schizoid

adj, noun — 5 senses

schizoid

adj

/ˈskɪtsɔɪd/ · /ˈskɪdzɔɪd/

Etymology From schiz(ophrenia)- + -oid, from German, from Ancient Greek σχίζω (skhízō, “to split”) and εἶδος (eîdos, “form, likeness”).

1

Characterized by social withdrawal and emotional coldness or flattened affectivity.

  • Abstract symbol systems, such as mathematics, are especially valuable for object-seeking for schizoid personalities. By means of such symbolizations, object contact may be sought and obtained, while at the same time a psychological distance may be maintained between self and other; it is virtually impossible to have a personal relationship and at the same time to maintain such distance.1974, Thomas S. Szasz, M.D., chapter 8, in The Myth of Mental Illness, →ISBN, page 135:
2

Archaic Schizophrenic.

3

Figuratively, Offensive, Sometimes Behaving as if one has more than one personality; wildly changeable or unpredictable.

  • Babits himself never fully lived up to this program; indeed, the declaration itself shows his schizoid attitude toward poetry: he wants to say out loud that he does not want to be heard.1972, Roy Temple House, Ernst Erich Noth, Books Abroad, volume 46, page 32:
  • I continued to live a schizoid existence—working as a schoolteacher, molding myself into what I imagined was a traditional male image […] — but I couldn't fool myself. I was a queer in lumberjack drag.1991 February 11, Eric R. Rofes, “My Life As A Queer”, in Gay Community News, volume 18, number 29, page 10:
Derived terms
affectless schizoid, depersonalized schizoid, languid schizoid, remote schizoid, schizoidism, schizoid personality disorder, schizoid psychopathy

schizoid

noun

Etymology From schiz(ophrenia)- + -oid, from German, from Ancient Greek σχίζω (skhízō, “to split”) and εἶδος (eîdos, “form, likeness”).

1

Human sciences, Medicine, Psychiatry, Psychology, Sciences Someone with schizoid personality disorder.

2

Archaic Someone with schizophrenia.

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.