The schizoid personality type occurs in people suffering from such an eccentric schizophrenia spectrum disorder as schizoid personality disorder. This means that the behavior and manners of such a person are always very different from the behavior of the people around him.

Although psychiatrists classify schizoid personality disorder as part of the schizophrenic spectrum of mental illnesses, unlike schizophrenia or schizotypal personality disorder, people with this disease, as a rule, do not experience psychosis.

Characteristic

A person of the schizoid type is always taken out of the context of social relationships. The typical schizoid personality experiences great difficulty in expressing any of his emotions, or does so in a very limited range. This is especially evident when communicating with other people. Some people with this mental disorder also experience cognitive impairment (their thinking is schizoid), distortions of perception, as well as pronounced originality of behavior in everyday life (the so-called schizoid-hysteroid personality type).

A person with this disorder does not desire intimacy with other people. He tends to avoid any close relationships and is usually unable to experience love. The typical schizoid personality prefers to spend time alone with his thoughts rather than communicate with others or be in a group of people. Under normal conditions, a person with a schizoid personality type is perceived as a typical “loner.”

In addition, the typical schizoid personality has particular difficulty expressing his anger, even in response to direct provocation. This gives others the erroneous opinion that such people are cold and insensitive. Often their life seems to outsiders to be a purposeless existence. Typically, a typical schizoid personality pursues specific life goals that are incomprehensible to other people. Such people often react passively to unfavorable situations; it is difficult for them to give an adequate assessment and determine the significance of the most important events in their lives.

Poor social skills and a lack of desire for sexual experiences mean that people with this disorder have very few friends and rarely get married. It is very difficult for them to work for hire or engage in intensive work, especially if their work activity involves constant interpersonal interaction. But the typical schizoid personality manifests itself magnificently in conditions of social isolation and where remarkable intelligence is required. The examples of many famous scientists, such as Albert Einstein or Isaac Newton, clearly convince us of this.

The schizoid typical personality is formed on the basis of an eccentric pattern of internal experience and behavior that runs counter to the cultural norms of humanity. Typically, such people exhibit signs of eccentric behavior in two or more of the following areas: cognition, managing people, interpersonal interaction, and managing their emotions. Their picture of the world is not flexible enough, and schizoid character traits manifest themselves in a wide range of personal and social situations.

The typical schizoid personality is stable in its manifestations throughout life, and the first signs of schizoid personality disorder usually appear in adolescence or youth. The schizoid character type is more common among men than among women. Its prevalence in the general population is between 3.1 and 4.9 percent.

Causes

Researchers still don't know for sure what causes schizoid personality disorder. Different theories name different reasons for the development of a schizoid personality.

A person's personality is a combination of thoughts, emotions and behavior that makes each person unique. These characteristics are manifested in our attitude towards the outside world, as well as in the way we see ourselves. Any personality is formed in childhood due to the interaction of heredity and environmental factors.

In normal personality development, children learn over time to accurately interpret social demands and respond appropriately. What goes wrong in children of the schizoid type is not known exactly, but it is quite possible that some factors cause certain problems in personality development. Brain function and genetics also play an important role.

Most experts adhere to the biopsychosocial model of causation. In their opinion, the reasons due to which a person develops a schizoid typical personality is a combination of such factors: biological, genetic, social (for example, the child’s interaction with family and other children) and psychological (character and temperament, skills to withstand stressful situations). This suggests that no single factor can be considered leading - the formation of one or another personality type is a very complex process, which is influenced by all of the above factors. However, studies have shown that there is an increased risk of passing this disease from parents to children.

Who is at risk? The schizoid personality type is often observed among members of the same family. You may be at risk if you have had or have a family member with schizophrenia, schizotypal disorder, or any other personality disorder.

Childhood experiences also play a significant role in the development of this disease. Such factors include:

• emotional and physical abuse;
• neglect;
• psychological trauma or constant stress;
• emotional coldness of parents.

Symptoms

Schizoid personality disorder is characterized by withdrawal in social relationships and a limited range of emotional expression in interpersonal contacts. Such personality traits appear starting from early youth and are present in various variations. Typically, a schizoid personality type includes four (or more) of the following characteristics:

Because this personality disorder relies on persistent patterns of behavior, it is most often diagnosed in adulthood. It is quite difficult to diagnose in childhood or adolescence because the child or adolescent is constantly developing. If this happens, the above symptoms should be observed in the child for at least one year.

However, early symptoms of schizoid personality disorder, such as increased interest in individual activities or high levels of social anxiety, are already clearly noticeable in adolescence. The child may be an outcast at school, or lag behind his peers in social development, which is why he is often the subject of bullying or ridicule.

As with most other personality disorders, the manifestations of the schizoid personality type become more intense with age, so the symptoms of this mental disorder are most pronounced at the age of 40-50 years.

Diagnostics

Schizoid personality disorder is diagnosed by mental health professionals such as a psychologist or psychiatrist. Ordinary therapists do not have sufficient skills and tools for psychological diagnosis.

Unfortunately, many people with schizoid personality disorder do not seek treatment. Typically, people with personality disorders do not seek treatment until their disorder begins to have a significant impact on their life.

The diagnosis of a schizoid personality type is made only by a specialist (psychotherapist or psychiatrist), and it is based on anamnesis and symptoms. It is he who decides whether your symptoms meet the criteria for schizoid personality disorder. In addition, there are a number of specific medical tests (MMPI, TAT, Rorschach test) that make the diagnosis even more accurate.

Therapy

People with this disorder are often at high risk of developing anxiety or depression. They also have poor social skills and lack meaningful relationships with people. Without treatment, people with this disorder become increasingly uncomfortable in social situations, leading to even greater isolation.

Treatment for schizoid personality disorder usually involves long-term psychotherapy with a specialist who has sufficient experience in treating this personality disorder. Some types of psychotherapy have proven to be very effective in the treatment of schizoid personality disorder.

Psychological counseling helps the patient form the “right” relationship. Often used in conjunction with social skills training to help a person feel more comfortable in social situations.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps address erratic and socially undesirable behavior. A person is taught how to act in social situations, how to respond to obvious and hidden social signals. CBT also teaches you to recognize unusual or harmful thoughts so you can reframe them.

The schizoid personality type, as a rule, is expressed by introversion, which manifests itself in an enhanced mode. The individual creates an imaginary “dome of comfort”, being in which gives calm and measured perception of the realities of life. Interpersonal relationships are usually poor or non-existent. There is a contrast of perception in relation to other people and animals, that is, close attachment to representatives of the animal world and alienation in human relationships. Any area of ​​life is associated with loneliness and reluctance to change, compete, or ambitiously achieve anything. Even the sexual aspect of life is expressed either in the complete absence of real sexual contact, or in the presence of a short-term relationship, but exclusively in adulthood. This personality type is not susceptible to fashion trends. In work, their choice falls on backbreaking, difficult activities that an ordinary person would refuse.

Examples of “schizoids” among prominent figures

If we consider statistical data on individuals with a schizoid personality type, who are found among the entire population in 7.5% of cases, we can conclude that there is a significant proportion of mentally unstable people. There is no particular gender difference when identifying the frequency of manifestation of schizoid personalities, but, according to some data, the ratio tends to be 2:1, where the preponderance will be on the side of men.

It is amazingly common among famous figures to find those who have a schizoid personality type. Examples? A lot of them. These are outstanding scientists - Albert Einstein, Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleev, Isaac Newton, and famous philosophers - Immanuel Kant, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Arthur Schopenhauer, and brilliant composers - Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, and the famous artist Salvador Dali, and many other.

Schizoid character type is not always a prerequisite for illness

Every person has traits that define a schizoid character type. Thanks to them, an individual can prove himself to be an innovator, a thinker or a person with creative potential. The schizoid character type as the predominant trait of a person can result in the fact that he will devote more to theory than to the emotional aspects of real life. Average people do not always understand the hobbies of schizoid individuals; sometimes these hobbies even seem bizarre to them.

The main nuance of this behavior is the ineffectiveness of theoretical ideas. Emotional satisfaction is achieved in the process of solving a problem, and not in its practical implementation. On the contrary, there is a conscious move away from transferring the idea to the commercial sphere. The schizoid personality type has an interesting feature. She expresses her unwavering attitude towards her popularity among the masses or the influence of money.

What is a schizoid like in childhood?

Every parent worries about their child from the moment he is born and, as they say, until his gray hairs. The schizoid personality type is susceptible to certain disorders. Treatment is more effective if deviations appear at an early age, starting from 3-4 years. The child unconsciously withdraws from parental affection and prefers to engage in solitary activities alone. There is an interest in everything philosophical - these can be eternal questions about life and death, and about the origin of all things, etc.

How does a schizoid position himself in adolescence?

At a later age, in people with a schizoid personality type, one can observe a tendency to complex mathematical calculations, but at the same time a complete inability to solve basic problems in everyday life. The schizoid personality type, which manifests itself at an early age, usually leads to a progressive form of autism.

As for the medicinal method of treating the disorder, one can note an ineffective result. According to statistics, schizoid individuals do not seek treatment for this disease, but undergo treatment for other diseases, in particular alcoholism. If, nevertheless, a schizoid personality type has been diagnosed, a specialist in the field of psychiatry will advise what to do in this case.

Psychotherapy as the main treatment for schizoids

An effective method of treating a patient with a schizoid personality type is psychotherapy, during which the doctor offers a list of standard emotions that the patient should become familiar with and try to experience. Role-playing games within the framework of social life can also be offered, the essence of which is to instill generally accepted social behavior that is acceptable in certain situations.

Preconditions causing disorder in schizoids

Severe personality disorder of the schizoid type manifests itself in the first years of an individual's life. The period of development of this type of disorder is very long.

There is no genetic predisposition to schizoid disorder. Even, for example, at work a patient can achieve significant success, but only in an isolated area. At the same time, those around him may not even know about his illness.

Symptoms of schizoid disorder include:

1. Emotional indifference or weakly expressed emotion in relation to events happening around.
2. A constant state of isolation, thoughtfulness, seriousness and aloofness.
3. Almost complete absence of need for interpersonal relationships.
4. No need to defend your opinion.
5. Recognition of the truth of information only if it comes from verified sources, for example, stated in the words of distinguished scientists.
6. Non-standard thought processes, especially in the analytical field.
7. Helplessness in everyday life.

The most important factor on the path to relative stability of schizoid personalities throughout life is the correct choice of profession and periodic diagnosis by a psychotherapist.

The result of crossing two radical types

Along with the four dominant personality types, there are also smoothly flowing ones, namely:

I. Schizoid-hysteroid personality type.

II. Hysterical-schizoid personality type.

Despite the fact that these psychotypes come from the main categories, they are fundamentally different from them. These are independently existing personality types.

The reason for the appearance of such a combination may be the crossing of different personality types of one and the second parent in their child, but only under the condition of clearly defined initial types that are of equal strength and do not drown out each other. Most often, in this combination, the schizoid type occupies the primary position, and not the hysterical one, because it is more stable.

Summarizing the above information, we can talk about identifying the main and secondary types, but without completely suppressing the second. In particular, the individual’s need for introversion, which is understood both as isolation, from the point of view of a schizoid, and as the presence of deep contact from the point of view of necessity for society, is already a trait of a hysterical personality type.

If you are schizoid, the test will definitely show it

R. Cattell’s personality questionnaire, which is capable of both a quick diagnosis of a personality type and an in-depth study of it, has received widespread demand among psychologists. It will allow you to recognize, if present,
schizoid personality type. The test characterizes a personality with 16 factors that allow one to predict behavioral actions in projection onto the real world. This technique can be carried out both individually and in groups, covering various areas of application: personnel, professionally oriented, consulting, etc.

What is the final result of diagnostics using R. Cattell’s method?

The methodology is represented by 105 professional questions. The questionnaire allows you to accurately diagnose the individual traits of a particular person, called “constitutional factors,” according to the method of R. Cattell. A prerequisite for diagnosing a patient is limited time. The technique allows us to identify the emotional, intellectual, and communicative properties, including the ability to self-regulate, of the diagnosed individual.

Thus, the psychologist receives the final result in the form of a psychographic profile of the individual.

This professional program is used in the work of various specialists: psychologists, teachers, doctors, personnel specialists, psychotherapists.

Practical significance of diagnostic results using the MMPI2 questionnaire

The second modern psychodiagnostic method, which is no less important and popular than R. Cattell’s questionnaire, is the MMPI2 questionnaire.

Its use greatly simplifies the procedure for selecting applicants based on the required personal characteristics. Further use of the technique will help track and identify employees engaged in professional activities that do not correspond to their psychographic personality profile, which will subsequently lead to increased productivity and minimization of risks. The programs allow you to establish personal characteristics, the level of intellectual and professional training, the main motivational impulses for activity, competencies, development potential, etc.

Areas of application can be various types of psychological consultation, career guidance, professional selection, harmonization of relationships in teams and much more.

Hysterical, schizoid, epileptoid, labile, etc. – this is not a complete list of personality types and character. Moreover, imagine that every day you have to deal with people belonging to this classification, and each of them has their own personal characteristics and shortcomings that should be taken into account during the conversation.

The main character trait of people belonging to this type is isolation from the whole world, isolation, reluctance or even inability to establish contacts, and this reduces his need for communication. If we talk about the internal harmony of such a person, then, unfortunately, there is none. So, in her schizoid character the following traits try to coexist:

• coldness and vulnerable sensitivity;
• tactlessness and modesty;
• a tasteless outer manifestation of a rich inner world;
• apathy towards any activity and determination;
• gullibility and wariness.

Has a genetic predisposition. The character traits of this type appear much earlier than the traits of other types. Already in childhood, the child prefers playing alone rather than in the company of peers, and avoids noisy fun. He is drawn to spending time surrounded by adults. He doesn't mind listening to their conversations in silence. Sometimes this is accompanied by a certain coldness and restraint that is unusual for the child’s age.

This period is the most difficult for schizoids. After all, with the manifestation of signs of puberty, all of his character traits are most clearly manifested. So, he isolates himself from children his age and withdraws into himself. He lives in his own world, with interests that are sometimes incomprehensible to others, and at the same time treats with disdain everything that his peers are interested in. But this isolation, created by the schizoid person himself, brings him a lot of suffering, adding to everything the inability to find a common language with others. Sometimes there are attempts on his part to establish friendly contact, but if it is unsuccessful, then this further motivates the schizoid to isolate himself from the world around him.

As a result of a poorly developed personality, it is difficult for people of this type to understand other people’s experiences and state of mind. This gives rise to their coldness, and therefore some kind of cruelty can be manifested in their actions. Again, this is due to the inability of schizoids to feel the internal state of their interlocutor.

The positive side of a teenager’s character, perhaps, is that he opens his inner world only to a select few, but it is always not completely possible that he might suddenly push this person out of his soul.

The professional part of an adult schizoid is characterized by:

They are distinguished by excellent intellectual data. This type has three types of psychological defense:

1. Withdrawal into one's inner world, which was discussed in the adolescence of a schizoid.
2. Beside myself. When using it, it seems strange to others.
3. Needles. In this case, it is very difficult to have a conversation with a schizoid person.

It is important to note that a person with this type of character will defend himself until he ceases to believe that the world around him is full of dangers.

Before starting to describe this type of personality psychology, it is necessary to make a reservation - the schizoid type of character has nothing to do with such a psychiatric illness as schizophrenia. Its name comes from a term meaning detachment and opposition of consciousness to the rest of the world.

The likelihood of developing mental illness in such people is no more, and sometimes less, than for others. In particular, the schizoid character type usually involves high resistance to physical addictions and obsessive desires.

The only difficult nuance is communicating with such a person, who can lead an antisocial lifestyle, however, this can be improved if you have an idea of ​​all the character traits.

Expert psychologists say that people with a schizoid character are living contradictions - they combine a very rich inner world with external coldness, restraint and detachment.

This is true - such a person rarely makes contact with society on his own and strives to protect himself from it by all means. In childhood, the schizoid character type manifests itself when the child is unwilling to communicate with peers, as well as refusing to participate in team games, which captivate most children.

However, one should not confuse isolation with the craze for computer games that has spread recently - here the reason for asociality lies in the presence of an addiction that is not at all characteristic of this type of personality.

The inability to communicate with people often leads to conflicts that seem provoked by an overly cold and unfriendly person. However, in practice, he tries to find an approach to his interlocutors, and he succeeds very rarely.

The schizoid character type is rarely capable of empathy or sharing the feelings of other members of society - if the hobbies of his interlocutor seem too boring or wrong to him, he will not hide it, which will cause the latter to be very offended.

In addition, it is uncharacteristic for a person with this type of character to use intuition and some traditional logical tools - this leads to their need to gain knowledge in alternative ways. For example, many people strive to memorize certain facts, but the downside of this method is the formation of dogmas - immutable principles that do not require proof.

The external restraint that can be used to describe the schizoid type of character can be explained simply - for a person, the world around him looks too boring and colorless, since it rarely corresponds to his ideas about beauty.

Such individuals are much more comfortable in the area of ​​their fantasies and hobbies - they can lead an alternative life in them, which is not always separated from the real one. At the same time, there is no need to talk about psychiatric diseases - the brain continues to adequately perceive the surrounding reality and create reactions appropriate to the situation.

If a person has a sufficiently developed intellect or creative imagination, a schizoid type of character can help to reveal his talents and increase the intensity of work. However, you should not cross the dangerous line and concentrate on one activity, completely excluding contacts with the outside world - this leads to a gradual decline in personal health and the emergence of serious problems.

Features of adolescence

The schizoid character type experiences adolescence very difficultly, because it is in this period that existing internal contradictions are maximally manifested, and their transformation into mental problems occurs. In particular, a teenager may have a heightened sense of ownership and inviolability of his inner world.

Typically, such people maintain good relationships with friends and family members, but they react very sharply to attempts to violate the inviolability of personal secrets, secrets, or even the use of their personal belongings by loved ones.

Against this background, nonconformism is formed - the teenager condemns the world around him for not providing people with the desired freedom of action and trying by all means to avoid following generally accepted requirements.

Sometimes such behavior reaches the point of absurdity and leads to serious consequences - for example:

• leaving home;
• violation of the law to confirm the correctness of one’s thoughts;
• intentionally causing self-injury.

Relationships with others in adolescence are very difficult for people with a schizoid personality - they rarely communicate with peers and tend to have a very limited number of friends.

Position in social groups is determined by other circumstances - if a teenager wants to achieve recognition and respect, he will achieve the position of leader by any means, and if he fails, he will simply leave it and will not return to this circle of friends.

In the absence of such desires, he can occupy the place of a participant invisible to the rest, or he attracts attention with his strange behavior, as a result of which he often becomes an object of ridicule.

The lack of interest in the opposite sex is purely apparent - in his dreams and his inner world he strives to be loved and to find a worthy object of his love. However, the asociality that accompanies the schizoid character type rarely allows for the establishment of real relationships, resulting in increased emotional intensity.

Hobbies for such teenagers with a schizoid type of character can take quite strange forms - usually they are associated with very complex actions that are incomprehensible to others.

For example, there are such hobbies as reading philosophical literature with a comparison of various concepts, searching for homogeneous architectural elements in various buildings, studying the family tree of historical figures, and others.

Based on the analysis of hobbies, we can draw a conclusion about the activity that is most characteristic of a person - it is this activity that can determine the future profession that will bring maximum satisfaction.

If the hobby is related to creativity or science, it can give very good results and bring universal recognition.

However, it is necessary to dilute such actions with others - otherwise you may encounter complete isolation from the outside world and the development of diseases.

Problematic aspects

The schizoid character type at any age is rarely combined with the development of strong addictions. Due to the presence of certain characteristics, such people do not get complete relaxation from taking alcohol, tobacco or other intoxicants. However, you should be wary of the development of secondary or psychological dependence.

For example, there have been cases where teenagers drank alcohol only because it made them more relaxed and allowed them to communicate on equal terms with others. In addition, hallucinogenic drugs help to reveal the inner world of a schizoid personality, but they tear consciousness away from reality, which is very dangerous from a psychiatric point of view.

As for crime, the schizoid type of character does not allow creating certain moral principles and prohibitions in people’s minds - they can easily violate laws and generally accepted rules.

The only limitation is that they choose exclusively those methods of crime that do not require the involvement of other participants.

Most of these individuals, once in a criminal environment, become professional burglars, thieves, and even violators in the field of electronic communications, honing their skills for years. At the same time, there is no dependence on ill-gotten money - having made the decision to go into a normal life, they instantly rebuild themselves, forgetting the wrong past.

One of the most serious problems associated with the schizoid character is sexuality. The presence of many suppressed desires, as well as the impossibility of their realization, leads to the emergence of perversions.

For example, quite often, having received rejection from peers, a person turns his attention to younger members of society who are not aware of their sexuality and do not understand the processes associated with it. This may not manifest itself openly - there are cases where people unconsciously select partners of small stature and with childish features.

In addition, there is often a painful craving for humiliation and punishment, which is associated with sexuality - in this way a person tries to atone for his “wrongness” and non-compliance with generally accepted standards.

How to communicate with a difficult person?

As mentioned earlier, the schizoid character type is very difficult to communicate with - it is simply impossible to quickly establish trusting contact with him.

If this person is very important to you, then you should start small - for example, just call for an aimless conversation in which you try to find out more about hobbies or specific personality traits. You should not immediately attempt socialization - this will lead to sharp rejection and complete cessation of the relationship.

After you get to know him better, you should suggest certain options for spending time together. However, keep in mind that you should not invite a person with a schizoid character to parties or places with large crowds of people - you will create the most uncomfortable situation for her.

In order to socialize a person, it is necessary to learn about his inner world and hobbies. If you succeed in this, you need to show that he is not the only one with similar interests - it is worth looking for communities based on similar hobbies or interests, and try to introduce your “ward” to its members.

The problem with a schizoid character is that he considers himself unique and unrepeatable, without even assuming that someone else is capable of sharing his thoughts. If you prove the opposite to a person, he can slightly weaken the barrier built between him and the outside world.

There are also certain caveats. A schizoid personality should not be allowed to concentrate on one specific type of activity - otherwise it may have serious preconditions for the development of mental illness.

In addition, if you show that you do not take a person’s hobbies seriously or consider them stupid, he may abruptly cut off contact with you. This is due to the fact that he considers his inner world more important than his outer world.