Table of contents:
- Types of psychopaths according to Schneider
- 1. Hyperthymic psychopaths
- 2. Depressive psychopaths
- 3. Self-insecure psychopaths
- 4. Fanatical psychopaths
- 5. Psychopaths in need of estimation
- 6. Lazy-spirited psychopaths
- 7. Explosive psychopaths
- 8. Heartless psychopaths
- 9. Abolish psychopaths
- 10. Asthenic psychopaths
- Types of psychopaths according to Blackburn
- 11. Primary psychopaths
- 12. Secondary psychopaths
- 13. Controlled psychopaths
- 14. Inhibited psychopaths
- Types of psychopaths according to Millon
- 15. Unprincipled psychopath
- 16. Undercover psycho
- 17. Risk taker psychopath
- 18. Greedy psycho
- 19. Weak psycho
- 20. Explosive psycho
- 21. Harsh psycho
- 22. Malevolent Psycho
- 23. Tyrannical psychopath
- Types of psychopaths according to Lykken
- 24. Primary psychopath
- 25. destabilized psychopath
- 26. Secondary psychopath
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There are different types of psychopaths according to studies carried out by various authors. The most decisive and important are those made by Schneider, Blackburn, Millon and Lykken. In this Psychology-Online article we will delve into the characteristics of each classification made by the different authors since it is very important to understand how they act to better understand psychopathy and, therefore, treat it with scientific rigor. Let's look at the 26 types of psychopaths and their characteristics.
You may also be interested in: How a psychopath reacts when they leave him Index- Types of psychopaths according to Schneider
- Types of psychopaths according to Blackburn
- Types of psychopaths according to Millon
- Types of psychopaths according to Lykken
Types of psychopaths according to Schneider
Kurt Schneider was a German psychiatrist who drew up a classification that corresponds to 10 different types of psychopaths that appeared published in his book "Psychopathic personalities" in 1943. To perform the classification is based on their personalities.
- Hyperthymic
- Depressive
- Unsure of themselves
- Fanatics
- In need of estimation
- Weak in spirit
- Explosives
- Soulless
- Abúlico
- Asthenics
1. Hyperthymic psychopaths
This group of psychopaths is characterized by having a fundamentally happy mood, they are also active and very optimistic people. They lack firmness and depth, they are reckless, easy to influence, and unfaithful. They easily incur crimes.
2. Depressive psychopaths
This group is characterized by having a reserved and depressive predisposition. Self-reproaches and doubts predominate, they are calm. The author subdivides depressive psychopaths into
- Melancholic
- Grumpy
- With paranoid features
3. Self-insecure psychopaths
Group characterized by its insecurity, motivated by internal shyness, especially on a physical and social level. Outwardly they are confident and arrogant. They often suffer from pangs of conscience. The author subdivides self-insecure psychopaths into two types:
- Sensitive
- Anankastics
4. Fanatical psychopaths
They are characterized by an active and expansive personality. They will not hesitate to commit crimes and acts contrary to the social order. Schneider distinguishes several classes of fanatics, depending on what their purposes are:
- Personal (they fight for their right, real or supposed)
- Idealists (they hold demonstrations in favor of their program)
- Silent
- Eccentric
- Fantasists
5. Psychopaths in need of estimation
They are subjects who want to appear more than they are, they need to be noticed. Eccentric.
6. Lazy-spirited psychopaths
They change their moods abruptly, irritable and depressed mood. Impulsive reactions that end up causing a flight or alcoholic excesses. In the following article, you will find more information about mood disorders.
7. Explosive psychopaths
These types of psychopaths have an excitable and irritable personality, they get angry and rage very easily.
8. Heartless psychopaths
Subjects with affective dullness, that is, they lack certain basic feelings such as compassion, shame, conscience or sense of honor. Schneider emphasizes that a special trait of the soulless is incorrigibility.
9. Abolish psychopaths
These types of psychopaths are characterized by lack of will and inability to resist. Suggestible.
10. Asthenic psychopaths
Nervous, characterized by their cowardice and by their concern for themselves and not for what may happen around them. The author shows that asthenic psychopaths are found in both sexes and even in children. He considers them psychically insufficient: poor performance capacity, inability to concentrate and memory loss. Furthermore, they fail somatically: they do not pay attention to discomforts or minor difficulties.
Types of psychopaths according to Blackburn
Blackburn took an interpersonal approach whereby he classified the types of psychopaths into four categories:
- Primary psychopaths
- Secondary psychopaths
- Controlled psychopaths
- Inhibited psychopaths
11. Primary psychopaths
Psychopaths in this category are impulsive, aggressive, hostile, extrovert, self-confident, with low average anxiety. Narcissists, histrionics, and antisocials are predominantly in this group.
12. Secondary psychopaths
Secondary psychopaths are characterized by being hostile, impulsive, aggressive, socially anxious, socially isolated, moody, with low self-esteem. Within this typology are antisocial, avoidant, schizoid, dependent and paranoid.
13. Controlled psychopaths
Psychopaths of this type tend to be defensive, controlled, sociable, and not anxious. This group has lower scores for personality disorders.
14. Inhibited psychopaths
In this group of psychopaths we find the shy, isolated, controlled, moderately anxious, with low self-esteem. There are schizoids, schizotypal and passive-aggressive here, but they show low scores in antisociality.
Types of psychopaths according to Millon
Millon was an American psychologist who stood out considerably for his studies on personality. He elaborated a classification based on nine types of psychopaths, making it clear that none of them is exclusive of the other, the profile of the subject can be composed of more than one typology. Its classification is as follows:
- Unprincipled psychopath
- Underhanded psycho
- Risk taker psychopath
- Greedy psycho
- Weak psycho
- Explosive psycho
- Rough psycho
- Malevolent Psycho
- Tyrannical psycho
15. Unprincipled psychopath
Associated with narcissistic personalities. They usually manage to stay successfully within the limits of what is legal and never enter treatment. Arrogant sense of self-worth, disregard for the welfare of others, and a fraudulent social style. It is not uncommon for these types of psychopaths to seek to exploit others, they do not care about the rights of others.
16. Undercover psycho
Behavior characterized by a veneer of sociability and friendliness. Behind the appearance is hidden a lack of trustworthiness, impulsive tendencies and deep bad humor and resentment towards family members and close people. Attention seeking often expressed by seductive behaviors. Superficial relationships.
17. Risk taker psychopath
These types of psychopaths need to feel alive and are easily involved in risky situations. They respond to behaviors impulsively and thoughtlessly. Reckless and insensitive, incapable of being autonomous, lacking in self-discipline. In the following article you will find more information about What is impulsivity in psychology.
18. Greedy psycho
They pursue their aggrandizement. They feel that life has deprived them of love, support, material rewards… motivated by a desire for retribution from the criminal acts they commit to fill their lives. They believe that their actions restore balance.
19. Weak psycho
In this type of psychopathy, a base of avoidance and dependent behavior is observed. He shows a false image of security and his attacks seek to show that he is not afraid. Little tyrants cartoons, intimidating attitude towards the world to show that no one can mess with them.
20. Explosive psycho
In this case there would be many components of intermittent explosive disorder. The main feature is the sudden outbreak of extreme hostility. Their behavior "explodes," so that there is no time for contention.
21. Harsh psycho
This subtype of psychopathy shows your rejection of others in a passive and indirect way. They tend to have incessant discords with others, magnifying even the smallest action to be entangled in bitter and constant disputes with the people around them.
22. Malevolent Psycho
Serial or / and common killers fit this psychopath profile. Hostile and vengeful, his impulses seek a destructive and evil end. Cold and cruel, they seek revenge for attacks allegedly suffered, they seek punishment.
23. Tyrannical psychopath
Along with the previous type above, it is one of the most dangerous and cruel. Intimidating, overwhelming and destructive. Stimulated by resistance or weakness, both of which increase the attack rather than soften or stop it.
Types of psychopaths according to Lykken
Lykken conducted various laboratory studies related to the biological substrate of psychopathy. Through these studies he differentiated three types of psychopaths:
- Primary psychopath
- Destabilized psycho
- Secondary psycho
24. Primary psychopath
The main feature in this type of psychopathy is found in a deviation in their temperament that is very difficult to master since childhood. Weak Behavioral Inhibition System associated with fear, behavioral inhibition and passive avoidance behaviors.
25. destabilized psychopath
Despite being able to enjoy normal sociability, psychopaths in this group suffer from an organic disorder that, when manifested, greatly unbalances them to the point of not feeling responsible for the criminal and / or antisocial behavior they commit.
26. Secondary psychopath
This type of psychopaths present excess in the Behavioral Activation System. It is associated with the reward, the reward, the avoidance of pain and the pursuit of pleasure. Activation of approach behaviors.
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- Yesuron, M. (2015). Psychopathy and its diagnosis. Sociohumanistic Studies, 17-31.