Types of the human nervous system. Test for determining the type of the nervous system The strong type of the nervous system includes

a complex of basic congenital and acquired individual properties of the nervous system of humans and animals, which determine the differences in behavior and attitude to the same environmental influences. The concept of T. n. with. introduced by I.P. Pavlov (1927). The classification of T. n. with. formed the idea of ​​the strength, balance and mobility of the processes of excitation and inhibition. I.P. Pavlov singled out and characterized four main T. n. with. (see Type of nervous system strong unbalanced (unrestrained), Type of nervous system strong balanced sedentary (inert), Type of nervous system strong balanced mobile (live), Type of nervous system weak), which revealed the neurophysiological essence of four known types of temperament. In addition to general T. n. with. I.P. Pavlov identified three special types in humans that characterize the relationship and interaction between the first and second signaling systems (see Type of the Cognitive Nervous System, Type of the Nervous System Medium, Type of the Nervous System Artistic); (see also Type of higher nervous activity)

NERVOUS SYSTEM TYPE

type of higher nervous activity) - a set of properties of the nervous system that make up the physiological basis of the individual originality of human activity. The concept of T. n. with. introduced by I.P. Pavlov as a result of the properties of the nervous system he distinguished - strength, mobility and balance. On this basis, he identified four T. n. c: 1) strong, unbalanced, agile or unrestrained; 2) strong, balanced, inert or slow; 3) strong, balanced, agile and lively; 4) weak. In accordance with these T. n. with. there are four types of temperament: 1) choleric; 2) phlegmatic; 3) sanguine; 4) melancholic. Allocated four T. n. with. are considered common in both humans and animals. In addition, I.P. Pavlov proposed another classification of T. n. s, characteristic only for humans. It is based on the ratio of two signaling systems: 1) artistic type (predominance of the first signaling system); 2) thinking type (predominance of the second signal system); 3) mixed type. Further research (BM Teplov, VD Nebylitsyn) made it possible to clarify and expand the Pavlovian classification, to create the prerequisites for developing a new understanding of the physiological foundations of individual psychological differences in a person. Regulations on specific human T. n. with. find their confirmation in modern psychophysiological studies of the functional asymmetry of the brain. ...

I offer you a little test. It contains portraits of three types of people, corresponding to three types of the nervous system. Compare them and yourself. Do not be surprised if there is no complete similarity: all people are individual. Which of them do you most resemble, that type of nervous system prevails in you. At the same time, using this test, you can determine the approximate level of your acidity and the possibility of developing an ulcer.

The first portrait. You are a balanced person. No shocks, unpleasant events unsettle you. You calmly solve any problems without falling into a terrible depression or exuberant joy. General calmness, serenity and a sober assessment of events are characteristic of you. You are stress resistant. You are almost always in a good mood. You are not very sick. Sudden palpitations, dizziness, or indigestion do not bother you. Yes?

I can congratulate you: you are a normotonic. You have the most stable of all three types of nervous system, and you are unlikely to ever suffer from a stomach ulcer - your acidity is most likely normal.

Second portrait. You blush, sweat a lot, easily break into tears. The state of general weakness, weakness, "cotton" arms and legs - all this is familiar to you. When you get tired, your pupils constrict. During the day you constantly want to sleep, and at night you suffer from insomnia. Ailments such as low blood pressure, infrequent heart beats per minute (heart stops in the chest), frequent urination, and upset stool (diarrhea) are common.

All this applies to vagotonics. This is the most dangerous group in terms of the possibility of ulcers. The acidity is high and the ulcer will be low - in the duodenum or lower stomach.

The third portrait. You are "lively". Your eyes are shiny, your skin is white, and a bright blush burns on your cheeks. You are full of seething energy, it is difficult for you to sit in one place for a long time. Before a responsible job, you often have a "nervous tremor" - a wild thirst for activity, shaking, dryness in the mouth, spasm catches your breath, hands and feet get cold. You are easily aroused, you do not sleep much. You may be worried about high blood pressure, palpitations, non-exercise heart "flutters", frequent constipation, decreased appetite, states when "a lump in the throat does not fit."

In that case, you are sympathetic. Your acidity may be low, up to the complete absence of acid. Gastritis is your destiny. If, nevertheless, an ulcer does occur, it is only high - in the body and upper parts of the stomach.

Features of nervous processes	Types of the nervous system
		rampant		inert
	equilibrium mobility	unbalanced mobile	balanced mobile	balanced inert	unbalanced mobile or inert
	temperament		sanguine	phlegmatic person	melancholic

1. Strong, unbalanced, agile - unrestrained. It is distinguished by strong arousal processes and weak processes

braking.

2. Strong, balanced, agile - alive. In this type, the process of excitation and inhibition proceeds with the same force, easily replacing each other.

3. Strong, balanced, inert - calm. This type differs from the previous one by inertness, a slow change in the processes of excitation and inhibition.

4. The weak type is characterized by weak processes of excitation and inhibition, with a predominance of the latter, inert.

Temperament characterizes the dynamics of mental processes and personality states according to certain characteristics, which the Russian psychologist V.S. Merlin called the properties of temperament. These include the following:

Sensitivity- characterized by the least strength of the stimulus that causes any mental reaction. In sensitive people, sensations arise with an insignificant intensity of the stimulus, they have high sensitivity.

Reactivity determined by the strength of the emotional response. A reactive person is an impressionable person who emotionally reacts to external and internal influences.

Activity- a property that manifests itself in the energy with which a person affects the outside world, in the persistence with which he overcomes obstacles that hinder the achievement of the goal, in the expression of his purposefulness, perseverance, concentration of attention.

Activity ratio and reactivity testifies to how much the behavior and activity of a person depends on random circumstances (mood, emotional reactions) and how much on the goal and tasks that he sets for himself, that is, how great is the element of randomness in his activity.

Reaction rate characterizes the speed of mental processes: cognitive, emotional, volitional, as well as speech, motor reactions and actions.

Plastic – rigidity... Plasticity is characterized by lightness, flexibility of human adaptation to changing conditions of life, activity of the environment; rigidity - inertia, the ability to quickly adapt to any changes, stereotyped

behavior.

Extroversion – introversion... These properties are expressed in the conversion of a person mainly to the external world (extraversion) or to the inner world of images, thoughts, feelings (introversion). The peculiarities of people's reaction, their activities, their contact or isolation depend on this predominant orientation.

The considered properties in their complex interaction can be traced in each type of temperament.

1. Choleric temperament , which is based on a strong unbalanced type of the nervous system, characterized by increased excitability. Feelings arise in them quickly, are highly intense and stable. The external expression of feeling is distinct. Choleric people are active, can work tirelessly, even at night, quickly, energetically. However, their reactivity prevails over activity. Therefore, choleric people are nervous, unbridled, unrestrained, quick-tempered, impetuous. With all their passion, surrendering to the cause, overcoming various obstacles, they are able to abandon it if a bad mood or disbelief in success has arisen. Choleric people are prone to violent emotions, outbursts, affects, mood swings, harsh treatment of people. They are characterized by a fast pace of mental reactions. They speak quickly, are quick-witted, quickly understand the essence of the issue, find a solution, their movements are sharp, they are distinguished by swiftness. They are less plastic, more rigid. Hence the greater stability of aspirations and interests, more pronounced addiction to certain conditions. Choleric people are extroverts.

2. Sanguine temperament , which is based on a strong, balanced and mobile type of nervous activity. People of this temperament are distinguished by increased reactivity and activity when they are balanced. They respond vividly to every event, are impressionable and easily carried away by a new business, but quickly cool down and may not complete the job. I.P. Pavlov noted: "... that a sanguine person is an ardent, very productive figure, but only when he has a lot of interesting things to do, that is, constant excitement, when there is no such thing, he becomes lethargic and boring." Reactivity and activity are balanced, so they are easy to discipline, they easily contain their emotions and feelings.

Emotions and feelings arise and change quickly. Therefore, they are not in a bad mood; if it arises, it is easily displaced by a major gamut of experiences.

The behavior of sanguine people is plastic. They easily adapt to any new environment and new requirements, switch attention, converge with people, and be the first to strike up friendships. Easy to learn and rework skills. They have a high reaction rate. It manifests itself in general mobility, speech, quickness of orientation, intelligence, flexibility of the mind. The movements of the sanguine person are fast and smooth, the speech is loud, fast, distinct, the intonations are varied, accompanied by facial expressions and gestures. Sanguine people are pronounced extroverts. They are very sociable, love companies, they are often called the "soul of society". Sanguine people have low sensitivity, low sensitivity, high thresholds

sensations.

3. Phlegmatic temperament , which is based on a balanced, strong type of GNI, which makes it similar to a sanguine person. But the mobility of his nervous processes is characterized by inertia - this is his difference.

A person of this temperament is characterized by low reactivity. Only very strong impressions can take him out of balance, make him show his experiences. In phlegmatic people, feelings arise slowly, persist for a long time, there are no affects, facial expressions and gestures are monotonous, inexpressive. According to I.P. Pavlova, a phlegmatic person - "a stubborn worker of life, calm and always even." Energetic, can successfully perform work that requires a large monotonous stress: high activity prevails over weak reactivity. Representatives of this type of temperament are patient, self-possessed, easily restrain impulses, do not waste energy, and bring the matter to the end. They are very rigid, they adapt to the new environment with difficulty, value their usual way of life, their usual work and social circle, they can hardly change them, they hardly switch attention from one activity to another. It is also difficult for them to alter their skills. The pace of reactions is slow, movements are slow, speech is monotonous, not fast.

Phlegmatic people are introverted. They react dimly to external impressions, live in the world of their images, thoughts and experiences. They find it difficult to converge with new people, do not like companies, do not strive to be in the center

attention.

4. Melancholic temperament , which is based on a weak type of GNI, according to I.P. Pavlova, there is clearly an inhibitory type: "For a melancholic, obviously, every phenomenon of life becomes an agent that inhibits him, since he does not believe in anything, does not hope for anything, sees and expects only the bad, the dangerous in everything."

People with a melancholic temperament are highly sensitive, therefore they are easily injured, touchy, sometimes tearful. They are characterized by low reactivity, slow onset of feelings, but at the same time their great depth, due to which they can leave an imprint on the entire warehouse of his personality. Their moods are stable, but often asthenic in nature. Melancholic people have decreased activity. They do not know how and do not like to work quickly, without rest; They get tired easily, do not like a new job, are unsure of themselves, difficulties frighten them. At the same time, hands fall, their energy decreases. Their mental pace is slow, movements are also slow, speech is quiet, not fast, facial expressions are weak, inexpressive. Melancholic people are rigid and introverted, withdrawn, uncommunicative. They get embarrassed when meeting new people, sometimes get lost when communicating with them, tend to withdraw into themselves, turn to the world of their own thoughts, images, feelings. In a familiar environment, they can be very contact, they are tactful, reckon with the feelings of other people.

The types of temperament discussed above in their pure form are usually rare. As a rule, people have a mixed (intermediate) temperament, in which signs of all 4 types are combined in infinitely diverse combinations, but nevertheless, the type of temperament is usually judged by pronounced signs.

Temperament is considered by psychologists as the biological foundation of personality, is associated with the structure of the human body, metabolism and is extremely difficult to change.

The difference in temperament between people is manifested in a certain way in their activities. As noted by I.P. Pavlov, "temperament is the most general characteristic of each individual person, the most basic characteristic of his nervous system, and this latter puts one or another stamp on the entire activity of the individual."

However, people with any type of temperament can achieve significant success in various fields of activity. So, the choleric Suvorov and the phlegmatic Kutuzov were outstanding commanders, the melancholic Gogol, the choleric Pushkin, the phlegmatic Krylov, and the sanguine Lermontov were brilliant writers. Every temperament has strengths and weaknesses

To achieve success in activity, it is important that a person has control of his temperament, knows how to adapt it to the conditions and requirements of activity, relying on strong properties and compensating for weak ones. This adaptation is expressed in the individuality of the style of activity.

Individual style of activity- it is an expedient, corresponding to the characteristics of temperament, a system of methods and techniques for performing an activity, ensuring its best results.

It is created on the basis of a conscious, creative attitude of a person to work, the search for the best ways and methods of activity. Its formation takes place in the process of training and education. However, here, too, one's own interest and activity is extremely important.

Important conditions for this process are:

1) elucidation of the types of GNI and temperament with an assessment of the severity of their psychological properties;

2) isolation of the combination of strong and weak properties;

3) creating a positive attitude towards your future profession and mastering your temperament;

4) exercise in improving strengths and finding ways to compensate for weaknesses.

Thus, temperament and the corresponding individual style affects the productivity of a person's work. For example, the special mobility of a sanguine person can bring an additional effect if the work requires him to frequently switch from one occupation to another, to be prompt in decision-making, and the monotony, regulation of activities, on the contrary, leads him to rapid fatigue. Phlegmatic and melancholic, on the contrary, in conditions of strict regulation and monotony of work, show greater productivity and resistance to fatigue than choleric and sanguine people.

A pencil is taken in the right hand (for right-handers) and left (for left-handers) so that the thumb rests on the top of the end of the pencil.

As a last resort, you can work with a handle, but without a button at the top. It is advisable to rewind the top of the pencil with a plaster. The elbow is suspended without support on the table. The task is to knock at the maximum pace in each square for 5 seconds on command, trying to put as many points as possible.

After the end of the experiment, count the number of dots in each square. The result is recorded in the corner of each square.

Build a schedule. On the abscissa axis (horizontal line) the numbers of the squares are marked, on the ordinate axis (vertical line) the number of points in each square is marked.

Next, the perpendiculars are restored from the marks on the abscissa, denoting the numbers of the squares, and from the marks on the ordinate, corresponding to the number of points put by the subject in this square. The intersection points of these perpendiculars are connected by lines that form a graph.

For example, if the result is: in 1 square - 35 points; at 2 - 29; 3 - 42; 4 - 31; 5 - 38; 6 - 30; 7 - 27; 8 - 25 - the graph will look like this:

1kv 2kv 3kv 4kv 5kv 6kv 7kv 8kv 1kv 2kv 3kv 4kv 5kv 6kv 7kv 8kv

Further, from the point on the ordinate axis, where the number of points in 1 square is marked, the perpendicular (horizontal line) is restored and the position of the resulting individual graph relative to this line is analyzed.

E.P. Ilyin identifies five types of graphs corresponding to five types of nervous system:

I - strong (convex graph);

II - medium-strong;

III - medium (even, intermediate type);

IV - medium-weak (curved);

V - weak (descending chart).

The figure shows a general view of graphs of each type (when interpreting individual graphs, you should pay attention to their position relative to the horizontal line starting at the place of the ordinate axis, which indicates the number of points in the first square).

Task 1.16.

Vicki has 5 lessons tomorrow:

1. Literature

2. Geography

3. Algebra

5. History

Make a homework order if you know that Vicki has a weak nervous system.

Lesson 10-11. Temperament in the professional development of personality

Temperament

When choosing a profession, you must take into account the characteristics of your temperament. Temperament- congenital individual characteristics of a person (degree of poise, emotional mobility), on which a person's reactions to other people and various social circumstances depend. There are 4 types of temperament:

· Choleric. Has a strong unbalanced nervous system . initiative, energetic, active. It gives too much energy to work, so it quickly fizzles out. Cyclical activities are suitable for him, periodically requiring a lot of stress, but alternating with quieter work. Choleric people are not lost in critical situations (the profession of an air traffic controller, driver, etc.). The choleric person cannot perform monotonous work.

· Sanguine. Energetic, highly efficient. Quickly assimilates information, easily switches from one job to another. Sanguine people quickly adapt to new conditions, easily converge with other people, are very sociable, balanced, ready to act all the time, to organize something, so they are more suited to work with other people. They are ineffective where you have to do monotonous work for a long time.

· Phlegmatic person. Characterized by perseverance and diligence, little talkative, calm in work and communication. A phlegmatic person has difficulty switching from one activity to another, sways for a long time before work, does not like variety, is well adapted to monotonous work. A phlegmatic person is unhurried, but can achieve good results thanks to his perseverance and good organization of work.

· Melancholic. Has a weak, unbalanced and sedentary nervous system. Differs in increased sensitivity, vulnerability, anxiety, high self-criticism, Melancholic people are more careful at work, they like to work individually, slowly, easily succumb to stress, it is difficult for them to concentrate on work in the presence of interference, in critical situations they are lost. Work that requires a lot of stress, associated with surprises and complications, is contraindicated for melancholic people. The melancholic will effectively carry out work related to information and people in a situation that requires subtle and deep analysis. Activities that require constant communication with people (sales, lectures, negotiations, public speaking) is difficult for a melancholic due to his individual characteristics.

Each of the presented types of temperament in itself is neither good nor bad. Manifesting in the dynamic features of the psyche and human behavior, each type can have its own advantages and disadvantages.

Look at the cartoons drawn by the Danish artist H. Bidstrup and try to identify the types of temperament of the characters.

Task 1.17. Micropracticum

Work with the card "Psychological characteristics of types of temperaments." Read the list of character traits carefully. There are fifteen of them. Analyze how these signs manifest in you. Mark them on the map. So that you are not distracted by the "types of temperaments", cover the names with a strip of paper: "sanguine", "phlegmatic", "choleric", "melancholic", as if they do not exist. After completing the work - open and see what structure of temperament looms.

All people are completely different. Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses, everyone reacts in their own way to the same situation. In many ways, the characteristics of a person's character depend on the properties of the nervous system. So let's figure out what they are and how they affect the formation of personality.

What it is?

The properties of the nervous system is a term proposed by the Russian scientist I.P. Pavlov, which characterizes the innate features of the response and functioning of the nervous system. These traits determine how she reacts to environmental conditions, human behavior.

The totality of all the properties of the nervous system is called the phenotype. It is on the basis of this concept that a psychologist works with a person. Although the phenotype is genetically determined, it can change depending on environmental conditions.

Basic properties of the nervous system

I.P. Pavlov in his classification initially characterized three main properties:

• force;
• equilibrium;
• mobility.

With further study of the nervous system, three more new ones were added to these properties:

• dynamism- the ability of the brain to quickly respond to changing environmental conditions, namely to the processes of excitation and inhibition of its structures; its main characteristic is the speed of formation of conditioned reflexes in an individual;
• lability- the speed with which a new process appears and stops;
• activity- denotes how easily the processes of inhibition and excitation are activated in the brain.

The strength of nervous processes

One of the main properties of the nervous system that determine the further development of character and temperament is the strength of the nervous processes. This property shows how the nervous system can resist the action of external stimuli.

The main characteristic of the strength of nervous processes is how long the nervous system can hold out without transcendental inhibition with an external stimulus acting on it for a long time. This should be a normal response to the pathogen.

If we are talking about a process inhibiting the nervous system, then the main characteristic of strength will be the ability to withstand prolonged exposure to this stimulus.

In addition, physiologists argue that strength is characterized not by the productive activity of a person, but by the ways in which he can achieve his greatest activity.

On the basis of this property, such traits of a person's character are formed as:

• endurance;
• courage;
• the ability to adapt, that is, to adapt, to a changing external environment;
• impressionability.

Balance and mobility of nervous processes

The other two main components of the natural properties of the nervous system are poise and mobility.

Balance is a balance, or equilibrium, between arousal and inhibition (the main nervous processes). If a person's reaction is dynamic, it is easy for him to calm down, to abandon unnecessary thoughts. For such people, it is not difficult to overcome stupid desires and soberly assess the situation. Balance smoothly combines such traits of a person's character as concentration and distraction.

Mobility is the rate at which new and old nervous processes appear and disappear. The ability is determined by its ability to quickly adapt to new changes in the environment, to change one conditioned reflexes to others.

It is easier for a person with mobile nervous processes to get rid of old stereotypes and labels, it is easier to open oneself to something new. Such people have a very good memory, they are characterized by fast speech. With low mobility of processes, it is not easy for an individual to find himself in a situation unfamiliar to him, to acquire new skills. He prefers to be in his native habitat.

Main levels

In psychology, a separate hierarchical classification of the properties of the nervous system is distinguished. There are three levels in total:

• upper - the properties of the entire brain, its effect on the entire body;
• middle - the properties of individual structures of the brain and integral groups that form these structures;
• lower - the properties of individual nerve cells (neurons).

All these levels are not isolated, but are in constant interaction with each other. Little has been studied how each of them is related to the character of a person and his mental processes.

Types of the nervous system

Based on various combinations of nervous processes, four types of properties of the human nervous system are characterized:

• strong unrestrained - his nervous processes are unbalanced, and arousal significantly prevails over inhibition;
• strong lively - is distinguished by an unbalanced and extremely mobile reaction, excitement quickly turns into inhibition, and vice versa;
• strong calm - his nervous processes are balanced, however, practically immobile;
• weak - excitement, like inhibition, are poorly developed; cells of the cortex are characterized by low efficiency.

The first type is best studied, since it is in it that all the properties of the nervous system are most pronounced. And the weak type is less susceptible to research, respectively.

Character traits for different types of the nervous system

How does the behavior of an individual change depending on his characteristics of the properties of the nervous system? A person with a strong nervous system is able to be efficient for a long time, even when doing really hard work. Tired, he does not require much time to rest. Such a person quickly recovers, does not panic in critical situations, but soberly evaluates the situation.

An individual with a weak temperament is more sensitive and emotionally labile, that is, he reacts to even minor stimuli. It is easier for this type of people to perform monotonous work, so it is easier for them to memorize information. They have the opportunity to develop - stability in such a person is acquired over time. However, if two dynamically trained people of a strong and weak type are put in the same conditions, the genetic predisposition will make itself felt.

Types of temperament

The types of nervous system listed above correspond to four types of temperament:

• choleric - with strong and unrestrained nervous processes;
• sanguine - has persistent and lively functional characteristics;
• phlegmatic - a strong and calm type of nervous processes;
• the melancholic is the weakest.

In addition, in addition to the types of the nervous system listed above, its other classification is also distinguished:

• thinking type;
• artistic type.

This division is based on the interaction of two human signaling systems. It is this that serves as the leading factor in which direction the individual will develop. So, for the thinking type, the predominant activity of the second signal system is characteristic, and for the artistic type, the first. People born with good conditioning are more likely to become mathematicians, philologists, physicists, and other scientists. Individuals with an artistic type are more likely to have a talent for writing, music or painting, that is, they are people of a creative profession.

So, our character, how we react to certain situations, what decisions we make, largely depends on the properties of the nervous system inherited from our parents. However, whatever type of reflex reactions is encoded in our DNA, any of these processes is more or less elastic. They are changed by upbringing, habits, situations in which we find ourselves. Everything that happens to us leaves a certain imprint on us, changing the functioning of our entire nervous system.