If you keep your mouth shut, you won’t get a headache – right?

It was one of the lectures given at the most recent (XXIV) conference of the International Szondi Association (ISA). Such a conference is held every three years. This time, it took place on 3–5 September in Rimini. The common theme is Leopold Szondi’s (1893–1986) theory of personality. Unfortunately, it is not very well known around the world. Szondi introduced the theory in the late 1940s. 

Szondi was a doctor and also conducted research in genetics, which led to his discovery of the theory. Put simply, one could say that he discovered a pattern underlying mental disorders. One could say that these ‘pathological’ states represented an extreme position on the spectrum of normal psychological functioning. Unfortunately, the timing was poor for Szondi when he introduced the theory. This was partly due to Nazi ideology, and partly because so-called ‘depth psychology’ was becoming less popular, whilst interest in behaviourism was on the rise.

‘Szondians’ say that Freud discovered the individual’s unconscious, Jung the collective unconscious, and Szondi the family’s unconscious.

I began to learn the theory from the psychologist Lars-Erik Liljeqvist in 1975. At that time, he was in the process of translating the manual for the BerufsBilderTest, which was based on Szondi’s theory. The test is image-based and was used primarily to assist young people with career choices.

Since 1975, I have found Szondi’s theory extremely useful in understanding my own and others’ behaviour (drives). In 1986, I became involved in developing the selection process for tour guides on trips to the Alps. I wanted to use Szondi’s theory at the time, but it turned out that there was no so-called personality questionnaire in the world based on the theory. I therefore decided to develop such a test with the help of Lars-Erik and other psychologists. It was a good starting point because the guides were assessed by their guests during their trips. As a result, we could see that the test clearly identified who was suited to being a guide. We could even see whether a person was suited to trips to the Italian or French Alps. How so? Well, the Alps in Italy are ‘gentler’, whilst those in France are tougher. This influenced who went to which Alps – that is, gentler for Italy and tougher for France. That’s why the guides needed to be similar…

The Human Guide test has now been in use for 40 years. It is available in 15 languages. It is most widely used in Brazil, where over 500,000 tests have been carried out since 2010. In 2009, the test became the first of its kind (online and forced-choice) to be approved by Satepsi in Brazil.

As for the lecture, it was given by Bence Szabó from Hungary. The subtitle was ‘A fate-analytical (Szondi called his methodology “fate analysis”) investigation of repressed anger and chronic migraine’. Central to this is one of the eight fundamental dimensions (driving forces) of Szondi’s theory. I call it ‘Quality’, as I am addressing the general public. Szondi calls it ‘epilepsy’, as he was a practising clinician.

Szondi’s eight driving forces can be divided into four vectors. The driving force ‘Quality’ belongs to the paroxysmal vector. I call the second one ‘Exposure’; in Szondi’s theory, it is known as ‘hysteria’. This vector concerns how one deals with emotions. Those with a high score on ‘Exposure’ usually ‘let them out’ immediately – they are spontaneous. Whereas those with a high score on ‘Quality’ can hold onto their emotions. This is particularly noticeable when they are holding onto negative emotions. In such cases, there can be a powerful outburst. Those around them may then sometimes wonder: Why was there such a huge outburst over such a small thing? Hmmm. You can understand this if you see it as a cup that has been filling up with negative emotions over a period of time and suddenly overflows.

It is against this background that the title of this lecture should be viewed. 

In 1999, I learnt about the existence of the ISA from the Dutchman Leo Berlips in Sweden. This aroused my curiosity, and I attended the subsequent conference at the University of Louvain-la-Neuve. The chairman of the ISA at that time was a professor and neurosurgeon from the USA – Dietrich Blumer. He specialised in helping people who suffered from epileptic seizures. If the seizures had a physiological basis, those individuals could undergo surgery; however, having come across Szondi’s theory, he realised that the seizures could also have psychological causes. In such cases, surgery was not required; instead, psychological treatment was needed. 

During an ISA conference, Blumer mentioned a doctor who had been working in Africa during the Second World War. He was facing significant difficulties with several soldiers who had been close to a grenade explosion. He then tried using ECT (electroconvulsive therapy). It proved successful, so the doctor ordered several such units. I do not know if there is any documented evidence of this.

I myself am aware of several cases where people have suffered unexplained ‘shaking fits’ and have been diagnosed with epilepsy. I am not a doctor, but it troubles me greatly that so few doctors are familiar with Szondi’s theory, which could open the door to alternative perspectives and treatments. 

In fact, it is one of my aspirations that more people discover Szondi’s theory and its practical applications. 

This is one of the reasons why I am now focusing on the private sector to see if I can spark more interest in Szondi’s theory there.

Here is a link to the ISA and the Rimini conference

Further information about the theory can be found on my website

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