The main properties of temperament and its classification. Types and properties of the nervous system as the physiological basis of temperament The properties of the nervous system that determine temperament include

Modern Humanitarian Academy

Barnaul branch

Course work

in General Psychology

"Features of the relationship between the properties of the nervous system and types of temperament"

Is done by a student:

Sadykova A.N.

Group: ZP-609-U-51

Barnaul 2008

Introduction

Conclusion

Glossary

Appendix A "Classification of types of higher nervous activity"

Appendix B" a brief description of types of temperament

Introduction

The mental characteristics of the human personality are characterized by various properties that manifest themselves when social activities person. One of these mental properties of a person is the temperament of a person.

When they talk about temperament, they mean many mental differences between people - differences in depth, intensity, stability of emotions, emotional impressionability, pace, energy of actions and other dynamic, individually stable features of mental life, behavior and activity.

Nevertheless, temperament remains a largely controversial and unresolved issue today. However, with all the variety of approaches to the problem, scientists and practitioners recognize that temperament is the biological foundation on which a person is formed as a social being. Thus, temperament refers to the biologically determined substructures of personality.

Temperament reflects the dynamic aspects of behavior, mainly of an innate nature, therefore, the properties of temperament are the most stable and constant in comparison with other mental characteristics of a person.

The relevance of this topic, first of all, lies in the fact that the qualities of a person, formed in the personal experience of a person on the basis of the genetic conditionality of his type of nervous system, largely determine the style of his life and activity. Knowing the type of temperament and the ability to determine the type of a particular person or group of people helps to find an approach to a particular person and build better relationships with him and in the team.

The object of this study is the relationship between the properties of the nervous system and types of temperament.

The subject of research in this work is the types of temperaments and properties of the nervous system.

The purpose of this work is to study and analyze the influence of the properties of the nervous system on the types of human temperaments.

To achieve this goal, it is necessary to solve a number of problems, namely

1. To study the psychological, pedagogical and methodological literature on the research problem.

2. Analyze the concept and classification of features of the properties of the nervous system and types of human temperament.

3. Determine the features of the relationship between the properties of the nervous system and the types of human temperament.

Research methods: theoretical - analysis and synthesis of psychological and pedagogical and methodological literature, comparison and generalization, analysis and synthesis.

When writing term paper Twenty-two literature sources were used. Basically, this is educational and monographic literature compiled by leading experts in the field of psychology, namely the works of such authors as: V.A. Krutetsky, R.S. Nemov, I.P. Pavlov, A.V. Petrovsky, E.I. Rogov, V.M. Rusalov.

The practical significance of this work lies in the application of the acquired knowledge and conclusions in further work, professional and labor activities, as well as in writing term papers.

1. Temperament and properties of the nervous system as psychological categories

1.1 General idea of ​​the properties of the nervous system

Each person has a very specific type of nervous system, the manifestation of which, i.e. features of temperament, constitute an important aspect of individual psychological differences.

Some of the combinations of type properties that occur more often than others or are most pronounced, and may, according to I.P. Pavlov, to serve as an explanation of the classification of temperaments, which has been known since ancient times. Namely: sanguine temperament corresponds to a strong balanced fast type of the nervous system, phlegmatic temperament - a strong balanced slow type, choleric temperament - a strong unbalanced type, melancholic temperament - a weak type of nervous system.

Features of a person's mental activity, which determine his actions, behavior, habits, interests, knowledge, are formed in the process of his individual life and upbringing. The type of higher nervous activity gives originality to human behavior, leaves a characteristic imprint on the whole appearance of a person - determines the mobility of his mental processes, their stability, but does not determine either the behavior, or actions of a person, or his beliefs, or moral principles.

As I.P. Pavlov proved, the dynamics of the course of mental activity and the individual characteristics of behavior entirely depend on individual differences in the activity of the nervous system. The manifestation and correlation of the properties of the two main nervous processes - excitation and inhibition - is the basis of these differences in nervous activity.

Together with his colleagues, he identified three basic properties of the nervous system, from the combination of which this or that type of temperament is laid.

1) The mobility of the processes of excitation and inhibition.

2) Balance, or Poise.

3) The strength of the processes of excitation and inhibition.

The strength of nervous processes is expressed in the ability of nerve cells to endure prolonged or short-term, but very concentrated excitation and inhibition. This determines the performance (endurance) of the nervous system.

Weakness of nervous processes is characterized by the inability to withstand prolonged and concentrated excitation and inhibition. Thus, in a weak nervous system, nerve cells are characterized by low efficiency, and their energy is quickly depleted. But on the other hand, such a nervous system has great sensitivity: even to weak stimuli, it gives an appropriate reaction.

Combinations of these properties of the nervous processes of excitation and inhibition formed the basis for determining the types of higher nervous activity. The combination of strength, mobility and balance of the processes of excitation and inhibition constitutes the type of the nervous system. (Appendix A)

Weak type. Representatives of the weak type of the nervous system cannot withstand strong, prolonged and concentrated stimuli. Weak are the processes of inhibition and excitation. Under the action of strong stimuli, the development of conditioned reflexes is delayed. Along with this, there is a high sensitivity (that is, a low threshold) to the actions of stimuli.

A strong unbalanced type with a predominance of excitation. His nervous system is characterized, in addition to its great strength, by the predominance of excitation over inhibition. It has great vitality, but lacks self-control; he is short-tempered and unrestrained.

Strong balanced mobile type. His nervous system is distinguished by the great strength of nervous processes, their balance and considerable mobility. The processes of inhibition and excitation are strong and balanced, but their speed, mobility, and rapid change of nervous processes lead to a relative instability of the nervous connections. Therefore, this person is quick, easily adapting to changing conditions of life. It is characterized by high resistance to the difficulties of life.

Strong balanced inert type. His nervous system is also characterized by considerable strength and balance of nervous processes along with little mobility. Strong and balanced nervous processes are characterized by low mobility. Representatives of this type are outwardly always calm, even, difficult to excite.

According to Teplov, the following structure of properties of the nervous system can be outlined:

1) strength (endurance),

2) dynamism (ease of generation of the nervous process),

3) mobility (speed of alteration of signs of stimuli),

4) lability (the rate of occurrence and termination of the nervous process).

Each of these properties can be different in relation to the process of excitation and to the process of inhibition: Therefore, it is necessary to talk about the balance of nervous processes for each of these properties.

The leading specialist on temperament problems, Nebylitsin and his coworkers, studied a group of basic properties of the nervous system, the existence of most of which was established with sufficient firmness, including using factor analysis. All these properties characterize, each from its own specific point of view, the dynamics of each of the two main nervous processes - excitation and inhibition. Speaking of the dynamism of the nervous system, Nebylitsin essentially means two properties - the dynamism of excitation and inhibition, just as, speaking of the strength of the nervous system, we actually mean two properties - the strength of the nervous system in relation to excitation and in relation to inhibition. Since these properties are elementary measurements of two fundamental nervous processes, he calls them primary.

Nebylitsin refers to secondary properties a number of additional characteristics of the nervous system obtained by measuring and comparing primary properties of the same name that characterize two opposite nervous processes - excitation and inhibition.

For analysis biological system human V.M. Rusalov put forward the concept of general and particular constitutions of the human body. According to this concept, temperament is based on the properties of the general constitution human body, which is considered as the totality of all private constitutions, i.e., all the physical and physiological properties of the individual, fixed in his hereditary apparatus.

most important hallmark studies of V.M. Rusalov and his colleagues is the use of the concept of P.K. Anokhin about the integrative activity of the brain, which is considered as the latest stage in the development of the teachings of I.P. Pavlova. The application of this concept made it possible not only to reveal the structure and organization of the general properties of the nervous system, but also to derive from it a number of fundamental properties of temperament.

The type of higher nervous activity refers to natural higher data; this is an innate property of the nervous system. On this physiological basis, various systems of conditional connections can be formed, that is, in the process of life, these conditional connections will be formed differently in different people: this is where the type of higher nervous activity will manifest itself. Temperament is a manifestation of the type of the nervous system in human activity and behavior. Only knowing the properties of the nervous system, their number and stable variations, it will be possible to establish a possible structural organization temperament types.

1.2 Physiological and psychological basis temperament types

The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates is considered the creator of the doctrine of temperaments. He argued that people differ in the ratio of the 4 main "juices" of life - blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile, which are part of it. Based on his teachings, the most famous doctor of antiquity after Hippocrates, Claudius Galen, developed the first typology of temperaments. According to his teaching, the type of temperament depends on the predominance of one of the juices in the body. They identified temperaments that are widely known in our time: sanguine (from Latin sanguis - "blood"), phlegmatic (from Greek - phlegma - "phlegm"), choleric (from Greek chole - "bile"), and melancholic (from the Greek. melas chole - "black bile"). This fantastic concept has had a huge impact on scientists for many centuries.

Temperament - the proper ratio of traits from tempero - I mix in the proper state - a characteristic of the individual from the side of the dynamic features of his mental activity, i.e. tempo, speed, rhythm, intensity that make up this activity of mental processes and states.

The last known description of it, which is also used in modern psychology, belongs to the German philosopher I. Kant. He said that from a physiological point of view, when it comes to temperament, they mean the physical constitution (weak or strong physique) and complexion (liquid, naturally mobile in the body with the help of vital force. Which also includes heat or cold when processing these juices.)

But from a psychological point of view, i.e. as the temperament of the soul (faculties of feeling and desire), these expressions concerning the properties of blood are determined only by analogy with the play of feelings and desire with bodily driving reasons(of which blood is the most important).

The main division of the doctrine of temperaments is this: the temperaments of feeling and the temperaments of action are divided into two types, which together gives four temperaments.

Kant ranked among the temperaments of feelings: sanguine and its opposite - melancholic. The first has the peculiarity that a quick and strong effect is exerted on the sensation, but the sensation does not penetrate deeply (it does not happen for a long time); in the second temperament, the sensation is less vivid, but takes deep roots. This should be seen as a difference in the temperaments of feelings, and not in a disposition to joy or sadness.

Since ancient times, researchers, observing a significant variety of behavior, coinciding with differences in physique and physiological functions, have tried to streamline them, somehow group them. Thus, a variety of typologies of temperaments arose. Of greatest interest are those in which the properties of temperament, understood as hereditary or innate, were associated with individual differences in physique. These typologies are called constitutional typologies. So the most widely used typology proposed by E. Kretschmer.

His main idea was that people with a certain type of constitution have certain mental characteristics. He carried out many measurements of body parts, which allowed him to distinguish 4 constitutional types:

LEPTOSOMATIC - characterized by a fragile physique, high growth, a flat chest. The shoulders are narrow, the lower limbs are long and thin.

PICNIC - a person with pronounced adipose tissue, excessively obese, characterized by small or medium stature, a blurry torso with a large belly and a round head on a short neck.

ATELETIK - a person with well-developed muscles, a strong physique, characterized by high or medium height, broad shoulders, narrow hips.

DYPLASTIC - people with a shapeless, irregular structure. Individuals of this type are characterized by various body deformities (for example, excessive growth, disproportionate physique).

With these types of body structure, Kretschmer correlates 3 selected types of temperament, which he calls: schizothymic, ixothymic and cyclothymic. The schizothymic has an asthenic physique, he is closed, prone to fluctuations in emotions, stubborn, not very responsive to changing attitudes and views, hardly adapts to the environment. In contrast, the ixothymic has an athletic physique. This is a calm, unimpressive person with restrained gestures and facial expressions, with low flexibility of thinking, often petty. The picnic physique is cyclothymic, his emotions fluctuate between joy and sadness, he easily contacts people and is realistic in his views.

Sheldon's views are also based on the assumption that the body and temperament are 2 human parameters related to each other. The structure of the body determines the temperament, which is its function. W. Sheldon proceeded from the hypothesis of the existence of basic body types, describing which he borrowed terms from embryology. They are divided into 3 types.

ENDOMORPHIC (mostly internal organs are formed from the endoderm);

MESOMORPHOUS (muscle tissue is formed from the mesoderm);

ECTOMORPHIC (from ectederm skin develops and nervous tissue).

At the same time, people with an endomorphic type are characterized by a relatively weak physique with an excess of adipose tissue; the mesamorphic type tends to have a slender and strong body, great physical stability and strength; and ectomorphic - a fragile body, a flat chest, long thin limbs with weak muscles.

According to W. Sheldon, these body types correspond to certain types of temperaments, named by him depending on the functions of certain organs of the body: visicetronia (lat. viscera - "insides"), somatonia (Greek soma - "body") and cerebrotonia (lat. cerebrum - "brain").

According to I.P. Pavlov, temperaments are the "basic features" of a person's individual characteristics. They are usually distinguished as follows: sanguine, phlegmatic, choleric and melancholic.

The French scientist A. Fulier made additions to the Hippocratic classification based on the study of the intensity and speed of reactions. He highlighted:

1. sensitive people with a quick but low-intensity reaction (closer to sanguine people);

2. sensitive people with a slower but more intense reaction (melancholic);

3. active people with a quick and intense reaction (choleric);

4. active people with a slow and moderate reaction (Phlegmatic).

At present, science has enough facts to give a complete psychological description of all types of temperament according to a certain harmonious program. However, to compile the psychological characteristics of traditional 4 types, the following main properties of temperament are usually distinguished:

Sensitivity is determined by what is the smallest force of external influences necessary for the occurrence of any mental reaction of a person, and what is the rate of occurrence of this reaction.

Reactivity is characterized by the degree of involuntary reactions to external or internal influences of the same strength (a critical remark, an offensive word, a sharp tone - even a sound).

Activity indicates how intensely a person energetically affects external world and overcomes obstacles in achieving goals (perseverance, focus, focus).

The ratio of reactivity and activity determines from what in more envy human activity: from random external or internal circumstances, mood, random events) or from goals, intentions, beliefs.

Plasticity and rigidity indicate how easily and flexibly a person adapts to external influences (plasticity) or how inert and inert his behavior is.

Extraversion, introversion determines what the reactions and activities of a person mainly depend on - from external impressions that arise at the moment (extrovert), or from images, ideas and thoughts related to the past and future (introvert).

Considering all the listed properties, J. Strelyau gives the following psychological characteristics of the main classical types of temperament:

SANGUINE. A person with increased reactivity, but at the same time, his activity and reactivity are balanced. He vividly, excitedly responds to everything that attracts his attention, has a lively facial expression and expressive movements. For an insignificant reason, he laughs, and an insignificant fact can make him angry. It is easy to guess his mood, attitude to an object or person by his face. He has a high threshold of sensitivity, so he does not notice very weak sounds and light stimuli. Possessing increased activity and being very energetic and efficient, he actively takes up a new business and can work for a long time without getting tired. Able to quickly concentrate, disciplined, if desired, can restrain the manifestation of his feelings and involuntary reactions. He is characterized by quick movements, flexibility of mind, resourcefulness, a fast pace of speech, a quick inclusion in a new job. High plasticity is manifested in the variability of feelings, moods, interests and aspirations. Sanguine easily converges with new people, quickly gets used to new requirements and environment. Effortlessly not only switches from one job to another, but also retrains, mastering new skills. As a rule, he responds more to external impressions than to subjective images and ideas about the past and future, an extrovert.

In a sanguine person, feelings easily arise, are easily replaced. The ease with which new temporal connections are formed and remade in a sanguine person, the greater mobility of the stereotype, is also reflected in the mental mobility of sanguine people, they show a certain tendency to instability.

CHOLERIC. Like the sanguine person, it is characterized by low sensitivity, high reactivity and activity. But in the choleric, reactivity clearly prevails over activity, so he is unbridled, unrestrained, impatient. Hot-tempered. It is less plastic and more inert. Than sanguine. Hence - greater stability of aspirations and interests, greater perseverance, difficulties in switching attention are possible, he is rather an extrovert.

PHLEGMATIC has a high activity, significantly prevailing over low reactivity, low sensitivity and emotionality. It is difficult to make him laugh and sad - when they laugh loudly around him, he can remain unperturbed. When in big trouble, he stays calm. Usually he has poor facial expressions, movements are inexpressive and slow, just like speech. He is unresourceful, with difficulty shifting attention and adapting to a new environment, slowly rebuilding skills and habits. At the same time, he is energetic and efficient. Differs in patience, endurance, self-control. As a rule, he finds it difficult to meet new people, weakly responds to external impressions, an introvert. The disadvantage of the phlegmatic is its inertia, inactivity. Inertia also affects the inertness of his stereotypes, the difficulty of his restructuring. However, this quality, inertia, also has a positive meaning, it contributes to the solidity of the constancy of the personality.

MELANCHOLIC A person with high sensitivity and low reactivity. Increased sensitivity with great inertia leads to the fact that an insignificant reason can cause tears in him, he is overly touchy, painfully sensitive. His facial expressions and movements are inexpressive, his voice is quiet, his movements are poor. Usually he is insecure, timid, the slightest difficulty makes him give up. The melancholic is not energetic, unpersistent, gets tired easily and has little work capacity. It has an inherent easily distracted and unstable attention, and a slow pace of all mental processes. Most melancholics are introverts.

Melancholic is shy, indecisive, timid. However, in a calm, familiar environment, a melancholic can successfully cope with life's tasks.

Until now, the main types of temperament are the same four that were identified by ancient science: sanguine, choleric, phlegmatic and melancholic. The idea of ​​\u200b\u200bwhat a person's temperament is usually formed on the basis of some characteristic this person psychological characteristics. A person with noticeable mental activity, quickly responding to surrounding events, striving for a frequent change of impressions, relatively easily experiencing failures and troubles, alive, mobile, with expressive facial expressions and movements, is called a sanguine person. A person who is imperturbable, with stable aspirations and mood, with constancy and depth of feelings, with uniformity of actions and speech, with a weak external expression of mental states, is called a phlegmatic person. A person who is very energetic, capable of devoting himself to work with particular passion, fast and impetuous, prone to violent emotional outbursts and sudden mood swings, with rapid movements is called a choleric. An impressionable person, with deep feelings, easily injured, but outwardly weakly responsive to the environment, with restrained movements and muffled speech, is called a melancholic. Each type of temperament has its own ratio of mental properties, primarily a different degree of activity and emotionality, as well as certain features of motor skills. A certain structure of dynamic manifestations characterizes the type of temperament.

The variety of temperaments is most manifested in the nature of mental activity, movements, and emotionality. The main characteristics of emotionality are impressionability, impulsiveness, stability and emotional stability. The motor, motor component of temperament is clearly reflected in behavior and manifests itself as speed, strength, sharpness, the general rhythm of movements and speech. The general mental activity of a person is associated with the desire for self-expression, development and transformation of the surrounding world.

The central place in the characterization of temperament is occupied by general mental activity. What is meant is not the content of activity, not its direction, but precisely its dynamic features, the very energy level of behavior. The differences between people in this respect are very great. The degree of activity is distributed from lethargy, inertia at one pole to violent manifestations of energy at the other.

Thus, according to this chapter, we can conclude that the features of a person’s mental activity that determine his actions, behavior, habits, interests, knowledge, are formed in the process of a person’s individual life, in the process of education. The type of higher nervous activity gives originality to human behavior, leaves a characteristic imprint on the whole appearance of a person - determines the mobility of his mental processes, their stability, but does not determine either the behavior, or actions of a person, or his beliefs, or moral principles.

2. Analysis of the relationship between the properties of the nervous system and types of human temperament

2.1 The main properties of personality temperament

It has been proven that there are no two people on earth with the same patterns of fingers, that there are no two completely identical leaves on a tree. Similarly, in nature there are no absolutely identical human personalities - the personality of each person is unique. However, a person is not born a ready-made personality. He becomes it gradually. Already from early childhood, he has his own individual characteristics of the psyche. These features are very conservative and stable. Changing much more slowly than the personality traits known to us (views and beliefs, character traits, abilities), they form a kind of psychological ground on which, subsequently, depending certain individualities grow from its features. Such stable and inherent in a person from birth mental qualities are the properties of temperament.

In psychology, the classification of temperaments, based on taking into account such psychological characteristics, which are denoted by the terms extraversion, introversion, has gained some recognition. Like a magnet, objects of the surrounding world attract the interests, "life energy" of an extravert. craving for new experiences, impulsiveness, sociability, increased motor and speech activity. The introverted type is characterized by the fixation of interests on their inner world. Introverts, as a rule, are closed, socially passive, prone to introspection, and have difficulty adapting to the surrounding reality. Depending on the leading mental function, K. Jung singled out the mental, emotional, sensing and intuitive extraverted and introverted types.

In the future, differences in extraversion-introversion, as well as differences in emotional stability (where at one pole - constancy of mood, self-confidence, high resistance to negative influences, and at the other pole - a sharp change in mood, resentment, irritability, denoted by the words "anxiety level ") were studied by G. Eysenck in connection with differences in the properties of the nervous system. (Appendix B)

It was found, in particular, that the signs of extraversion, like the signs of emotional stability, are based on a less reactive nervous system, while the signs of introversion, like emotional anxiety, are an expression of a higher reactivity. It turned out that extraversion and introversion, emotional stability and high anxiety can act in different combinations. As a result, a new approach to the main types of temperament has been outlined: a combination of extraversion and emotional stability (sanguine), a combination of extraversion and emotional instability (choleric), a combination of introversion and emotional stability (phlegmatic), a combination of introversion and emotional instability (melancholic).

Weak expression of actual mobility (slow rate of onset and cessation of excitation and inhibition), i.e. the inertness of nervous processes can have both negative and positive values. The negative side of inertia is the slowness of dynamic changes, the positive side is the duration of preservation, the stability of mental processes. Corresponding psychological differences determine, first of all, the features of the course of activity, and not its effectiveness.

Like any mental properties, the properties of temperament are some potencies that manifest or do not manifest depending on a number of conditions. The dependence of the manifestations of temperament on conditions leads to the fact that people of completely different temperaments can, nevertheless, under different conditions show very similar or even identical qualitative mental characteristics, while in the same conditions they show directly opposite qualitative characteristics.

The properties of temperament are the most stable and constant in comparison with other mental characteristics of a person. A special feature of temperament is that the various properties of temperament this person do not accidentally combine with each other, but are naturally interconnected, forming a certain organization, a structure that characterizes the type of temperament. Like the properties of the nervous system, the properties of temperament are not absolutely immutable.

The dynamic features of mental activity depend on both emotions and will, i.e. determined by the ratio of emotional and volitional characteristics. A distinctive feature of the properties of temperament is that they form a specific ratio (krasis), which characterizes the type of temperament as a whole. This ratio (krasis) is feature, which since the time of Hippocrates, underlies the definition of the concept of temperament. Depending on this ratio, each individual property of temperament acquires a specific characteristic.

The properties of temperament depend on the properties of the organism as a whole. In modern psychology, it is generally recognized that the properties of temperament may change depending on the conditions of development. So, for example, Wundt believed that one and the same person in different time all four types of temperament can be manifested. The difference between the properties of temperament and other individual psychological characteristics can only lie in how, on the basis of relationships, conditions of life and activity, this or that group of individual psychological characteristics is formed.

The problem, the psychological characteristics of temperament in life situations actively studied by V.S. Merlin and his staff. To specific properties of temperament V.S. Merlin relates the features of the emotional-volitional sphere: activity, restraint, emotional excitability, the speed of the emergence and change of feelings, mood characteristics, anxiety, restlessness, and a number of other features of the psyche.

The properties of temperament differ from the motives and attitudes of personality and character traits. Temperament differs from abilities. Therefore, temperament includes, first of all, innate and individually peculiar mental properties. In some people, mental activity proceeds evenly, they are outwardly calm, balanced, even slow, they rarely laugh, their gaze is strict and cold, their movements are sparing and expedient. In other people, mental activity proceeds spasmodically, such people, on the contrary, are very mobile, restless, noisy, always lively, that is, the nature of the course of mental activity depends on temperament. There are the following properties of temperament:

1) the rate of occurrence of mental processes and their stability (for example, the speed of perception, the duration of concentration of attention);

2) mental tempo and rhythm;

3) the intensity of mental processes (for example, the strength of emotions, the activity of painful actions);

4) the orientation of mental activity to any objects, regardless of their content (for example, a person's constant desire for contacts with new people, for new impressions).

But the dynamics of mental activity also depends on other conditions (for example, on motives and mental states). If a person is interested in work, then regardless of the characteristics of his temperament, he will do it more energetically and faster. The properties of temperament, in contrast to motives and mental states, manifest themselves in the same way in a variety of activities and for a variety of purposes. For example, if a person has a tendency to worry before passing a test or in anticipation of starting at a competition, then this means that high anxiety is a property of his temperament.

The properties of temperament do not appear from the moment of birth and not all at once at a certain age, but develop in a certain sequence, determined both by the general laws of the maturation of higher nervous activity, and by the specific laws of the maturation of each type of nervous system. The reason for the individual characteristics of behavior is due to the properties of the nervous processes of excitation and inhibition and their various combinations.

2.2 Influence of the nervous system on human temperament

Psychologists have established that the weakness of the nervous system is not a negative property. A strong nervous system copes more successfully with some life tasks, and a weak one with others. A weak nervous system is a highly sensitive nervous system, and this is its well-known advantage. Knowledge of temperament, knowledge of the characteristics of the innate organization of the nervous system, which influences the course of human mental activity, is necessary for the teacher in his educational and educational work. It should be remembered that the division of people into four types of temperament is very conditional. There are transitional, mixed, intermediate types of temperament; often in the temperament of a person, features of different temperaments are combined. "Pure" temperaments are relatively rare.

In fact, the dependence of the course of mental processes and human behavior on the functioning of the nervous system, which performs a dominant and controlling role in the body, has long been known. The theory of the connection of some general properties of nervous processes with types of temperament was proposed by I.P. Pavlov and was developed and experimentally confirmed in the works of his followers.

The properties of the nervous system must be studied taking into account the peculiarities of people's behavior in life situations. The natural features of the nervous system can be hidden by a system of temporary connections developed during life. A certain mental trait is not only innate, the manifestation of the properties of the nervous system is possible only in emergency conditions, therefore, modern studies of the problem of individual differences are aimed at developing a special system of "vital indicators", i.e. objectively assessed vital manifestations of the studied properties of the nervous system.

Differences in activity related to temperament appear mainly in the following forms: the severity of the need itself, the desire to be active (the desire to continue the activity begun; the force of pressure, the energy of the actions performed; endurance in relation to the stress associated with activity); a variety of actions performed, a tendency to vary them; speed characteristics of reactions and movements (their rate, its increase and decay, sharpness and swiftness or slowness of movements).

It has been established that the dynamic manifestations of activity are determined in a certain way by the properties of the type of the nervous system. Thus, the intensity and stability of activity essentially depend on the strength of the nervous system, while the variability of activity and some of its speed characteristics depend on mobility and lability. In other studies, it was shown that mental activity as a feature of temperament also directly depends on a special property of the nervous system - activation (data from E.A. Golubeva).

Of great interest are the results of studies that have shown that weakness of the type of the nervous system means not only a lack of strength, low endurance, but also increased sensitivity, reactivity, i.e. readiness to respond to minor stimuli (a weaker nervous system gets tired and exhausted faster because it is relatively easier to excite). And reactivity is also one of the types of activity. In this regard, individuals with a weakness of the nervous system have their own special prerequisites for manifestations of activity. On the basis of reactivity (within the limits of the endurance of the nervous system), rapidly emerging, inventive, subtle forms of activity can be developed.

The concept of temperament should not be the initial premise, but the end result of the development of the theory of temperament. The initial premise of this theory should be a description of the signs by which it would be possible to distinguish temperament from other individual psychological characteristics.

Thus, temperament should be understood as a set of stable, individually unique properties of the human psyche that determine the dynamics of his mental activity. These properties are equally manifested in a variety of activities, regardless of its content, goals and motives, because. properties of temperament are due to the general type of the nervous system, then they to some extent depend on the hereditary factor. The hereditary factor affects the mental properties of temperament in two ways: the morphological features of the nervous system and the physiological properties of the type. But although the properties of temperament are of hereditary origin, in a number of cases they undergo a more or less dramatic change as a result of living conditions. The conditions may be as follows:

Severe somatic diseases, especially those suffered in early childhood;

As a result of some recreational activities;

As a result of psychological conflicts experienced in adolescence;

As a result of a sharp deterioration in living material conditions in adolescence;

With a sharp change in the objective conditions of life and education in adolescence.

Thus, we can conclude that as a result of vital external conditions, qualitative changes in mental properties can occur, which dramatically change the psychological characteristics of temperament.

Thus, according to this chapter, it should be concluded that most of the studied properties of temperament are, as a rule, descriptive. The number of properties does not follow from a certain theoretical model, and is determined by the peculiarities of factor processing of the initial characteristics of temperament. Consequently, the characteristics of temperament do not so much introduce various shades into activity as they set boundaries, protect the body from an extremely large or, conversely, extremely small expenditure of energy.

Conclusion

Each type of temperament can manifest itself in both positive and negative psychological traits. The energy, passion of the choleric, if they are aimed at worthy goals, can be valuable qualities, but lack of balance, emotional and motor, can be expressed, in the absence of proper education, in restraint, harshness, a tendency to constant explosions. The liveliness and responsiveness of a sanguine person are positive qualities, but with shortcomings in education, they can lead to a lack of proper concentration, to superficiality, and a tendency to scatter. Calmness, endurance, lack of haste of a phlegmatic person are virtues. But in adverse conditions upbringing, they can make a person lethargic, indifferent to the many impressions of life. The depth and stability of feelings, the emotional sensitivity of a melancholic are valuable features, but with a lack of appropriate educational influences, representatives of this type may develop a disposition to completely immerse themselves in their own experiences, excessive shyness. Thus, the same initial properties of temperament do not predetermine what they will develop into - into advantages or disadvantages.

The properties of temperament depend on the same general type nervous system, do not represent a psychologically unrelated unstructured conglomerate, between them there is a completely natural relationship and interdependence

It is known that under appropriate conditions of upbringing and with a weak type of nervous system, a strong will can develop and, conversely, with a strong type of nervous system under conditions of "greenhouse" upbringing, signs of insufficient energy and helplessness may appear. Not every choleric person is decisive and not every sanguine person is responsive. Such properties must be developed. This implies a certain self-regulation, self-education.

So, summing up the above, I would like to note once again that psychologists have been and are engaged in the study of temperament. different countries. The methods of studying it are rather conditional and not objective, but work in this direction is being carried out and is bearing fruit. Many theories have been put forward regarding the nature of temperament and methods for studying it. The methods, as mentioned above, include laboratory, complex, natural methods for studying temperament and the method of observation.

Different points of view were expressed about the nature of temperament, starting with Hippocrates and Galen, who identified 4 types of temperament. These types have almost invariably survived to this day and are used in the research of modern psychologists. E. Kretschmer associated the nature of temperament with chemical composition blood. A. Haller introduced the concepts of excitability and sensitivity, and his student G. Vrisberg connected temperament with the characteristics of the nervous system. I.P. Pavlov experimentally confirmed the theory of the physiological basis of temperament. Based on these studies, the study of temperament continues today.

Thus, this work reveals the physiological basis of temperament. It gives the psychological characteristics of temperaments, reveals the features of the influence of the properties of the nervous system on the types of temperaments. Consequently, temperament refers, first of all, to the biologically determined substructures of the personality, and knowing one's own type of temperament will certainly help to solve many problems of the upbringing and development of the personality.

Glossary

New concepts	Content
Activity	Formal-dynamic characteristic of temperament, dynamic-energetic intensity of human behavior, manifested in its interaction with the natural and social world.
introversion	The appeal of a person's consciousness to himself; preoccupation with one's own problems and experiences, accompanied by a weakening of attention to that. What's going on around.
Lability	The property of nervous processes, manifested in the ability to conduct a certain number of nerve impulses per unit of time. It is characterized by the speed of occurrence and termination of the nervous process.
melancholic	A person whose behavior is characterized by a slow reaction to existing stimuli, as well as speech, thought and motor processes.
sanguine	A type of temperament characterized by energy, increased efficiency and quick reaction.
Properties of the human nervous system	A complex of physical characteristics of the nervous system that determines the processes of occurrence, conduction, switching and termination of nerve impulses in various departments and parts of the central nervous system.
Strength of the nervous system	The property of the nervous system to withstand prolonged and heavy loads.
Temperament	The manifestation in the behavior of the neuropsychic constitution inherent in a person from birth; a set of dynamic characteristics of human behavior, manifested in general activity in the features of motor skills and in emotionality.
Temperament (according to Nemov R.S.)	Dynamic characteristics of mental processes and human behavior, manifested in their speed, variability, intensity and other characteristics.
Phlegmatic person	Type of human temperament, characterized by reduced reactivity, poorly developed, slow expressive movements.
Character	The totality of personality traits that determine the typical abilities of her response to life circumstances.
central nervous system	The part of the nervous system that includes the brain, diencephalon, and spinal cord.
extraversion	The focus of a person's consciousness and attention is mainly on what is happening inside him.

List of sources used

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6. Krutetsky V.A. "Psychology" M. "Enlightenment" 2000.-348s.

7. Merlin B.C. Essay on the theory of temperament. - Perm, 2003.-195p.

8. Nebylitsyn V.D. Actual problems of differential psychophysiology. // Psychology of individual differences. Reader. M., 2000.-360s.

9. Nebylitsin VD Basic properties of the human nervous system. - M. Enlightenment, 2000.- 270s.

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14. Pavlov I. P. Full. coll. Op. T.3.Kn.2. M.-L., 1951. S.269.

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20. Strelyau Ya. The role of temperament in mental development. M., "Atlas" 2002.-246s.

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22. Teplov B.M. Current state the question of the types of higher nervous activity of a person and the method of their determination. // Psychology of individual differences. Reader. M., 2000.-С95-127

Annex A

Classification of types of higher nervous activity according to Pavlov I.P.

Annex B

Brief description of temperament types according to G. Akzenk

The basis for the development of a truly scientific theory of temperament was created by the teachings of IP Pavlov on the typological properties of the nervous system, with which he associated four types of temperament.

The properties of the nervous system are innate individual characteristics of a person, which directly or indirectly affect absolutely all components of a person’s mental organization, his behavior and activities. It has been established that the properties of the nervous system are manifested in the inclinations and development of abilities, needs, motives and motivational attitudes, temperament and predisposition to specific mental states, tolerance of intellectual and physical stress, individual style and success in performing activities.

Pavlov identified three main properties of the nervous system: strength, balance and mobility of the excitatory and inhibitory processes. From a number of possible combinations of these properties, Pavlov singled out four, according to his data, the main, typical combinations in the form of four types of higher nervous activity /3,4,5/.

BALANCED	UNBALANCED
MOBILE	INERT

Rice. one. Types of the nervous system according to I.P. Pavlov

Pavlov put their manifestations in behavior in direct connection with the ancient classification of temperament. A strong, balanced, mobile type of the nervous system was considered by him as the appropriate temperament of a sanguine person; strong, balanced, inert - phlegmatic temperament; strong, unbalanced - the temperament of the choleric; weak - melancholic temperament. However, even with a mass approach, it is quite rare to find or select bright representatives with given combinations of properties of the nervous system; the vast majority of people during a mass examination will be attributed to the so-called variations of the main types of the nervous system.

The strength of the nervous system is considered as the ability of the cells of the cerebral hemispheres to maintain performance. There are two aspects to this property:

a) performance in narrow sense", i.e. the ability to withstand concentrated excitation for a long time without revealing prohibitive inhibition,

b) the ability of limiting inhibition in response to the action of a single, but for the given conditions, excessively strong stimulus

Weak nervous systems are characterized by a greater initial effect, a faster approach to the limit and an earlier achievement of the limit of a given function, while strong nervous systems are characterized, on the contrary, by a smaller effect at minimal stimulus values, a slower approach to the function limit. and later reaching this limit. These differences can only be explained by assuming that a weak nervous system has a lower absolute threshold, due to which the stimulation falling on it has a greater physiological effect than the stimulation of the same physical intensity received by a strong nervous system /1,3,4,5/

The balance of nervous processes is the balance of the processes of excitation and inhibition. The ratio of the strength of both processes decides whether a given individual is balanced or unbalanced when the strength of one process exceeds that of the other.

As you know, it was the balance of excitation and inhibition that was the only sign that formed the basis of the first version of the typological classification developed by I.P. Pavlov. Somewhat later, in the works of the 1930s, the concept of balance was concretized by pointing to the strength of the nervous system as a sign by which the degree of balance of the two main nervous processes should be assessed. Thus, the category of balance received the value of a secondary feature in the classification of the properties of the nervous system, determined by the ratio of two primary parameters related to the excitatory and inhibitory processes. Thus, there are as many types of balance of nervous processes as there are primary properties of the nervous system. Then each of the properties of the nervous system should receive a separate characteristic for the excitatory and inhibitory processes; in a quantitative approach, this means obtaining two absolute values ​​of a given property; comparison of these two absolute values ​​gives a characteristic of the balance for this property; hence the balance, or poise, acts as general principle organization of the properties of the nervous system and as a derived parameter for each of the main properties.

Mobility - the speed of restructuring of reactions from one signal value of the stimulus to the opposite. In the works of the Pavlovian school, when determining mobility, two aspects of this property were distinguished: the speed of the onset, flow and termination of the nervous process is one side; the speed of transition from excitation to inhibition and vice versa is the other side. In addition, some researchers also single out a third side of this property - the rate of formation of positive and inhibitory conditioned connections.

Teplov believed that the ability to quickly respond to changes in environment, which determines the mobility, has a complex nature and therefore in different studies there are various manifestations of this property. All of them come directly from the three sides of mobility identified earlier, and all of them are necessarily characterized by speed: "it can be said that mobility in the broad sense of this term means all the characteristics of the work of the nervous system, depending on the time factor, all those forms of this work, to which the velocity characteristic is applicable" (Teplov, 1955, p. 10).

Dynamism - the rate of formation of a conditioned reflex. It is determined by the speed of response to an external stimulus, which, in the process of formation of a conditioned reflex, becomes a signal of a favorable (positive - causing excitation) or unfavorable (negative - requiring avoidance and inhibition) situation. Dynamism is one of the main factors in the speed of the learning process and is associated with the success and speed of the formation of adequate reactions. It is the action of this factor that determines the speed of the primary adaptation of the organism to the influence of the conditions that have arisen long before it becomes necessary to maintain reactions at the normal level for a long time (strength of the nervous system) or change the mode of action to the opposite (mobility of nervous processes) / 4, 5/.

Soviet psychologists (B. M. Teplov and others) note that the paramount scientific significance of the work of I. P. Pavlov lies in the elucidation of the main role of the properties of the nervous system as the primary and most profound parameters of the psychophysiological organization of the individual. At the present stage of the development of science, it is not yet possible to draw final scientific conclusions regarding the number of basic types of the nervous system, as well as the number of typical temperaments. Research by Soviet scientists shows that the very structure of the properties of the nervous system as neurophysiological measurements of temperament is much more complicated than previously thought, and the number of basic combinations of these properties is much greater than was assumed by IP Pavlov. However, for a practical (including psychological and pedagogical) study of personality, the division into four main types of temperament and their psychological characteristics can serve as a fairly good basis.

CHOLERIC - characterized by a high level of mental activity, vigor of action, sharpness, swiftness, strength of movements, their fast pace, impetuosity. He is prone to sudden mood swings, quick-tempered, impatient, prone to emotional breakdowns, sometimes aggressive. Insufficient emotional and motor balance of a choleric person can result in incontinence, irascibility, inability to self-control under emotional circumstances in the absence of proper education.

SANGUINE - characterized by high mental activity, efficiency, swiftness and liveliness of movements, variety and richness of facial expressions, fast speech. They strive for a frequent change of impressions, easily and quickly respond to surrounding events, and are sociable. Emotions - mostly positive - quickly arise and quickly change. Relatively easily and quickly survives failure. Under adverse conditions and negative educational influences, mobility can result in a lack of concentration, unjustified haste of actions, and superficiality.

PHLEGMATIC - this type of temperament is characterized by a low level of mental activity, slowness, inexpressive facial expressions. It is not easy to switch from one type of activity to another and it is difficult to adapt to a new environment. The phlegmatic is dominated by a calm, even mood. Feelings and moods are usually constant. In the case of unsuccessful educational influences, he may develop lethargy, poverty of emotions, a tendency to perform monotonous actions.

MELANCHOLIC - characterized by a low level of mental activity, slowness of movement, restraint of facial expressions and speech, and rapid fatigue. He is distinguished by a high emotional sensitivity to the events happening to him, usually accompanied by increased anxiety, the depth and stability of emotions with their weak external manifestation, and negative emotions predominate. With a lack of appropriate educational influences, a melancholic may develop increased emotional vulnerability, isolation, alienation, fear of new situations, people and various kinds of tests /6,7/.

The given data show that, depending on the conditions of personality formation, each type of temperament can be characterized by a complex of both positive and negative psychological traits: “best” or “worst”. Only positive or only negative temperaments do not exist. The task of the educator, therefore, is not to change one type of temperament into another in the process of individual work with the child, but to achieve, on the one hand, the development of the positive qualities inherent in each temperament, and on the other hand, , the elimination or weakening of those shortcomings that have already begun to manifest themselves in the behavior of the child.

Since the formation of temperament features is a process that largely depends on the development of volitional personality traits, the formation of moral and volitional aspects of character is of paramount importance for the education of temperament. Mastering your behavior will mean the formation of positive qualities of temperament.

At the same time, the educator should keep in mind that temperament must be strictly distinguished from character. Temperament in no way characterizes the content side of the personality (worldview, views, beliefs, interests, etc.), does not determine the value of the personality or the limit of achievements possible for a given person. It is related only to the dynamic side of activity. Character is inextricably linked with the content side of the personality.

Being included in the development of character, the properties of temperament undergo changes, due to which the same initial properties can lead to different properties of character, depending on the conditions of life and activity. So, with appropriate upbringing and living conditions, a person with a weak nervous system can develop a strong character, and, conversely, weak character traits can develop with a “hothouse”, pampering upbringing in a person with a strong nervous system. In all its manifestations, temperament is mediated and conditioned by all real conditions and the specific content of human life. For example, the lack of restraint and self-control in human behavior does not necessarily indicate a choleric temperament. It may be a disadvantage. Temperament is directly manifested in the fact that it is easier for one person, for another it is more difficult to develop the necessary reactions of behavior, that for one person one method of developing certain mental qualities is needed, for another - others / 7,8 /.

It is indisputable that with any temperament it is possible to develop all socially valuable personality traits. However, the specific methods of developing these properties significantly depend on temperament. Therefore, temperament is an important condition that must be reckoned with when individual approach to education and training, to the formation of character, to the comprehensive development of mental and physical abilities.

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Goals:

• Give students a definition of the concept of "type of nervous system."
• To introduce students to the types of the nervous system and their differences.
• Give students a definition of temperament.
• Help identify your leading temperament type.
• Lead students to the definition of the concept of "character".
• To introduce students to the types of personality traits.
• Organize research activities students to identify their characteristic traits.
• To lead students to the definition of the concept of "self-esteem".
• Help students identify their own level of self-esteem.
• The nervous system of humans and animals consists of: sensory organs, nerves, brain.
• The nervous system of each person has individual properties. There are different types of nervous system.

slide 2

Type of nervous system- this is a set of properties of the nervous system that make up the physiological basis of the individual originality of human activity and animal behavior.
The human brain works as a whole, the cells that form it are interconnected according to their functions into centers. The nerve center is not only a separate section of the cerebral cortex, but also a combination of a number of such sections that are in functional interaction.
Both in a single neuron - a nerve cell, and in a group of them, that is, in nerve centers, two opposite and active processes proceed in a complex interaction - excitation and inhibition. At the same time, the excitation of any one part of the brain causes the inhibition of others.
The processes of excitation and inhibition can be balanced or more or less dominate one over the other, revealing characteristic excitability or, on the contrary, inhibition. They can in different cases flow with different force, with different degrees of ease, pass from one center to another and replace each other in the same centers, in other words, have different degrees of mobility.
The combination of the features of strength, balance and mobility of the processes of excitation and inhibition characteristic of a given nervous system determines the type of the nervous system. There are four most pronounced types.

slide 3

Table "Temperament and properties of the nervous system"

Temperament according to Hippocrates	a brief description of	Properties of the nervous system according to Pavlov	Prominent figures
Phlegmatic person	workable unemotional Reliable Calm Serious	Strong Balanced Sedentary	Kutuzov Krylov Newton
sanguine	Active Vigorous Cheerful Frivolous Carefree	Strong Balanced Mobile	Napoleon
Choleric	Very energetic hot-tempered Emotional Assertive Sensitive	Strong Unbalanced Mobile	Peter the First Pushkin Suvorov
melancholic	Closed Vulnerable Restrained Pensive Sad	Weak Unbalanced Restrained	Lermontov Block Gogol

slide 4

Temperament- this is a personality trait that determines the activity and emotionality of a person's behavior.

Temperament types

A description of the features of different temperaments can help to understand the features of a person’s temperament, if they are clearly expressed, but people with pronounced features of a certain temperament are not so common, most often people have a mixed temperament in various combinations. But the predominance of traits of any type of temperament makes it possible to attribute a person's temperament to one or another type.

melancholic

A person is easily vulnerable, prone to constant experience of various events, he reacts little to external factors. He cannot restrain his asthenic experiences by an effort of will, he is highly impressionable, easily emotionally vulnerable. These are traits of emotional weakness.

Phlegmatic person

Slow, imperturbable, has stable aspirations and mood, outwardly stingy in the manifestation of emotions and feelings. He shows perseverance and perseverance in work, remaining calm and balanced. In work, he is productive, compensating for his slowness with diligence.

sanguine

A lively, hot, mobile person, with frequent changes of mood, impressions, with a quick reaction to all events taking place around him, quite easily reconciled with his failures and troubles. He is very productive at work, when he is interested, getting very excited about this, if the work is not interesting, he is indifferent to it, he becomes bored.

Choleric

Fast, passionate, impulsive, but completely unbalanced, with sharply changing moods with emotional outbursts, quickly exhausted. He does not have a balance of nervous processes, this sharply distinguishes him from a sanguine person. Choleric, carried away, carelessly wastes his strength and quickly depletes.

Temperament Properties

Each temperament has both positive and negative properties. Good upbringing, control and self-control makes it possible to manifest: melancholic, as an impressionable person with deep feelings and emotions; phlegmatic, as a seasoned person, without hasty decisions; sanguine, as a highly responsive person for any work; choleric, as a passionate, frantic and active person in work.
Negative properties of temperament can manifest themselves: in a melancholic - isolation and shyness; phlegmatic - indifference to people, dryness; in a sanguine person - superficiality, dispersion, inconstancy.
A person with any type of temperament may or may not be capable, the type of temperament does not affect a person’s abilities, it’s just that some life tasks are easier to solve for a person of one type of temperament, others for another.

slide 5

Checking the assimilation of the characteristics of temperaments:

- What is the basis for distinguishing different types of temperament? (Speed, strength, poise, of our reactions)
- What is temperament? (In thinking, speech, manner of communication)
Is temperament an innate or acquired quality? (Biological, congenital)
What is called temperament? (Temperament is a personality quality that determines the activity and emotionality of a person's behavior.)
What types of nervous system are strong? (phlegmatic, sanguine, choleric)

Temperament is closely related to character. In temperament, personality is revealed from the side of dynamic manifestations, in character - from the side of its content.

slide 6

Character is a set of stable individual properties of a person that develops and manifests itself in activity and communication, which determines typical ways of behavior for him.

Slide 7

Character reflects the attitude of a person to the world around him. In the system of relations, four groups of character traits are distinguished:

- the attitude of a person towards other people (sociability, isolation, indifference, sensitivity, etc.);
- the attitude of a person to his work (industriousness, laziness, responsibility, initiative, negligence, etc.);
- the attitude of a person to himself (modesty, vanity, self-criticism);
- the attitude of a person to things (neatness, thrift, etc.)

Slide 8

Character traits largely determine human behavior - ways of acting in typical situations.
Let's try to learn how to identify the most typical character traits, including our own.

Slide 9

Methodology for diagnosing character.

Target: the technique diagnoses the business traits of a person's character.

Instruction: The subjects are invited to choose seven of the 15 character traits below that are the most stable for themselves.

1. Independence. 2. Creative approach to business. 3. Initiative. 4. Diligence. 5. Accuracy. 6. Performance. 7. Discipline. 8. Perseverance. 9. Integrity. 10. Diligence. 11. Efficiency. 12. Persistence. 13. Efficiency. 14. Responsibility. 15. Organization.

Data processing.

The predominance of qualities from the first to the fourth inclusive, indicates a creative complex. The predominance of features from the fifth to the tenth inclusive - about the performing, from the eleventh to the fifteenth - about the organizational complex.

Slide 10

Test "Artist or thinker?"

a) Interlace your fingers. Was the thumb of the left hand (L) or right (R) on top? Record the result.

B) Make a small hole in a sheet of paper and look through it with both eyes at an object. Alternately close one or the other eye. Does the subject move if you close the right or left?

C) Stand in the “Napoleon pose” with your arms crossed over your chest. Which hand is on top?

D) Try to portray "stormy applause." which palm is on top?

PPPP - the owner of this characteristic is conservative, prefers generally accepted forms of behavior.
PPPL - temperament is weak, indecision prevails.
PPLP is a strong, energetic, artistic character. When communicating with such a person, decisiveness and a sense of humor will not interfere.
PPLL - the character is close to the previous type, but softer, more contact, slower getting used to the new environment.
PLPP is an analytical mindset, the main feature is softness, caution. Avoids conflict, tolerant and prudent, prefers distance in relationships.
PLPL is a weak type, subject to various influences, defenseless, but at the same time time runs to conflict.
PLLP - artistry, some inconstancy, a penchant for new experiences. In communication, he is bold, knows how to avoid conflicts and switch to a new type of behavior.
PLLL - different independence, inconstancy and analytical mindset.
LPPP - emotional, easily in contact with almost everyone, subject to other people's influence.
LPPL - less persistent, soft and naive. Requires special care.
LPLP is the strongest character type. Persistent, energetic, hard to convince, conservative.
LPLL - a strong character, but unobtrusive. Internal aggressiveness is covered with external softness. Capable of quick interaction, but mutual understanding lags behind.
LLPP - characterized by friendliness, simplicity, some dispersion of interests.
LLPL - innocence, gentleness, gullibility.
LLLP - emotionality combined with determination leads to ill-considered actions. Energetic.
LLLL - has the ability to take a fresh look at things. Pronounced emotionality is combined with individualism, perseverance and some isolation.

Are you aware of your strengths and weaknesses? Do you think you have more positive or negative qualities?

slide 11

The ability to evaluate oneself, one's qualities, strengths and weaknesses is called self-esteem.

slide 12

Experiment "My self-esteem"

1. Carefully read the words that characterize certain character traits.

Neatness cowardice envy perseverance punctuality punctuality indecision indifference responsiveness rudeness responsibility caring sincerity resentment boldness carelessness short temper self-control optional purposefulness shyness sense of humor devotion slowness swagger compassion coldness

2. Fill in the table by placing in the first column the qualities that characterize the ideal person. In the second - qualities that express character traits that an ideal person should not have.

3. From the first and second columns, select and underline those character traits that you think you possess.

Results processing

Divide the number of positive traits you have endowed yourself with by the number of words placed in column #1. If the result is close to “one”, most likely you are overestimating yourself. If the result is close to "zero" - this is evidence of underestimation and increased self-criticism. With a result close to "0.5", you can conclude that you have a normal self-esteem. Compare similarly negative qualities with column #2. A result close to "0" - overestimated self-esteem, to "1" - underestimated, to "0.5" - normal.

– The knowledge that you have received today and the skills that you have acquired will help you explore yourself and set your personal and professional goals more clearly.

Literature:

1. Andreev V.I. Dialectics of education and self-education of a creative person. Kazan 1988.
2. Bityanova N.R. Psychology of personal growth. Moscow. int. ped. acad. 1995.
3. Zyuzko M.V. Five steps to yourself: a book for students. Moscow. Enlightenment 1992.
4. Mnatsakanyan L.I. Personality and evaluative abilities of high school students. Moscow. Enlightenment 1991.
5. Orlov A.B. Self-knowledge and self-education of character. Moscow. Enlightenment 1987.
6. Psychological personality development programs in adolescence and senior school age. ed. I.V. Dubrovina. Moscow Academy 1995

Chapter 24

Summary

The concept of temperament. Temperament as a personality trait. Determination of temperament according to B. M. Teplov. The main types of temperament: choleric, sanguine, melancholic, phlegmatic. The ratio of temperament and abilities.

Brief review of the doctrines of temperament. The doctrine of temperament Hippocrates. Typology E. Kretschmer. The concept of body types and temperament according to W. Sheldon. Studies of the problem of temperament in the works of IP Pavlov. The main properties of temperament and their manifestations by B. M. Teplov. The concept of temperament by V. M. Rusalov.

Physiological basis temperament. Properties of the nervous system as the basis of temperament. Teachings of I. P. Pavlov. The strength of excitation and inhibition, balance and mobility of nervous processes. Types of the nervous system according to I. P. Pavlov. Studies of the properties of the nervous system, conducted by B. M. Teplov and V. D. Nebylitsyn.

Psychological characteristics of temperament and features of personality activity. Principles of compiling psychological characteristics of temperament types. Psychological characteristics of temperament types according to J. Strelyau. Features of the correlation of temperament and the success of human activity.

24.1. The concept of temperament

Temperament is one of the most significant personality traits. Interest in this problem arose more than two and a half thousand years ago. It was caused by the obvious existence of individual differences, which are due to the peculiarities of the biological and physiological structure and development of the organism, as well as the peculiarities of social development, the uniqueness of social ties and contacts. The biologically determined structures of personality include, first of all, temperament. Temperament determines the presence of many mental differences between people, including the intensity and stability of emotions, emotional impressionability, the pace and vigor of actions, as well as a number of other dynamic characteristics.

Despite the fact that repeated and constant attempts have been made to investigate the problem of temperament, this problem still belongs to the category of controversial and not completely resolved problems of modern psychological science. Today there are many approaches to the study of temperament. However, with all the existing variety of approaches, most researchers recognize that temperament is the biological foundation on which a person is formed as a social being, and personality traits due to temperament are the most stable and long-term.

B. M. Teplov gives the following definition of temperament: “Temperament is a set of mental characteristics characteristic of a given person associated with emotional excitability, i.e., the speed with which feelings arise, on the one hand, and their strength, on the other” (Teplov B. M ., 1985). Thus, temperament has two components - activity and emotionality.

554 Part IV. Mental properties of personality

The activity of behavior characterizes the degree of energy, swiftness, speed, or, conversely, slowness and inertia. In turn, emotionality characterizes the course of emotional processes, determining the sign (positive or negative) and modality (joy, grief, fear, anger, etc.).

Since ancient times, it has been customary to distinguish four main types of temperament: choleric, sanguine, melancholic and phlegmatic. These basic types of temperament primarily differ among themselves in the dynamics of the emergence and intensity of emotional states. So, the choleric type is characterized by quickly arising and strong feelings, for the sanguine type - quickly arising, but weak feelings, for the melancholic - slowly arising, but strong feelings, for the phlegmatic - slowly arising and weak feelings. In addition, the choleric and sanguine temperaments are characterized by speed of movement, general mobility and a tendency to a strong external expression of feelings (in movements, speech, facial expressions, etc.). For melancholic and phlegmatic temperaments, on the contrary, slowness of movements and a weak expression of feelings are characteristic.

Types of temperament from the point of view of everyday psychology can be characterized as follows.

Choleric is a fast person, sometimes even impulsive, with strong, quickly igniting feelings, clearly expressed in speech, facial expressions, gestures; often - quick-tempered, prone to violent emotional reactions.

Sanguine is a fast, agile person who gives an emotional response to all impressions; his feelings are directly expressed in external behavior, but they are not strong and easily replace one another.

A melancholic is a person who is distinguished by a relatively small variety of emotional experiences, but by their great strength and duration. By no means does he respond to everything, but when he does, he expresses himself strongly, although he expresses his feelings little.

A phlegmatic person is a slow, balanced and calm person who is not easy to emotionally hurt and impossible to piss off. His feelings are almost indistinguishable from the outside.

However, it would be a mistake to think that all people can be divided into four basic temperaments. Only a few are pure representatives of these types; in the majority, we observe a combination of individual features of one temperament with some features of another. One and the same person in different situations and in relation to different spheres of life and activity can reveal features of different temperaments.

It should be noted that temperament does not determine the abilities and talents of a person. Great abilities can occur with equal frequency in any temperament. Among the outstanding talents in any field of activity, one can find people with different temperament. If we take, for example, the largest Russian writers, then in A. S. Pushkin we can note the bright features of choleric temperament, in A. I. Herzen - sanguine, in I. V. Gogol and V. A. Zhukovsky - melancholic, in I. A. Krylov and I. A. Goncharov - phlegmatic. Two great Russian commanders - A. V. Suvorov and M. I. Ku-

Chapter 24

aces - from the point of view of temperament, they form a sharp contrast. Suvorov was a typical choleric, while Kutuzov had features characteristic of a phlegmatic temperament, such as slowness of movement, calmness, composure.

It is impossible to raise the question of which of the temperaments is better. Each of them has its positive and negative sides. Passion, activity, energy of the choleric, mobility, liveliness and responsiveness of the sanguine, the depth and stability of the feelings of the melancholic, the calmness and lack of haste of the phlegmatic are examples of those valuable personality traits that are associated with individual temperaments. At the same time, with any of the temperaments, there may be a danger of developing undesirable personality traits. For example, a choleric temperament can make a person unrestrained, abrupt, prone to constant "explosions". A sanguine temperament can lead to frivolity, a tendency to scatter, insufficient depth and stability of feelings. With a melancholic temperament, a person may develop excessive isolation, a tendency to completely immerse himself in his own experiences, and excessive shyness. Phlegmatic temperament can make a person lethargic, inert, indifferent to all the impressions of life.

Temperament studies have their own history. Consider some of the main stages in the formation of modern ideas about temperament.

24.2. A Brief Overview of Temperament Teachings

The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates (c. 460-377 BC) is considered the creator of the doctrine of temperament. He argued that people differ in the ratio of the four main "juices of the body" - blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile. The ratio of these "juices of the body" in Greek was denoted by the word "kra-sis", which was later replaced by the Latin word temperamentum-"proportionality", "correct measure". Based on the teachings of Hippocrates, another famous physician of antiquity, Claudius Galen (c. 130-c. 200), developed a typology of temperaments, which he outlined in the famous treatise De temperamentum. According to his teachings, the type of temperament depends on the predominance of one of the juices in the body. They were allocated 13 types of temperament, but then they were reduced to four. These four names of temperament types are well known to you:

sanguine (from lat. sanguis- blood), phlegmatic (from Gerch. phlegma- mucus, sputum), choleric (from the Greek. chole- bile) and melancholic (from the Greek. melaschole- black bile). This concept has had a huge impact on scientists for many centuries. This is confirmed by the fact that until now the names of temperament types proposed by Galen are the most common.

In subsequent centuries, researchers, observing a significant variety of behavior, coinciding with differences in physique and physiological functions, tried to streamline and somehow group these differences. As a result, numerous concepts and typologies of temperaments have arisen. The basis

556 Part IV. Mental properties of personality

these concepts were put the most diverse personality traits. In a number of concepts, the properties of temperament were understood as hereditary or innate and associated with individual differences in body features. Such typologies are called constitutional typologies. Among them, the most widespread was the typology proposed by E. Kretschmer, who in 1921 published his famous work “Body Structure and Character”. His main idea is that people with a certain body type have certain mental characteristics. E. Kretschmer made many measurements of people's body parts, which allowed him to distinguish four constitutional types: leptosomatic, picnic, athletic, dysplastic (Fig. 24.1).

1. Leptosomatic characterized by a fragile physique, tall stature, flat chest cell, narrow shoulders, long and thin lower limbs.

2. Picnic - a person with pronounced adipose tissue, excessively obese, characterized by small or medium stature, a blurred body with a large belly and a round head on a short neck.

3. Athletic - a person with well-developed muscles, a strong physique, characterized by high or medium height, broad shoulders, narrow hips.

4. Dysplastic - a person with a shapeless, irregular structure. Individuals of this type are characterized by various body deformities (for example, excessive growth, disproportionate physique). With the named types of body structure, Kretschmer correlates the three types of temperament he singled out, which he calls: schizothymic, ixothymic and cyclothymic. The schizothymic has an asthenic physique, he is closed, prone to mood swings, stubborn, not inclined to change attitudes and views, with difficulty

Rice. 24.1. Constitutional types according to E. Kretschmer

Chapter 24

adapts to the environment. In contrast, the ixothymic has an athletic physique. This is a calm, unimpressive person with restrained gestures and facial expressions, with low flexibility of thinking, often petty. The picnic physique is cyclothymic, his emotions fluctuate between joy and sadness, he easily contacts people and is realistic in his views.

Kretschmer's theory is most widespread in Europe. In the USA in the 40s. 20th century W. Sheldon's concept of temperament gained great popularity. His concept is based on the assumption that the body and temperament are two interrelated parameters of a person. According to the author, the structure of the body determines the temperament, which is its function. Sheldon proceeded from the hypothesis of the existence of basic body types, describing which he borrowed terms from embryology.

He identified three types: 1) endomorphic (mostly internal organs are formed from the endoderm); 2) mesomorphic (muscle tissue is formed from the mesoderm); 3) ectomorphic (skin and nervous tissue develop from the ectoderm). People with the endomorphic type are characterized by a relatively weak physique with an excess of adipose tissue, the mesomorphic type is characterized by a slender and strong body, large physical strength, and for an ectomorph - a fragile physique, a flat chest and long thin limbs with weak muscles. According to Sheldon, these types of physiques correspond to certain types of temperaments, named by him depending on the function of certain organs of the body: viscerotonia (from Latin glhset - the insides), somatotonia (from the Greek. zota - body) and cerebrotonia (from lat. sergeum - brain). Sheldon calls persons with a predominance of a certain type of physique, respectively, viscerotonics, so-matotonics and cerebrotonics, and believes that each person has all of these groups of properties. However, the differences between people are determined by the predominance of certain properties (Table 24.1).

In modern psychological science most constitutional concepts are subjected to sharp criticism due to underestimation their roles environment and social conditions in the formation of human mental properties. Concepts based on the consideration of the functioning of the nervous system, which performs the dominant and controlling role in the body, deserve more serious attention. The theory of the relationship of some general properties of nervous processes with types of temperament was proposed by IP Pavlov and was further developed and experimentally confirmed in the works of his followers. The studies conducted by Pavlov are deservedly regarded as the most significant for understanding the physiological foundations of temperament.

Thanks to Pavlov's research in domestic psychology there were ideas about temperament as a property of a person, largely due to the innate characteristics of a person. For example, B. G. Ananiev believed that the basic properties of a person as a representative of the species Noto 5ar1ep5 manifest themselves not only in inclinations, but also in temperament.

The greatest contribution to the development of the theory of temperament in domestic psychology was made by B. M. Teplov. His works, devoted to the study of the properties of temperament, determined not only the modern view on the problem of temperament, but also formed the basis for the development of further experimental studies temperament. Teplov attributed to the properties of temperament stable mental

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Table 24.1

Differences in types of temperaments (according to W. Sheldon)

Temperament types
Viscerotonia	Somatotonia	Cerebrotonia
Relaxation and posture	Confidence in posture	HOST1) is inhibited in movements,
and movements	and movements	stiffness in posture
Love for comfort	propensity for physical	Excessive physiological
	activities	reactivity
slow response	Energy	Increased speed
Passion for food	Need for movement	A tendency to seclusion
	and enjoy them
Food socialization	Need for dominance	prone to reasoning
needs		exceptional attention
The pleasure of the process	Inclination to take risks in the game	Secrecy of feeling, emotion
digestion		mental retardation
love for companies	Decisive manner	Self-control facial expressions
friendly outpourings
sociophilia (love	Bravery	Social phobia (fear of
to public life)		public contacts)
Kindness to everyone	Strong aggressiveness	Slowness in communication
Thirst for love and approval	Psychological	Avoidance of standard
surrounding	insensitivity	action
Orientation to others	Claustrophobia (fear	Agoraphobia (fear of open
	closed space)	space)
Emotional evenness	lack of compassion	Unpredictability of installations
		(behavior)
Tolerance
serene contentment	Spartan pain endurance	Oversensitivity
Good dream	Noisy behavior	Poor sleep, chronic
		fatigue
Lack of explosive emotions	Appearance corresponds	Youthful vivacity and
and deeds	older age	subjective thinking
Softness, ease of handling	Objective and broad mouse	Concentrated hidden and
and outward expression of feelings	outward direction	subjective thinking
Sociable and relaxed	self-confidence, aggressiveness	Alcohol resistance
anxiety under the influence of alcohol	iodine exposure to alcohol	goal and other reirssants
Need and people	Need for action	The need for privacy
in a difficult moment	in a difficult moment	in a difficult moment
Focus on children and family	Class Orientation	Orientation to the elderly
	adolescence

properties that characterize the dynamics of mental activity. He explained the individual characteristics of temperament by different levels of development of certain properties of temperament. Among the most significant properties of temperament were the following:

1) Emotional excitability. This property was understood as the ability to respond to very weak external and internal influences.

2) Excitability of attention - this property of temperament determines the adaptive functions of the individual's psyche. It consists in the ability

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notice an extremely small change in the intensity of the acting stimulus.

3) The power of emotion. Teplov saw the main function of this property in the "experimentation of activity" depending on the satisfaction or dissatisfaction of motives. (Modern psychologists call this property the intensity and modality of emotional manifestations.)

4) Anxiety. Teplev understood anxiety as emotional excitability in a threatening situation. Moreover, he fundamentally shared anxiety and emotional excitability under normal conditions. One of the reasons for this opinion is that emotional excitability does not depend on the strength of the stimulus, and anxiety, on the contrary, is with it. in direct proportion.

5) Reactivity of involuntary movements. The function of this property is to increase the intensity of insufferable reactions to situations and stimuli that are directly acting at the moment.

6) Activity of volitional purposeful activity. This property, according to Teplov, is manifested in an increase in the activity of the device by transforming the situation in accordance with the goal.

7) Plasticity - rigidity. The function of this property is to adapt to the changing requirements of the activity.

8) Resistance. This property lies in the ability to resist all internal and external conditions that weaken or inhibit the activity begun.

9) Subjectivation. Teplov saw the function of this property in strengthening the degree of mediation of activity by subjective images and concepts.

From the above characteristics of the properties of temperament proposed by Teplov, we should draw two main conclusions. First, the properties of temperament are manifested in the dynamics of mental processes and the degree of activity of the individual. Secondly, temperament is closely related to activity. These provisions were developed in subsequent studies by domestic scientists.

The well-known psychophysiologist V. M. Rusalov, based on the concept of the properties of the nervous system, proposed in the late 1980s. his interpretation of the properties of temperament. This concept deserves attention, since it took into account the achievements of modern physiology. Rusalov, based on the theory of the functional system of P.K. Anokhin, which includes four blocks - storage, circulation and processing of information (afferent synthesis block), programming (decision-making), execution and feedback - identified four related properties of temperament that correspond to for the breadth or narrowness of the afferent synthesis (the degree of intensity of the organism's interaction with the environment), the ease of switching from one behavioral program to another, the speed of execution of the current behavioral program, and the sensitivity to a discrepancy between the real result of the action and its acceptor.

In accordance with this, the traditional psychophysiological assessment of temperament has changed and instead of two parameters - activity and sensitivity -

560 Part IV. Mental properties of personality

four components have already been identified: ergicity (endurance), plasticity, speed and emotionality (sensitivity). All these components of temperament, according to Rusalov, are biologically and genetically determined. So, temperament depends on the properties of the nervous system, and they, in turn, should be understood as the main characteristics of 4 "functional systems that provide integrative, analytical and synthetic activity of the brain, the entire nervous system as a whole.

From the point of view of this concept, temperament is a psychobiological category in the sense that its properties are neither completely innate nor dependent on the environment. They, in the words of the author of this concept, represent a "systemic generalization" of genetically specified individual biological properties a person who, “being involved in a variety of activities, gradually transform and form, regardless of the content of the activity itself, a generalized, qualitatively new individually stable system of invariant properties” (Rusalov V. M., 1979).

In accordance with the two main types of human activity - objective activity and communication - each of the selected properties of temperament should be considered separately, since it is assumed that in these types of activity they manifest themselves in different ways. So, according to Rusalov, the psychological characteristics of temperament are not the properties of the nervous system per se or their combination, but the typical features of the course of mental processes and behavior that these properties generate. For example, activity, as a property of temperament, in cognitive mental processes is manifested in the extent to which a person is able to focus on a particular object or its aspect. In turn, the pace is manifested in how fast the corresponding mental processes proceed.

Excitability, inhibition and switchability characterize the speed of occurrence and termination of a particular cognitive process or its switching from one object to another. For example, some people are slow to engage in intellectual activity or switch from one topic to another. Others quickly memorize or recall information. It should also be borne in mind here that these features do not determine the abilities of people.

Most authors largely associate the properties of temperament and their manifestations with the physiological characteristics of the body. Let us also get acquainted with the point of view that has developed in Russian psychology regarding the physiological foundations of temperament.

24.3. Physiological basis of temperament

IP Pavlov, studying the features of the development of conditioned reflexes in dogs, drew attention to individual differences in their behavior and in the course of conditioned reflex activity. These differences manifested themselves primarily in such aspects of behavior as the speed and accuracy of the formation of conditional

Chapter 24

reflexes, as well as in the features of their fading. This circumstance made it possible to put forward the hypothesis that these differences cannot be explained only by the variety of experimental situations and that they are based on some fundamental properties nervous processes. According to Pavlov, these properties include the strength of excitation, inhibition, their balance and mobility.

Pavlov distinguished between the force of excitation and the force of inhibition, considering them to be two independent properties of the nervous system. The strength of excitation reflects the performance of the nerve cell. It manifests itself in functional endurance, i.e., in the ability of the nervous system to withstand prolonged (or short-term, but strong) excitation without passing into the opposite state of inhibition. The strength of inhibition is understood as the performance of the nervous system in the implementation of inhibition and is manifested in the ability to form various inhibitory conditioned reactions, such as extinction and differentiation.

Speaking about the balance of nervous processes, Pavlov had in mind the balance of the processes of excitation and inhibition. A person is unbalanced when the strength of one of these processes exceeds the strength of the other. The fourth property of the nervous system - the mobility of nervous processes - is manifested in the speed of the transition of one nervous process to another. This property is manifested in the ability to change behavior in accordance with changing living conditions. The measure of this property of the nervous system is the speed of transition from one action to another, from a passive state to an active one, and vice versa, the opposite of mobility is the inertness of nervous processes. It is generally accepted that the nervous system becomes more inert the more time or effort it takes to move from one process to another.

The properties of nervous processes identified by Pavlov can form certain combinations that determine the so-called tin of the nervous system, or the type of higher nervous activity. This type consists of a set of basic properties of the nervous system characteristic of the individual - strength, balance and mobility, the ratio of the processes of excitation and inhibition. According to Pavlov, there are four main types of the nervous system, which are close to the types of temperament identified by Hippocrates. Due to differences in the manifestation of the strength of nervous processes, strong and weak types are distinguished, which, in turn, can be divided into balanced and unbalanced. In this case, the unbalanced type is characterized by the predominance of excitation over inhibition. And finally, strong balanced types are divided into mobile and inert.

Selected by Pavlov types nervous system not only by quantity, but also according to the main characteristics correspond to the four classical types of temperament: strong, balanced, mobile type - sanguine; strong, balanced, inert type - phlegmatic; strong, unbalanced type with a predominance of excitation - choleric; weak type - melancholic.

Thus, under the type of the nervous system, Pavlov understood the properties of the nervous system that are innate and relatively weakly subject to changes under the influence of the environment and upbringing. These properties of the nervous system form

562 Part IV. Mental properties of personality

the physiological basis of temperament, which is a mental manifestation of the general type of the nervous system.

The role of Pavlov's research in development modern science extremely large. However, his discovery of the properties of the nervous system and the typology of the nervous system developed on this basis served as the basis for his assertion that all human behavior, like animal behavior, can be explained from the position of physiology. This point of view is strong in our time and is often found among physiologists and doctors, but it is not true. Human behavior is very complex and is determined not only by innate characteristics, but also by the conditions of the social situation, as well as by the characteristics of education.

Nevertheless, Pavlov's typology has become the source of a huge number of experiments and studies in this area. Many physiologists and psychologists have done further research on animals. In the 50s. laboratory studies of the behavior of adults have been undertaken. As a result of these studies, carried out under the guidance of first B. M. Teplov, and then V. D. Nebylitsyn, Pavlov’s typology was supplemented with new elements, numerous methods were developed for studying the properties of the human nervous system, two more were experimentally identified and described. properties of nervous processes: lability and dynamism. The lability of the nervous system is manifested in the speed of occurrence and termination of nervous processes. The essence of the dynamism of nervous processes is the ease and speed of the formation of positive (dynamic excitation) and inhibitory (dynamic inhibition) conditioned reflexes.

At present, science has accumulated a lot of facts about the properties of the nervous system, and as they accumulate, researchers attach less and less importance to the types of the nervous system, especially their magic number - "4", which appears in almost all Pavlov's works on temperament. Each person has a completely definite type of nervous system, the manifestations of which, i.e., the characteristics of temperament, constitute an important side of individual psychological differences that manifest themselves in activity.

24.4. Psychological characteristics of temperament and features of personality activity

Specific manifestations of the type of temperament are diverse. Features of a person's temperament are not only manifested in his behavior, but also determine the originality of the dynamics of cognitive activity and the sphere of feelings, are reflected in the motives and actions of a person, as well as in the nature of intellectual activity, speech features, etc.

At present, we are able to give a complete psychological description of all types of temperament. To compile psychological characteristics

Chapter 24

The traditional four types usually use the basic properties of temperament. Many of these properties were discovered in the works of B. M. Teplov and his students, and then were further developed in the studies of domestic scientists. In the course of these studies, the names of some properties proposed by Teplov changed, and new properties were discovered. For example, the property of temperament, called "emotional excitability" by Teplov, is often called sensitivity (sensitivity) in psychological literature, and the reactivity of involuntary movements caused by external influences is often called reactivity. The names and other properties of temperament have changed. At the same time, extraversion-introversion began to be attributed to the properties of temperament. These concepts determine what the reactions and activities of a person mainly depend on - from external impressions that arise at the moment (extraversion), or from images, ideas and thoughts related to the past and future (introversion).

Given the basic properties of temperament, J. Strelyau gives the following psychological characteristics of the main classical types of temperament.

Sanguine. A person with increased reactivity, but at the same time, his activity and reactivity are balanced. He vividly, excitedly responds to everything that attracts his attention, has a lively facial expression and expressive movements. On an insignificant occasion, he laughs out loud, and an insignificant fact can make him very angry. It is easy to guess his mood, attitude to an object or person by his face. He has a high threshold of sensitivity, so he does not notice very weak sounds and light stimuli. Possessing increased activity and being very energetic and efficient, he actively takes up a new business and can work for a long time without getting tired. Able to quickly concentrate, disciplined, if desired, can restrain the manifestation of his feelings and involuntary reactions. He is characterized by quick movements, flexibility of mind, resourcefulness, a fast pace of speech, a quick inclusion in a new job. High plasticity is manifested in the variability of feelings, moods, interests and aspirations. A sanguine easily converges with new people, quickly gets used to new requirements and situations, effortlessly not only switches from one job to another, but also retrains, mastering new skills. As a rule, he responds more to external impressions than to subjective images and ideas about the past and future, that is, he is an extrovert.

Choleric. Like the sanguine person, it is characterized by low sensitivity, high reactivity and activity. But in a choleric person, reactivity clearly prevails over activity, so he is unbridled, unrestrained, impatient, quick-tempered. He is less plastic and more inert than the sanguine. Hence - greater stability of aspirations and interests, greater perseverance, difficulties in switching attention are possible; he is more of an extrovert.

Phlegmatic person has a high activity, significantly prevailing over low reactivity, low sensitivity and emotionality. It is difficult to make him laugh or sadden. When there is loud laughter around, he can remain unperturbed; remains calm in times of great trouble. Usually he has poor facial expressions, movements are inexpressive and slow, just like speech. Om is not resourceful, it is difficult to switch attention and adapt to a new environment,

564 Part IV. Mental properties of personality

slowly rebuilds skills and habits. At the same time, he is energetic and efficient. Differs in patience, endurance, self-control. As a rule, he finds it difficult to meet new people, weakly responds to external impressions. In his psychological essence, he is an introvert.

Melancholic. A person with high sensitivity and low reactivity. Increased sensitivity with great inertia leads to the fact that an insignificant reason can cause tears in him, he is overly touchy, painfully sensitive. His facial expressions and movements are inexpressive, his voice is quiet, his movements are poor. Usually he is insecure, timid, the slightest difficulty makes him give up. The melancholic is not energetic, persistent, easily tired and inefficient. It is characterized by easily distracted and unstable attention, a slow pace of all mental processes. Most melancholics are introverts.

In modern psychological science, there is a firm belief that the type of temperament in a person is innate and, in general, characterizes the features of the dynamics of nervous processes. But it is not yet known on what properties of its innate organization it depends.

Since the characteristics of temperament determine the dynamics of mental processes, it could be assumed that temperament determines the success of a person's activity. However, it has been established that if the activity takes place under conditions that can be defined as normal, then there is no relationship between the level of achievement, that is, the final result of actions, and the characteristics of temperament. Regardless of the degree of mobility or reactivity of the individual in normal, not stressful situation, the results of the activity as a whole will be the same, since the level of achievement will depend mainly on other factors, and not on the characteristics of temperament.

At the same time, studies that establish this pattern show that, depending on the characteristics of temperament, the way the activity itself is carried out changes. Even B. M. Teplov drew attention to the fact that, depending on the characteristics of temperament, people differ not in the final result of actions, but in the way they achieve results. Developing this idea, domestic psychologists conducted a series of studies in order to establish the relationship between the method of performing actions and the characteristics of temperament. In these studies, an individual style of activity was considered as a way to achieve results or a way to solve a certain problem, mainly due to the type of nervous system. The results of studies by the vast majority of authors, regardless of the characteristics of the groups under study and experimental situations in which the typical way of performing actions for these individuals was studied, show that it is the type of nervous activity, and above all the strength and mobility of nervous processes, that has a significant impact on the formation of a certain style. activities.

For example, persons with a predominance of excitation at the first stage show increased activity, but at the same time make many mistakes. Then they develop their own style of activity, and the number of errors decreases. On the other hand, persons with a predominance of inhibition at first, as a rule, have little

Chapter 24

active, their activities are unproductive, but then they form their own way of performing activities, and the productivity of their work increases dramatically.

In conclusion, it should be noted once again that there are no good or bad types of temperament. The special mobility (reactivity) of a sanguine person can bring an additional effect if the work requires a change in objects of communication, occupation, frequent transition from one rhythm of life to another. People with a weak nervous system - melancholic - are more motivated to perform simpler actions than others. Therefore, they are less tired and annoyed by their repetition. Moreover, since people with a weak nervous system are more sensitive to external influences, i.e. with. react faster to them, then, as the studies of E.P. Ilyin show, most high-class sprinters have precisely these types of nervous system. At the same time, athletes whose activities take place against the background of excessive emotional stress, such as weightlifters, for the most part, will have a strong nervous system.

Therefore, it is not only impossible, but also pointless to strive to change the temperament. It seems more appropriate to take into account the properties of the temperament of a particular person in the organization of activities.

test questions

1. Describe temperament as a personality trait. Give the definition of temperament according to BM Teplov.

2. Tell us about the main types of temperament (choleric, sanguine, melancholic, phlegmatic).

3. What is the essence of Hippocrates' doctrine of temperament?

4. What do you know about E. Kretschmer's typology of temperament?

5. Tell us about the concept of body types and temperament of W. Sheldon.

6. Tell us about the study of the problem of temperament in the works of IP Pavlov.

7. What do you know about the studies of temperament by B. M. Teplov?

8. What are the main characteristics and properties of temperament according to B. M. Teplov?

9. What do you know about the concept of temperament by V. M. Rusalov?

10. What is the physiological basis of temperament?

11. Tell us about the psychological characteristics of different types of temperament.

12. What are the features of the correlation of temperament and the success of human activity?

1. Ananiev B. G. Selected psychological works: In 2 vols. T. 1 / Ed. A. A. Voda-leva, B. F. Lomova. - M.: Pedagogy, 1980.

2. Bodalev A. A. Psychology about personality. - M.: Publishing House of Moscow State University, 1988.

3. Gippenreiter Yu. B. Introduction to General Psychology: A Course of Lectures: A Textbook for Universities. - M.: ChsRo, 1997.

4. Granovskaya R. M. Elements of practical psychology. - St. Petersburg: Light, 1997.

5. Merlin V.S. Essays on the integral study of individuality. - M.: Prosveshchenis, 1989.

6. Merlin V.S. Essay on the theory of temperament. - M.: Enlightenment, 1964.

7. Nebylitsyn V.D. Basic properties of the human nervous system // Selected psychological works / Ed. B. F. Lomova. - M.: Pedagogy, 1990.

8. Rubinstein S. L. Basics general psychology. - St. Petersburg: Peter, 1999.

9. Rusalov V. M. Biological basis of individual psychological differences. -M.: Spider, 1979.

10. Shoot I. The role of temperament in psychological development / Per. from the floor ed. I. V. Ravich-Shcherbo. - M.: Progress, 1982.

11. Warm B. M. Selected works: In 2 vols. T. 1. - M .: Pedagogy, 1985.

The physiological basis of temperament is the type of higher nervous activity (IP Pavlov). The type of higher nervous activity is a peculiar combination of the basic properties of nervous processes: their strength, balance and mobility.

The power of nervous processes- an indicator of performance, endurance of nerve cells in relation to strong and prolonged stimuli.

Equilibrium- the ratio of the processes of excitation and inhibition. The nervous system is balanced if the process of excitation is equal in strength to the process of inhibition; and unbalanced if one process is stronger than the other.

Mobility is the rate of change of excitation and inhibition processes.

I.P. Pavlov identified four types of higher nervous activity, which are characterized by a certain combination of properties of nervous processes: 1) strong, balanced, mobile; 2) strong, unbalanced; 3) strong, balanced, inert; 4)weak. These types of higher nervous activity underlie the four types of temperament - sanguine, choleric, phlegmatic and melancholic. The psychological characteristic of temperament as a whole is associated not with any one property of the nervous system, but with their combination, i.e. type of nervous system.

In the psychological characteristics of temperament, the following properties are distinguished: 1) sensitivity- increased response to emotional stimuli; sensitive people are highly sensitive, they have sensations with a slight strength of the stimulus; 2) reactivity determined by the strength of the emotional response; reactive person - impressionable, emotionally responsive to external and internal influences; 3) activity manifested in the vigor with which a person influences the world (persistence in overcoming obstacles, perseverance, focused attention); 4) the ratio of reactivity and activity indicates how much human behavior and activity depend on random circumstances (mood, emotional reactions) and how much they depend on the goals and objectives set for themselves; 5) reaction rate characterizes the speed of mental processes (cognitive, emotional, volitional), speech, motor reactions; 6) plastic characterized by ease, flexibility of adapting a person to changing environmental conditions; rigidity- inertia, stereotypical behavior, inability to quickly adapt to changes; 7) extraversion it is expressed in the conversion of a person mainly to the external world of images, thoughts, feelings; introversion- during inner world; the peculiarities of the reaction and activity of people, their communication (contact or isolation) depend on this predominant orientation. All these properties in a complex interaction are manifested in each type of temperament.

Consider the characteristics of four types of temperament.

sanguine(from Latin sanguis - blood) - a type of temperament characterized by high activity, efficiency, speed and liveliness of movements, richness of facial expressions, and a fast pace of speech. A person with this type is sociable, tends to change impressions. He easily and quickly experiences his failures, he has strong, balanced and mobile nervous processes.

Phlegmatic person- a type of temperament, determined by a low level of mental activity, slowness, inexpressive facial expressions, stability of interests and aspirations. A person with this type is difficult to switch from one type of activity to another and it is difficult to adapt to a new environment.

Choleric- a type of temperament, manifested in a high level of mental activity, energy of actions, sharpness, swiftness of movements, their fast pace, impetuosity; in a sharp change in mood, imbalance, exhaustion. A person with this type is quick-tempered, impatient.

melancholic(from Gr. melas - black + chole - bile) - a type of temperament, characterized by a low level of mental activity, slowness of movement, restraint of motor skills and speech, and rapid fatigue. A person with this type is characterized by high emotional sensitivity, depth and stability of emotions, negative emotions predominate in him, he is often vulnerable, withdrawn, alienated.

The type of temperament as a whole depends on heredity. Individual properties of temperament within certain limits may vary depending on the conditions of life and upbringing. Changes can occur under the influence of past illnesses, deep feelings, conditions of activity.

The main properties of a particular temperament appear in a person gradually, with age. This process is called maturation of temperament.

Temperament, being an individual personality trait, has a significant impact on the formation of a person's character and behavior. Temperament is the dynamic side of character, its physiological basis.

8.3. Temperament properties as a regulator of activity style.

Although temperament in a pronounced form is quite rare, nevertheless, it is useful for a leader to take into account the peculiarities of the temperaments of his subordinates. Temperament is a way of realizing activity, not the content of behavior.

By criterion mobility-inertia there are differences in the nature of the work: inert people perform monotonous, monotonous work more successfully, the process of preparing for the start of work, “drawing” into it is important for them, they are reluctant to interrupt, they have more developed orienting-cognitive activity. For people with a mobile type of nervous activity, a variety of work is necessary, allowing them to switch from one activity to another, they quickly get involved in work and can easily interrupt it.

By criterion strength-weakness significant differences were also found.

The strong type is characterized by a low susceptibility to fatigue, the ability to work in a group, a gradual involvement in work; corrections and additions are made in the course of work, they can remember many tasks at the same time. In situations of stress, there is an expansion of the scope of mental actions, which can be quite effective.

The weak type is characterized by a greater susceptibility to fatigue, a need for silence, they work better alone, plan work, corrections and additions are made at the verification stage, new work begins after the end of the previous one. In situations nervous tension the total duration of activity may increase, the volume of mental activity decreases somewhat.

Proper organization of work, taking into account the characteristics of temperament, will help make it more efficient.

Chapter 9. CHARACTER.

Concept of character

Character and personality relationships

Concept of character

Character- This holistic education of the individual, which determines the characteristics of human activity and behavior and is characterized by a stable attitude to various aspects of activity.

Character is always an individually unique combination of traits that form an integral unity. Each character is unique. Traits- these are the essential properties of a person that determine her line of behavior in a certain situation (for example, masculinity or cowardice when faced with danger, etc.). Character is manifested not in random, but in permanent, stable for a given person forms of behavior in certain situations. The character of a person is determined by his attitude to reality: to society, work, other people, himself. These relationships can determine, for example, character traits such as diligence, kindness, modesty, etc. Character is formed in life. Character traits are not innate. The system of those relations that determine the character is created by society.

The manifestation and formation of character is influenced by a number of natural features human organization. So, character is related to temperament. The properties of the nervous system as the natural basis of temperament can contribute to or hinder the formation of certain character traits (for example, under adverse conditions, a melancholic is more likely to become a coward than a sanguine person; under favorable conditions, courage is more likely to be found in a sanguine person than in a melancholic). Temperament affects the form of manifestation of character, “colors” its features (for example, perseverance in a choleric person is expressed in vigorous activity, in a phlegmatic person - in calm efficiency). The character, in turn, can influence the manifestation of the typological features of the nervous system, "masking" the features of temperament (for example, initiative, independence can mask the rigidity of the phlegmatic).

There are two main groups of traits in the character structure.

A group of traits in which the orientation of the personality is expressed, i.e. the system of her attitudes to reality, combines character traits that express the following relationships: a) attitudes towards the team, individuals (collectivism, selfishness, kindness, sociability, secrecy, etc.); b) attitude towards work (industriousness, conscientiousness, negligence, accuracy, etc.); attitude towards oneself (modesty, self-esteem, pride, ambition, etc.).

Will Traits character express attitudes towards obstacles (purposefulness, independence, determination, perseverance, courage, etc.). Volitional traits - "the backbone of character"; depending on their development, the character is classified as strong or weak. Volitional traits become valuable in a person only under the condition of a morally educated will, aimed at achieving socially useful goals.

In addition to those named, there are character traits related to the characteristics of the cognitive and emotional sphere of a person. To cognitive traits include a mindset (analyticity, flexibility, criticality, etc.). To emotional traits include passion, sentimentality, as well as traits based on moral feelings (patriotism, humanity).

character building takes place in activity. In it, the formation and transformation of certain ways of human behavior into stable, permanent (habits) is carried out. Habits are formed as a result of repeated repetition of the same actions. One of the most important conditions for the formation of character traits, therefore, is repeated and persistent exercise in appropriate actions and deeds. Habits become the basis of character traits only with an appropriate conscious attitude of the individual. The most favorable period for the formation of many character traits is early childhood. Character formation is impossible without self-education. A favorable period for self-education is adolescence, in which self-consciousness is formed, the choice of profession, friends, etc. is made.

Thus, it can be said that character traits reflect how a person acts, and personality traits reflect what he acts for.

Character, like temperament, reveals dependence on the physiological characteristics of a person, and, above all, on the type of nervous system. The properties of temperament leave their mark on the formation of character, determining the dynamic features of its occurrence, i.e. temperament is the dynamic side of character. Features of temperament can counteract or contribute to the development of certain character traits.

Character- lifetime acquisition of personality, it accumulates human habits and is largely the result of self-education. Temperament does not unilaterally and does not definitively determine the path of development of specific character traits; temperament itself, within certain limits, is transformed under the influence of character properties. The development of character and temperament in this sense are interdependent processes. In character, personality is revealed from the side of its content, in temperament - from the side of dynamic manifestations.