature of the choice of subject. We have seen a passion for Sanskrit among modern teenagers, Chinese characters, the Hebrew language, drawings of the portals of cathedrals and churches, the genealogy of the House of Romanov, organ music, comparison of the constitutions of different states and different times, etc. and so on. All this is never done for show, but only for oneself. Hobbies are shared if they meet sincere interest. They often hide them, fearing misunderstanding and ridicule. At less high level intelligence and aesthetic aspirations, the matter may be limited to less refined, but no less strange objects of hobby. The collections of schizoid teenagers, sometimes unique, sometimes striking in their worthlessness, also serve more the purpose of sophisticated aesthetic needs than just hoarding. One teenager collected doublets of postcards with reproductions of paintings by famous artists and postage stamps depicting the same paintings.
In second place are hobbies of the manual-physical type. Clumsiness, awkwardness, and inharmonious motor skills, often attributed to schizoids, are not always found, and a persistent desire for bodily improvement can smooth out these shortcomings. Systematic gymnastics, swimming, cycling, yoga exercises are usually combined with a lack of interest in collective sports games. Hobbies can take place in lonely long hours of walking or cycling. Some schizoids are good at fine manual skills - playing musical instruments, applied arts- all this can also be a subject of hobby.
Reactions associated with emerging sexual attraction may, at first glance, not appear at all. External “asexuality”, contempt for issues of sexual life, is usually combined with persistent masturbation and rich erotic fantasies. The latter are prone to development, feed on random information and episodes and easily include perverse components. Painfully sensitive in company, incapable of courtship and flirtation, and unable to achieve sexual intimacy in a situation where it is possible, schizoid adolescents can, unexpectedly for others, discover sexual activity in the most crude and unnatural forms - standing guard for hours to spy on someone’s naked genitals, exhibiting in front of children, masturbate under other people's windows, from where they can be seen, enter into relationships with random people they meet, make phone dates with strangers “for one time,” etc. Schizoid teenagers deeply conceal their sex life and sexual fantasies. Even when their actions are discovered, they try not to reveal their motives and feelings.
Alcoholization among schizoid adolescents is rare. Most of them do not like alcoholic drinks. Intoxication does not cause pronounced euphoria in them. They easily resist the persuasion of their comrades and the drinking atmosphere of companies. However, some of them find that small doses of alcohol, without causing euphoria, can facilitate the establishment of contacts and eliminate the feeling of timidity and unnaturalness during communication. Then a special kind of mental dependence is easily formed - the desire to regularly use small doses of alcoholic beverages, often strong, in order to “overcome shyness” and facilitate contacts. Drinking alcohol as such a communicative dope can be done both with friends and alone. For example, a 15-year-old schizoid teenager secretly kept a bottle of cognac in his bed and drank it every morning in order to “feel free at school.”
Drugs apparently pose no less of a threat to schizoid adolescents than alcohol. Perhaps they can fulfill the role of communicative doping better than alcohol. Perhaps some volatile substances add grist to the mill of schizoid fantasies, making them more sensual, colorful, and emotional.
Suicidal behavior is not characteristic of schizoid psychopathy, and schizoid accentuation does not, apparently, favor such a method of solving difficulties. For mental trauma, for conflict situations, to situations where the schizoid personality is presented with demands beyond its strength, the reaction is manifested by an even greater withdrawal into oneself, into one’s inner world of deeply hidden fantasies. Or this reaction is revealed by unexpected, pretentious, and sometimes cruel actions.
Delinquency occurs infrequently, while delinquent behavior itself clearly shows schizoid traits. While still examining homeless teenagers in the twenties, N.I. Ozeretsky noted that schizoids prefer to steal alone, choosing a thieving “profession” that requires skillful skills - for example, stealing money from inside pockets or the ability to get into an apartment through a window. Indeed, schizoid adolescents are not prone to group delinquency, but can commit serious offenses, acting “in the name of the group,” wanting to be “recognized by the group as their own.” Sexual crimes are also committed alone (exhibitionism, indecent acts against minors, sexual aggression, etc.). Sometimes delinquent behavior is preceded by taking a small dose of alcohol as a “doping”, but there is no real alcohol intoxication.
The self-esteem of schizoids is distinguished by a statement of what is associated with isolation, loneliness, difficulty in contacts, and misunderstanding on the part of others. Attitudes towards other problems are rated much worse. They usually do not notice the contradictions in their behavior or do not attach any importance to them. They like to emphasize their independence and independence
Somatic signs that since the time of Kretschmer have been considered characteristic of schizoids - asthenic build, flabby muscles, stooped figure, long legs and high pelvis, poorly developed genitals, angular movements - can not always be seen in modern adolescents. Acceleration and associated endocrine changes can distort these traits, causing, for example, excessive obesity, early and strong sexual development.
From the first steps in identifying schizoid psychopathy, attention was drawn to its similarity with some forms of schizophrenia (in particular, with the sluggish form and with pictures of the defect after a schizophrenic attack). This gave reason to many psychiatrists to generally doubt the existence of schizoid psychopathy as a constitutional character anomaly, and to interpret everything that was described under its name as a defect after an attack of schizophrenia that went unnoticed or happened in early childhood, or as “latent schizophrenia.” IN last years attention was again drawn to the fact that in families of patients with schizophrenia, especially its continuously progressive form, schizoid personalities can often be found.
As a result, in recent decades, schizoid psychopathy has almost ceased to be diagnosed and its pronounced cases are usually interpreted as sluggish schizophrenia, and the corresponding schizoid accentuations with good social adaptation again suggested the idea of “latent schizophrenia.” Even the differential diagnosis between schizophrenia and psychopathy began to be carried out in relation to all types of the latter, except schizoid.
This situation cannot be considered correct. The diagnosis of sluggish schizophrenia is legitimate if there are signs of a process, albeit slowly developing, if these signs are identified by a carefully collected anamnesis and confirmed by observation. Guesses about a “fur coat” that was transferred unknown when and not noticed by anyone remain only guesses and cannot serve as the basis for a diagnosis.
Adolescence creates special difficulties for the differential diagnosis of schizophrenia and schizoid psychopathy. The pubertal sharpening of the latter can easily be mistaken for a process that has begun or for a “new coat.” And, conversely, the onset of schizophrenia may be masked by pubertal behavioral disorders. We consider it important to emphasize the identification of schizoid psychopathy as a special form.
The schizoid type is not a very common character option. Only 5% of 300 hospitalized adolescents with psychopathy or accentuations were classified as this type, and another 5% had a combination of schizoidism with traits of other types - sensitive, psychasthenic, hysterical or epileptoid. It should be noted that all cases of “pure” schizoids were regarded as psychopathy, including most as severe and pronounced. In moderate cases, social disadaptation was partial - a breakdown occurred either at home when the place of study or work was good, or at school or at work when adaptation in the family was satisfactory.
Schizoid accentuations usually do not lead to either social disadaptation or severe violations behavior, nor acute affective reactions and therefore probably do not fall under the supervision of a psychiatrist. The schizoid type of accentuation is not so rare.
Hidden schizoid accentuation can be detected if demands on a person are suddenly made that are beyond their capacity - for example, to quickly establish a wide range of informal and fairly emotional contacts. Schizoids also break down when someone persistently and unceremoniously “gets into their soul.”
Even Kretschmer, describing the schizoid type, identified expansive and sensitive options. The latter, as indicated, is more correctly considered as a special type, belonging to the group of asthenic psychopathies, since isolation here is secondary, compensatory. Nevertheless, among schizoids there are also more sthenic and completely asthenic individuals. The variety of schizoid manifestations can be so great that the number of described options could become two-digit. Therefore, it seems appropriate to us to state the combination of schizoidism with traits of other types. The main basis of character, its core always remains schizoid. Sensitive, psychasthenic, paranoid, epileptoid, hysterical or unstable features may be layered on it.
Famous schizoid personalities:
Such people:
- they exist in parallel, as it were, in two realities - internal and external. Most The schizoid spends time precisely in his inner world, at the first opportunity, escaping there from harsh reality. He is of little interest in the external side of life - he lives in the world of his ideas, does only what interests him, not noticing anyone or anything around him. While in his refuge, he indulges in thoughts and fantasies: he invents bicycles, fights windmills, constructs abstract theories, creates time machines, travels parallel worlds. Often he does not set great goals for himself and does not achieve success - the thinking process itself, scientific research - is much more important to him than the result. And, nevertheless, all the main discoveries and inventions created by humanity belong precisely to these brilliant “cranks” and “scientific crackers”... More than others, they turn out to be “outsiders”, observers, researchers of human existence.
- isolation is a basic personality trait. The core characteristic of this type of character is withdrawal into oneself, the inability to establish meaningful, emotionally interpersonal relationships.
- schizoid is uncommunicative , he doesn’t let many people into his soul, often limiting himself to only formal contacts. He rarely makes a sensitive listener and a good comforter, - global problems humanity interests him much more than the suffering of individual people. It is extremely difficult for him to understand the grief or joy of his neighbor.
- intuition is his weakest point: The schizoid does not “feel” the interlocutor, does not pick up on someone else’s mood, does not understand who treats him and how. He may turn out to be superfluous in the company, irritate those present, cause ridicule, but he does not always understand this. In turn, a schizoid can also easily hurt someone’s feelings in a conversation, but will not notice it at all.
- main protection - retreat into the inner world, into the world of imagination . The inner world of a schizoid, filled with bizarre fantasies, is closed to outsiders. He is a thing in himself. It is not for nothing that the famous German psychiatrist Kretschmer likened schizoids to “Roman houses devoid of decoration, villas whose shutters are closed from bright light, but in the twilight of their inner chambers luxurious feasts are celebrated...”
- passionately crave intimacy, although they feel the constant threat of being absorbed by others. They establish distance to maintain their safety, but at the same time suffer from remoteness and loneliness. The alienation from which schizoid people suffer so much stems in part from the experience that their emotional, intuitive and sensual capabilities have not been sufficiently appreciated - others simply do not see what they are doing.
- concerned with the need to avoid the danger of being absorbed, sucked, chewed, attached, eaten. The surrounding world is felt as a space full of consuming, distorting, destructive forces that threaten security and individuality.
- they are perplexed: how can everyone else deceive themselves so successfully if the harsh truth of life is so obvious.
- dispassionate, ironic and slightly contemptuous attitude towards others
- can be very caring towards other people, although they continue to need to maintain a protective personal space.
- They cannot be called completely unemotional - coldness and inaccessibility in communication with people can be combined with a strong attachment to animals. They may be distinguished by a passion for some non-human science, for example, mathematics or astronomy, where they are able to give the world creative ideas of high value. The statements may convey unexpected warmth towards people whom they know little or have not seen for a very long time. They are characterized by fascination with inanimate objects and metaphysical structures that have attracted their interest.
- Often drawn to those who have opposing, enviable aspirations, schizoids are often attracted to warm, expressive, sociable people, for example, hysterical personalities.
- suffer from significant Anxiety about basal safety (a feeling of one’s own insecurity, weakness, helplessness, insignificance in this treacherous, attacking, humiliating, evil, full of envy and abuse world). Feeling depressed, they hide - either by literally going into reclusion or by immersing themselves in their fantasies.
- sexually some schizoid people turn out to be amazing indifferent , often despite the ability to function and have an orgasm. The closer the Other, the stronger the fear that sex means a trap. Partners of schizoid individuals sometimes complain that their way of loving is mechanical or dispassionate.
- The most adaptive and exciting ability of schizoid personalities is their creativity. The more disturbed individuals in this category reside in their own personal hell, where their potential abilities are consumed by fear and detachment. Sublimation of autistic care in creative activity is the main goal of therapy with schizoid patients.
- the self-esteem of people with schizoid dynamics is often maintained individual creative activity. At the same time, it is the aspects of personal integrity and self-expression that turn out to be more important for them, and not the aspect of self-esteem. The schizoid strives for confirmation of its exceptional originality and uniqueness. Confirmation must be internal rather than external, and, thanks to high standards in creativity, schizoids are often sharply self-critical.
- accumulated perceptions of the patient as exceptional, unique, misunderstood genius or unattainable sage
- not particularly concerned with whether they are right or wrong from a generally accepted point of view.
- characterized by frequent enthusiasm for various philosophies, ideas for improving the world, schemes for building a healthy lifestyle (through unusual diets, sports activities), especially if this does not require direct dealing with other people.
- There may be a high risk of addiction to drugs and alcohol for pleasure.
- schizoid does not know how to present himself in a favorable light, not distinguished by eloquence . Awkward, unnatural, with poor facial expressions, he often speaks in a monotonous, expressionless voice, making giant pauses between words. All this, of course, does not facilitate mutual understanding between him and the people around him. It is very difficult to understand a schizoid: his mouth is a mess, his words are confusing, he uses clever terms and does not try to be understandable. A typical example: the schizoid Hegel, who lectured to the only student who signed up with him, Ludwig Feierbach.
- Self-absorbed schizoid cares little about what he looks like. A jacket with torn buttons and frayed elbows, trousers “bubbling” at the knees, mismatched socks, battered, half-decayed shoes are quite in his style. Hair that has not been washed for a long time, sloppily trimmed nails, and ridiculous, out-of-fashion clothes, often worn inside out, complete his portrait. A typical schizoid is a sort of absent-minded Man from Basseynaya Street, who, instead of a hat, in a hurry, pulled a frying pan on his head, and “instead of felt boots, he pulled gloves onto his heels.”
- By physique they are most often ectomorphs
Archimedes was so absorbed in science that he sometimes forgot to eat, drink and sleep. Wherever he was and whatever he was doing, the great inventor did not interrupt his scientific thoughts. While washing in the bathhouse, he thoughtfully drew geometric shapes sitting in front of the fire, he drew circles and triangles with a twig on the ash, sitting in front of the fire. When one day, while swimming, he accidentally discovered the law of fluid displacement, he became uncontrollably delighted. With a cry of “Eureka!” he jumped out of the bathroom and ran, in his mother's clothes, through the streets of Syracuse.
Archimedes hurried home to quickly try out his famous theory, which was later so remarkably confirmed. And what the respectable townspeople would think about him running around the city naked was of little concern to the famous scientist.
The schizoid is the same: he lives in the world of his ideas, doing only what interests him, not noticing anyone or anything around him.
There is a legend that in his youth, Einstein, being poor and unknown to anyone, always wore the same stretched out old sweater. “Does it matter? Nobody knows me here,” the scientist who had just arrived in America responded to the critical remarks of others. When, having become rich and famous, he never parted with his holey cast-offs, he motivated it differently: “What's the difference? Everyone already knows me”...
Once upon a time there lived a very shy British lord, Henry Cavendish. He avoided women, communicated with servants using notes, and in order to avoid interfering with the maids, he always went down the attached external staircase. But Cavendish rarely went out into the world: he kept writing something in his hole, conducting experiments and taking notes, putting them on the table. And then he died. Cavendish was buried according to his will: he was tightly walled up in the crypt and no inscription was left indicating who was buried here. Not a single portrait remained after the lord, but an archive was found: 20 thick notebooks. Having sorted them out, scientists realized that Cavendish was a great physicist and chemist, all his works were published and now every physics student knows the name of this schizoid.
To diagnose schizoid disorders personalities
the condition must correspond to at least four of the following qualities or behavioral patterns:
1) only a few activities bring joy;
2) emotional coldness, distance
3) reduced ability to express warm, tender feelings or anger towards others;
4) external indifference to the praise and criticism of others;
5) decreased interest in sexual experiences with other people (taking into account age);
6) almost constant preference for solitary activities;
7) excessive depth in fantasy and introspection;
8) lack of close friends (at best, no more than one) or trusting relationships and reluctance to have them;
9) clearly insufficient consideration of social norms and requirements, frequent unintentional deviations from them.
"Handbook of a practical psychologist" by I.G. Malkina-Pykh. //The newest directory of a psychologist//Moscow, Eksmo 2010