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May or may not be convulsive; usually involves a loss of consciousness. There is evidence of abnormal electrical activity in many areas of the brain.

1. Primary generalized seizures
2. Secondary generalized seizures

Generalized absence seizures (formerly petit mal):
Characterised by a complete loss of awareness. The person may stare into space and appear to be daydreaming or in a daze. Absence seizures are not preceded by a warning (aura) and are followed by normal activity by the individual. There is very minimal movement during the actual seizure so many times it may go unnoticed by others.

These seizures often occur in children. They may, however, develop into other types of seizures, such as complex-partial or tonic-clonic. (Absence seizures may be difficult to distinguish from Complex-partial seizures. Absence seizures are usually more quick in duration and have less recovery time than CPS.)

Absence seizures usually diminish into adulthood (opposite of tonic-clonic/grand mal seizures.)

There are two types of absence seizures:

1. Typical Absence Seizures: They are non-convulsive and muscle tone is usually preserved. The seizure event usually lasts for less than 10 seconds in duration.
2. Atypical Absence Seizures: They are longer in duration than typical absence seizures. There may or may not be a loss in muscle tone and often tonic/clonic-like movements are observed.

Tonic-clonic seizures (formerly grand mal):
A generalized convulsion occurring in two phases. In the tonic phase, there is stiffening of the muscles, the person loses consciousness and falls, as the body grows rigid. In the clonic phase, body extremities jerk and twitch. The seizure event may often be ended by another tonic phase. After the seizure, consciousness returns slowly. When the person wakes up, they are often confused or disoriented.

This seizure, while perhaps the type of epilepsy most visible in the public mind, is not the most common. Approximately two-thirds of people with epilepsy have complex partial seizures.

A secondary generalized tonic-clonic seizure begins locally (with partial seizure) and it may be preceded by an aura.