The 9 Types Of Psychopathy (according To Theodore Millon)
Theodore Millon, a prestigious Florida school psychologist who researched human personality. Among Millon’s many contributions, today we will focus on his study of psychopathy.
The 9 subtypes of psychopath (and their characteristics)
In 1998, Millon published a specific chapter in which described the subtypes of psychopathy (“Subtypes of psychopathy”, in “Psychopathy”, edited by Millon, Th. and others, Guilford Press) composed of 9 subtypes: the unprincipled, the overlappinghe risk takerhe greedyhe weakhe explosivehe roughhe malicious and the tyrannical. Millon highlights that none of these categories are mutually exclusive, since you can have a profile composed of several subtypes.
Below we will describe in detail the different subtypes, as well as the most important features that allow them to be distinguished.
1. Psychopath lacking principles
It is normally associated with subjects with narcissistic personality traits. They tend to successfully stay outside the limits of what is legal, showing egotistical and disloyal feelings, indifferent to the well-being of others and with fraudulent social styles, tending to exploit others.
They are not usually able to link themselves to a treatment and They are very good at creating fanciful and expansive lies to achieve their goals.. They totally lack feelings of guilt and social conscience, they feel superior to the rest and also enjoy the process of deceiving others. The relationship with this type of psychopath will last as long as he considers that he has something to get from the person, after that period he will simply end it. They usually show a cold image, with reckless, vengeful and cruel attitudes.
2. Underhand psychopath
He would be characterized mainly by falsehood. His demeanor is apparently friendly and sociable, but Inside he hides great impulsiveness, resentment and lack of confidence from the rest.. He may have a broad social life, where he presents an abnormally persistent search for attention through seduction, but his relationships are mostly superficial and fluctuating.
They will normally exhibit short-lived enthusiasms, so they will be irresponsible and impulsive, constantly seeking new sensations. They tend to be insincere and calculating, they will not admit weaknesses to others, they will always exhibit a side of false success; It always seems that everything is going well for them, they show themselves as winners. Although sometimes this subtype of psychopaths tries to convince themselves that their intentions are good, they only try to obtain from others what is good for them through manipulation, they do not seek the good of others.
3. Malevolent psychopath
Most serial killers and/or common murderers fit this profile. They are very hostile and vengeful and their impulses are discharged with evil and destructive ends. They enjoy cold cruelty and a constant desire for revenge for betrayals and punishments supposedly suffered or to be suffered.
Psychopathic characteristics are very similar to those of sadists as they reflect deep depravity, desire for compensatory retribution and hostility, as already discussed in the article on “sadistic serial killers”. They could be described as spiteful, vicious, evil and biting. Judicial sanctions would further increase his desire for retribution and revenge. Although they rationally understand what guilt, remorse, ethical concepts, morality are… they do not experience it internally. He does not lose self-awareness of his actions and does not end until his goals of destructiveness and retribution have been completed.
4. Tyrannical psychopath
Together with the Malevolent, This subtype is one of the most cruel and dangerous. Both are intimidating, overwhelming and destructive. Unlike the previous one, this one seems to be stimulated by resistance or weakness, which increases the attack instead of softening or stopping it. He takes special pleasure in forcing the victim to cower.
He gets involved in risky situations to feel alive, They are impulsive and thoughtless people. They are individuals who are reckless and insensitive in situations that any normal person would be afraid of. They are capable of imposing self-discipline and routine life habits, they will always want changes. This subtype would be a mixture of antisocial and histrionic base personality types. He is not concerned about the consequences of his actions on third parties, only his need for stimulation prevails.
6. Greedy
His great motivation in life is to become great, to have rewards. They feel that “life has not given them what they deserve,” so Through criminal acts they would compensate for the emptiness in their lives and compensate for the “injustice” that they have experienced.. They rationalize their actions through the idea that they restore an altered balance. They find satisfaction in being above others and harming them in life (in whatever area), feeling that they are their pawns.
They also have little or no feelings of guilt for what they do to others, they never consider it enough. Furthermore, they are tremendously envious, greedy, aggressive, jealous… they feel good about other people’s pain and are enraged by the successes of others. Successful entrepreneurs could fit this profile, considering others objects to satisfy their desires. The worst thing is that they never achieve a state of complete satisfaction, they always crave more.
7. Weak psychopath
This subtype would have a basis of avoidant and dependent behavior. It shows others an image of false security and self-confidence that actually hides the opposite. Their attacks are usually to demonstrate their lack of fear and adopt the role of aggressor and never a victim. They tend to be caricatures of petty tyrants; they maintain an intimidating attitude, showing the world that “it is dangerous to mess with them.”
In this case there would be many components of intermittent explosive disorder (impulse control disorder, code F63.8 according to DSM-IV-TR). Its main feature is the sudden and sudden emergence of extreme hostility. His behavior “explodes”, so that there is no time for restraint. These rage attacks are characterized by uncontrollable anger towards others, which usually causes submission and passivity in the victim.
9. Rough psychopath
This subtype shows his rejection of others in a passive and indirect way. They tend to have incessant disagreements with others, magnifying even the smallest action to be entangled in bitter and constant disputes with the people around them.
They have few remorse or feelings of guilt about the inconvenience they cause others. They tend to be bitter and ironic, sharing personality traits with negativistic and paranoid personality disorders. They always believe they are right in everything and others are always wrong and it is especially pleasant for them to contradict others. They take less satisfaction from the logic and legitimacy of their arguments than from using them to frustrate and humiliate the other person.
By way of closing…
Theodore Millon found various subtypes of psychopathy, which we can find in different scenarios: murders, large companies, robberies, politics… or even in more everyday situations in life.
In the study he carried out, he found that the most common profiles are the “unprincipled psychopath”, the “risk-taking psychopath” and the “malevolent psychopath”, although they are not exclusive of the others, you can have a profile characterized with various subtypes. He also found that there is comorbidity with sexual inclination disorders (paraphilias) and impulse control disorders.
