In psychiatry, there is such a term as accentuation . This is not a disease, but not a full-fledged health. Accentuation is an exaggeration of certain traits that arose in connection with traumas, stress, disorders in the central nervous system and the brain, genetic predisposition. The epileptoid type of personality is also an accentuation, which, by its manifestation, resembles behavior in epilepsy. However, we emphasize: we do not call the epileptoid type of accentuation a harmless norm.
Study history
As early as 1923, the name "epileptoid type" was first used. Implied personality changes, which are very reminiscent of epilepsy.
Further, in the 1940s, not only the definition was given, but also a detailed description of what the epileptoid type of character is. Mentioned features: anger, quick temper, a penchant for drinking and sexual promiscuity.
But the similarity of epilepsy and epileptoid appears not only externally. Thus, epileptoid features, both in accentuation and in innate epilepsy, are manifested in the child not from birth, but only from 5 to 6 years.
Behavior
Epileptoids are stiff, inert, they are viscous. Their mood is characterized by alternating dysphoria and affective discharges. The period of dysphoria is the accumulation (very slow) of negativity, anguish, anger, irritation and the search for an object to breakdown. And the affective discharge is the explosion itself. Moreover, the explosions are long and strong, since the epileptoid very slowly cools. At first glance, it may seem that its explosiveness is something spontaneous. But in fact, the epileptoid, like an iron kettle, boils for a long time, and it cools down for a long time. And the sudden occasion can be just the last degree before the whistle of the teapot.
As we have said, the epileptoid personality type is the viscosity of thinking and behavior. They love the established order and want the system never to change. They will not change the order of others on their own,
Among personality types in psychiatry, the epileptoid type could even be confused with a hypertytic, labile type and psychoasthenoid. But, if the psychoasthenoid shows its pedantry in that it will wipe the motes every half hour, the epileptoid loves a pragmatic order in which all the items should be at hand.
Epileptoid is easy to understand. He knows how to break his thoughts into simple and accessible bundles, he can clearly place everything on the shelves. But in order to convince of something epileptoid, we need proof. He does not believe in esotericism, transcendence is alien to him. At the same time, his practicality and realism are very useful. Of course, many people would need to learn something from the epileptoid. He does not think about high matters, the topic is much more important here and now, moreover, the material side of this matter.