The 9 Types of Psychopathy (according to Theodore Millon)

A theory that explains the different personalities adopted by psychopaths.

Theodore Millon, a prestigious psychologist from the Florida school who researched on human personality. Among Millon's many contributions, today we will focus on his study of psychopathy.

The 9 subtypes of psychopath (and their characteristics)

Millon published in 1998 a specific chapter in which he described the subtypes of psychopathy. described the subtypes of psychopathy ("Subtypes of psychopathy", in "Psychopathy", edited by Millon, Th. et al., Guilford Press) consisting of 9 subtypes: the unprincipled, the overlappingthe risk takerthe the greedythe weakthe explosivethe roughthe malevolent and the tyrannical. Millon emphasizes that none of these categories is mutually exclusive, since one can have a profile composed of several subtypes.

In the following we will describe in detail the different subtypes, as well as the most important features that allow us to distinguish them.

1. Unprincipled psychopath

Usually associated with individuals with narcissistic personality traits. They tend to remain successfully outside the boundaries of the law, showing egomaniacal and disloyal feelings, indifferent to the welfare of others and with fraudulent social styles, accustomed to exploit others.

They are usually unable to attach themselves to treatment and are very good at creating are very good at creating fanciful and expansive lies to achieve their goals.. They totally lack feelings of guilt and social conscience, feel superior to others and enjoy the process of deceiving others. The relationship with this type of psychopath will last as long as he feels he has something to gain from the person, after which time he will simply end it. They tend to show a cold image, with reckless, vindictive and cruel attitudes.

2. Underhand psychopath

He would be characterized mainly by falsehood. His behavior is apparently friendly and sociable, but inside he hides great impulsiveness, vindictiveness and cruelty. inside hides a great impulsivity, resentment and lack of confidence in others.. They can have a wide social life, where they present a persistent search for attention abnormally through seduction, but their relationships are mostly superficial and fluctuating.

They will usually 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 facet of false success; everything always seems to be going well for them, they show themselves as achievers. Although sometimes this subtype of psychopath tries to convince himself that his intentions are good, he only tries to obtain from others what is convenient for him through manipulation, he does not seek the good of others.

3. Malevolent psychopath

Most serial killers and/or common killers fit this profile. They are very hostile and vindictive and their impulses are discharged with a malign and destructive purpose.. They enjoy a cold cruelty and constant desire for revenge for betrayals and punishments supposedly suffered or to be suffered.

The psychopathic characteristics are very similar to those of sadists in that they reflect a 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, malignant and vicious. Judicial sanctions would further increase their desire for retribution and revenge. Although they understand rationally what guilt, remorse, ethical concepts, morality... they do not experience it within themselves. They do not lose self-consciousness of their actions and do not end until their 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 former, this one seems to be stimulated by resistance or weakness, both of which increase the attack rather than soften or stop it. It derives special pleasure in forcing the victim to cower.

5. Risk taker

Engages in risky situations to feel alive, are impulsive and thoughtless. 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. They are not concerned about the consequences of their actions on others, only their need for stimulation prevails.

6. Greedy

Their great motivation in life is to get big, to have retribution. They feel that "life has not given them what they deserve", so through criminal acts they make up for it. through criminal acts they would compensate for the emptiness of their lives and make up for the "injustice" they have experienced.. They rationalize their acts through the idea that they restore a disturbed balance. They take satisfaction in being above others and harming them in life (in whatever sphere), 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. In addition, they are extremely envious, greedy, aggressive, jealous... they feel good with the Pain of others and are angered by the successes of others. Successful businessmen could fit this profile, considering others as objects to satisfy their desires. The worst thing is that they never achieve a state of complete satisfaction, always craving for more.

7. Weak psychopath

This subtype would have an avoidant and dependent type of behavioral base.. He shows others an image of false security and self-confidence that actually hides the opposite. Their aggressions are usually to demonstrate their lack of fear and to adopt the role of aggressor and never of victim. They are often caricatures of petty tyrants, maintaining an intimidating attitude, showing the world that "it is dangerous to mess with them".

8. Explosive psychopath

In this case there would be many components of the intermittent explosive disorder (t. (Impulse control disorder, code F63.8 according to DSM-IV-TR). Its main characteristic is the sudden and sudden outburst of extreme hostility.. His behavior "explodes", so that it does not give place to containment time. These fits of rage are characterized by uncontrollable anger towards others, which usually provokes 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 discord with others, magnifying even the smallest action to be entangled in bitter and constant disputes with the people around him.

They have little 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 about everything and others are always wrong, and it is especially pleasurable for them to contradict others. They take less satisfaction in the logic and legitimacy of their arguments than in using them to frustrate and humiliate the other person.

In closing...

Theodore Millon found several subtypes of psychopathy, which we can find in different scenarios: murder, big business, robbery, politics... or even in more everyday situations of life.

In the study he conducted, 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 disorders of sexual inclination (paraphilias) and impulse control disorders.