Introverted person. Character traits. Psychology of children

Appearance Features

A closed person in most cases is distinguished by thinness rather than fullness and density. His face is elongated, his head is often ovoid in shape, his nose is straight, his profile is “angular” (observed due to some shortening of the chin). The relationship between a long face, a thin figure and introversion is quite high. However, such a combination does not always indicate closedness. Overweight people also belong to the category of schizoids, but much less frequently.

Which doctor should I contact?

This condition cannot be left to chance. To overcome apathy, you need to step over shame and shyness and turn to a specialist. You can consult a psychologist, a psychiatrist or a psychotherapist.

A psychologist has knowledge in this area and can give basic advice, but this specialist is not competent enough to make a diagnosis and prescribe medication. If the psychologist sees a problem, he refers the patient to a psychiatrist or psychotherapist. It is important to put aside all prejudices and stereotypes, because these specialists are visited not only by mentally ill people, but also by mentally healthy people. In addition, a psychiatrist can treat insomnia, various phobias, epilepsy and other diseases.

Basic values, interests

The inner world is the main wealth of introverts. The character traits of schizoids are such that they are constantly immersed in themselves. The opposite is hyperthymic, open to everything that happens around them. Closed people value their inner world very much, but they often do not care about the external world, since it seems rougher and more primitive than their own fantasies, dreams, and thoughts.

The eminent German psychologist and physician Kretschmer compared introverts to Roman villas, whose facades are very simple, the windows are closed, and rich feasts take place inside. Thanks to this colorful metaphor, he emphasized that the difference between the dull appearance of representatives of this character and their inner world is extremely great. In contrast to hyperthymia, an uncommunicative person is characterized by restraint and secrecy. It is impossible to tell from him what “feasts” are taking place in his soul.

How dangerous is apathy and what could be the consequences?

One of the forms of the protective reaction of the psyche to stressful situations, lack of sleep, emotional distress, physical or moral exhaustion can be indifference not only to everything around us and what is happening, but also to oneself. This depressed state is characterized by a general loss of strength, so staying in it for a long time is dangerous not only for a person’s mental, but also physical health. With apathy, the risk of “paralysis” of the personality increases: due to focusing exclusively on one’s own problems, the patient ceases to find positive aspects in various situations and ceases to see the beauty of the outside world.

A person suffering from apathy has no desire to communicate with people. It is quite difficult to cope with this type of disorder on your own. The patient will need enormous willpower, dedication and determination. With this problem, most patients turn to psychotherapists. In complicated cases, the patient can completely withdraw from society and fall out of the real world. Apathy is often accompanied by depression, and in the absence of treatment, the most dangerous scenario for the development of these disorders is often a person’s attempts to take his own life, which seems worthless and useless to him.

To understand the reasons why there is no desire to communicate, you need to delve into your subconscious and find there a reflection of specific events in your personal or public life that could cause serious damage to the patient’s psyche. The symptoms of this pathology cannot be confused with a bad mood, which is temporary. When looking at a person with apathy, there is always a feeling as if he does not hear or notice anything around him.

If the patient declares: “I don’t want any communication!”, drastic measures must be taken urgently. Apathy is amenable to medication and psychotherapeutic correction, but every step in the treatment of this condition must be competent and clearly weighed.

Communication

A closed person in a group generally stays aloof and prefers to remain silent. His contacts are usually limited to a small circle of friends and relatives. Such people are reluctant to talk about themselves, and you can often hear that information has to be literally “pulled out of them with pincers.”

It is not surprising that schizoid people have difficulty communicating. The secrecy is explained by the reluctance to share one’s own experiences. Introverts do not feel the need to contact the outside world, because they are quite comfortable alone with themselves. As one poet put it, they seek to “wrap themselves in the silk of their soul.” On the other hand, communication really poses a particular difficulty for them, since schizoids feel awkward and inept in the process of communication.

Kretschmer cited another vivid metaphor, where he compared a closed individual with a ciliate, cautiously approaching an unfamiliar object and observing it from behind half-lowered cilia, hesitantly extending its tentacles, and then immediately withdrawing them.

Despite the natural desire to isolate themselves, a shy person sometimes suffers from a lack of communication. This is especially common in childhood and adolescence.

Misanthrope - signs

There are certain characteristics by which you can understand how to recognize a misanthrope in a crowd:

1. A person avoids society, and this applies both to not attending various events and to withdrawing into oneself.
2. Distrust of people, even in minor matters.
3. Contempt for people who do not stand out and follow the crowd.
4. Having the opinion that “I am superior to others,” which manifests itself in the humiliation of humanity.
5. Particularly close attention to the choice of people for a close circle of friends.
6. When figuring out who a misanthrope is, we note that such people prefer to stay away.

Emotional background

The experiences of closed people are unique and sometimes seem paradoxical to others. On the one hand, introverts are distinguished by restraint and coldness, on the other hand, they are vulnerable and emotional. Schizoids show an acute reaction to everything that affects their own values. Often this is a spiritual response to injustice, rudeness, disorder.

Currently, the so-called emotional intelligence is being actively discussed. One of its signs is understanding the feelings and moods of others. This is a trait that many introverts cannot boast of. Closed people, of course, suspect that certain feelings are raging within you, but they must be informed about this. They rely on what is said, while not paying attention to intonation and facial expression.

Psychological dependence

This is one of the reasons why a person refuses to fight the problem and generally make contact with anyone. The phrase “I don’t want to communicate with people” in psychology can be perceived as a consequence of addictive behavior. Addiction is an obsessive need to perform certain actions. This term is often used not only to define drug, drug, alcohol or gambling addiction.

When talking about addiction, psychologists mean a condition in which a person loses his individuality, ceases to control himself, and has no respect for himself and others.

You can understand that apathy was provoked by addiction by the patient’s behavior and his attitude towards others. All thoughts and desires of an addicted person are aimed only at satisfying their needs (take drugs, smoke a cigarette, see the object of their desire, etc.). A person with an addictive disorder is not able to manage his own life and take responsibility for what is happening.

Features of lifestyle, attitudes, activities

The inner world of introverts is orderly, and they expect the same from the outer world. Their way of thinking and internal organization are reflected in all their actions. For example, they find it easy to accept rules and follow them. They achieve success in the professional field where they are prescribed to act in a certain way. Any deviation from the norm causes irritation in introverts.

At the same time, serious contradictions often arise at work. The desire of a schizoid to always follow instructions can result in accusations of formalism. At the same time, the above qualities of introverts are simply irreplaceable, for example, in military affairs or in financial management.

The psychology of behavior of a person who is closed in on himself turns an argument with him into an unbearable process. And all because the introvert is captive to plans, schemes, forms, words. This is reflected in the fact that mental constructs and theories are more convincing and valuable to him than specific life facts. For this reason, schizoids often find themselves in opposition, preferring not to mix with fashion, the opinions of others, or mass movements. Keeping their distance is not difficult for them. Introverts are often surrounded by an atmosphere of mystery; they are considered originals with a touch of aristocracy.

Reasons for “withdrawing” into oneself

There are a number of situations in the life of a teenager that provoke isolation:
1) Any difficulties in the relationship between parents (quarrels, cooling of relations) can lead to the fact that the teenager begins to doubt his own need for his father and mother. 2) Difficulties at school, conflictual relationships with peers or teachers. 3) Unrequited first love. 4) Self-doubt gives rise to the fear of being ridiculed and humiliated. 5) Hobbies reaching the stage of mania. 6) The critical nature of teenagers forces them to re-evaluate the world around them, and the conclusions drawn are often disappointing.

Psychology of schizoid children

These inhospitable and gloomy representatives of the younger generation react very weakly or not at all to criticism from adults. They prefer to avoid large companies and noisy games. Due to a lack of interest, problems with academic performance may occur. At the same time, the withdrawn child behaves in such a way as if he is constantly waiting for some kind of trick from those around him. As a rule, children of the schizoid type are distinguished by a strong attachment to their mother and have a hard time being separated from her, even for a short time. This is explained by the manifestation of fear of being forgotten and abandoned.

Some people mistakenly draw an analogy between withdrawn and shy children. At the same time, the former do not want to communicate with others, while the latter, on the contrary, need communication, but do not know how to make contact.

Misanthrope - who is this?

This term is understood as an unsociable person who avoids society and despises others for not showing their individuality. A misanthrope is a person who reacts extremely negatively to the manifestation of weaknesses, vices, stupidity, and so on. He is very careful in choosing people in his close circle of friends. The misanthrope does not control the political correctness of his own statements, is cynical and often disrespectful.

Describing who a misanthrope is, we note that such a person is not inclined to help others, since he is sure that everyone should be responsible for themselves. Many are sure that such a person is callous and cold, but in reality this is not the case. The misanthrope needs friendships and romantic relationships, he wants love and warmth. He just sets the bar very high when choosing the people he lets close to him.

The opposite of a misanthrope

This category of people also has a contrast, for example, a person who despises society has a positive reflection - a philanthropist. In a broad sense, this is a person who sincerely loves others. It is important for him to help those in need, participate in charity and various social projects. The main goal of philanthropists is to make the world a better place by eradicating negativity and evil.

Where it all begins

The psychology of children of the schizoid type is formed under the influence of many factors. Let's look at them in more detail:

— Subtlety of mental organization and other psychological characteristics of the child. Closedness is especially characteristic of melancholic and phlegmatic people. When communicating with their child, parents should take into account that a positive result can be achieved with a sensitive and attentive attitude. You should not rudely invade his inner world in the hope of re-education. Otherwise, the child will completely withdraw into himself and close himself off.

— Isolation can be caused by conflicts with friends, illness, misunderstanding of peers. In this case, it is important for adults to find out the true reason for the closedness and gently help the child get out of the situation.

— Introverts often grow up in families where one child is raised. In the absence of experience communicating with a sister or brother, forced to play independently, they receive incorrect communicative attitudes, therefore, their ability to communicate develops poorly. In this case, parents are recommended to facilitate the child’s contact with friends.

- Lack of attention. When adults try to free themselves from the child, he begins to turn to them less and less often with his “trivial” problems and questions. As a result, over time, children and parents simply have nothing to talk about; they have no common ground. It is important to take into account that the psychology of behavior of a person who is withdrawn into himself is not formed in one day. Therefore, it is quite natural that parents, for example, after work, devote time to some of their own affairs. Concern about a situation should be shown when it is repeated systematically. It is important to be interested in your child’s problems and listen to him.

- Containment of desires, emotions. Even an adult needs to “let off steam” and share his own experiences. And for a child this desire is even stronger, since every day is filled with discoveries for him. If children understand that their parents are not trying to listen to them, then the process of restraining emotions begins to gain momentum. Such a restriction affects not only the general development of the child, but also his physical health.

- Dissatisfaction with the child’s behavior. The problem of communication in psychology is considered in the aspect of constant censure. At the same time, emotional contact between parents and child disappears. Adults strive to ensure that the child is properly dressed and shod, but pay much less attention to his inner world. The causes of the problem can be very different, and at first glance they are not entirely serious. For example, a child is not the gender you would like, or a child interferes with career advancement. As a result, an inattentive attitude results in aggression, timidity, isolation, and touchiness.

How can a misanthrope survive?

Every day a person has to come into contact with different people. For a misanthrope, this is a test that brings negative feelings. In this case, tips on how to behave better will be useful:

1. Anyone who hates people should have less contact with them, for example, you can find a job remotely. Thanks to this, you will be able to at least avoid traveling on public transport and communicating with colleagues in the office.
2. The misanthrope society simply loves animals, which help them relax and get rid of stress. In addition, cats, dogs and other pets compensate for the lack of communication with people.
3. It’s worth finding a hobby that will help you relax at home and get positive emotions.
4. Alienation from people implies drawing up your own special schedule, for example, it is better to go to stores late in the evening, when most are already at home watching TV.

Work for a misanthrope

To the delight of people who do not like to contact others, remote work is common in the modern world, so the vacancies are many and varied. What could be cooler for a misanthrope than refusing to go to the office, ride public transport and live communication with colleagues. Popular professions for misanthropes:

• copywriter/writer;
• marketer;
• programmer/tester;
• designer;
• sociologist;
• extra;
• accountant.

Practical recommendations from experts

If we analyze the most popular advice from psychologists and psychiatrists regarding the treatment of apathy, we can draw certain conclusions. According to most experts, at the first symptoms of this disorder it is necessary:

• Cope with laziness. By any means you need to force yourself to move. The easiest way is to go to the gym. During training, the patient will involuntarily plunge into a state of languor and relaxation, which will distract from problems and gloomy thoughts.
• Don't stop communicating. “I don’t want to meet or talk to anyone,” perhaps this is how a person suffering from apathy will answer. Most likely, he himself does not know what he is giving up: evening gatherings with an old friend and a bottle of light wine are not such a bad cure for apathy and blues. Of course, if you don't abuse it.
• Get plenty of rest and sleep. Apathy often occurs in people who are constantly in an intense rhythm of life. You need to sleep at least 7-8 hours a day.
• Eat properly. The psychological well-being of each of us largely depends on what we eat. The body must receive all the necessary vitamins and microelements. It is better to give up processed foods and fast food forever.
• Listen to classical music. Scientists have repeatedly proven that the works of great authors can charge you with positive energy and give you an uplifting mood, which is so lacking in apathy.
• Do yoga. If a person has lost the desire to communicate with people and engage in any activity, he can be brought back to life with the help of mantra yoga. The essence of the method is the singing of a sacred text, during which a special vibration background is created that has a positive effect on the psycho-emotional state.
• Get out of your stupor. To end apathy, it is necessary to create a surge of emotions. There is no universal recipe here: one person needs extreme sports, even skydiving, while for another, watching their favorite comedy movie or energetic dancing may be enough.
• Stop regularly reading or watching the news. Often the media present information that causes irritation, fear, disappointment, envy, anger and other depressing emotions. Tragic news, shocking talk shows, and television programs about diseases can leave a negative imprint on the subconscious.
• Learn to manage your apathy. It’s better to overcome yourself and start reading literature about psychological problems than to mope and suffer from idleness.

If the patient has no desire to communicate with anyone, this does not mean that he is not inclined to emotional empathy. Each of us, to a greater or lesser extent, can support another person. Therefore, those who suffer from apathy need to communicate more with energetic and cheerful people.

Apathy and exercise

Lack of desire to communicate and indifference to one’s own life are clear signs of a psychotic disorder. But like any other disease, it is much easier to cope with it at the first symptoms. A patient who follows the above recommendations has no chance of losing the fight, but, one way or another, serious willpower will be required. The main thing is not to get hung up on a depressed state. It is most correct to perceive apathy as a short-term phenomenon, a kind of time-out for rest and respite from the busy rhythm of life.

Many psychotherapists are sure that a person who has lost the desire to communicate with people has problems with physical health and poor health. It is no coincidence that the term “mental health”, which means mental balance and well-being. “A healthy mind in a healthy body” - this saying has been familiar to all of us since childhood, so the best prevention of any psychological problems is maintaining optimal physical shape.

Exercising in the morning or light workout in the gym is one of the recipes for improving the condition of the nervous system. A couple of months of constant exercise is enough to see how your mood stabilizes and the desire to live and do what you love appears again. It doesn’t matter at all which sport the patient likes best - cycling or race walking, swimming or weightlifting - the main thing is to get the much-needed emotions and again feel an interest in satisfying your own desires.