Types of psychopaths: the aggressive, the unsettled and the withdrawn

What are the different typologies associated with psychopathy?

Today we talk about the three types of psychopaths. If you still don't know exactly what psychopathy is, we recommend you take a look at the article "Psychopathy: what goes on in the mind of the psychopath?" before you start reading.

Types of Psychopaths: the aggressive (primary), the destabilized and the withdrawn (secondary).

Psychopathy has long been and remains an enigma to psychiatry. an enigma for psychiatry.. Because of a failure in the functioning of the processing of feelings, individuals without morals emerge who often end up becoming middle-class and seemingly normal criminals.

They are a great challenge to understand because of the complexity involved in trying to delve into the motivations of someone who seems to feel nothing. The following is a description of the different types of psychopaths categorized by Lykken.

1. Primary psychopath

This is the one who most closely fits the definition of the term psychopath, which means "psychologically damaged". Their main trait lies in a deviation in their temperament that is very difficult to master even in childhood. As dedicated as the parents may be, they are not to blame for how complex it can be to deal with their offspring.

It is also worth mentioning that there are individuals who can be considered psychopaths and sociopaths. psychopaths and sociopaths at the same time, since in addition to possessing these temperamental characteristics from birth, they do not have good family support or a facilitating environment that allows them to channel their behavior. Therefore, their origin can be both humble and middle class.

2. Destabilized psychopath

Although they may enjoy normal socialization, they suffer from an organic disorder which, when it manifests itself, unbalances them to such an extent that they are considered less responsible for the antisocial behavior they will engage in for the duration of the episode.

Epileptic equivalents

Some brain lesions (tumors, for example) can cause abnormal and even antisocial behavior. David T. Lykken also suggests in this section the idea of a "short-circuit" that would occur in the mechanisms of sex and aggression in the brain of these individuals. He proposes that "(...) the biographies of some serial killers begin with the obtaining of sexual pleasure when as children they tortured animals and suggest in a clear way the existence of a kind of short circuit between the motivational systems in the brain architecture" (p.63).

Choleric type

It includes those who suffer outbursts of anger. Those who occupy the upper end of the normal distribution would be framed in relation to their predisposition to anger and the intensity of their anger. Despite venturing to give a taxonomy of psychopathy and its causes, the author acknowledges how little is known about the relevance of individual differences in such matters, wondering whether the anger experienced by people who are more easily angered is more intense, or whether greater irascibility also causes a greater explosion of rage.

Hypersexuality

In the same way as with anger, there would be a tendency toward a more intense sexual appetite. But questions also arise as to whether the frequency of arousal predicts the maximum intensity of sexual appetite; or whether the intensity of sexual arousal during intercourse will determine the number of orgasms required for satisfaction. As with the members of the previous subgroup, those we would find here are also in situations of constant risk due to being at the upper peak of the normal distribution of sexual appetite and intensity.

Pathological cravings

They feel the need to satisfy illicit or morally reprehensible pleasures by incurring in risky actions. Various stressful situations stimulate the secretion of endogenous opiates that help to endure Pain and also contribute to experiencing the so-called "high". In individuals with higher susceptibility, crimes (and above all, violent ones), these endorphins produce only a pleasurable state as there is no pain or discomfort to mitigate. It is therefore easy to conclude that for them, "the crime itself is its reward" (p.65).

Hysterical type

The basic characteristic here lies in the duality between the indifference between the actions committed by these people and the remorse of the remorse or anxiety they may otherwise feel. Despite being well socialized, a young person who thinks about doing something forbidden and feels discomfort when reflecting on the consequences, is also more vulnerable to being tempted, because he or she may come to repress this discomfort. However, this repressive action is prone to burnout, so in periods when it is not active, this type of psychopath will feel resentment and guilt for what he may have done.

3. Secondary psychopath

Similar to the primary psychopath in terms of impulsivity, aggressiveness and low socialization, but with a marked tendency to guilt and withdrawal. tendency to guilt and withdrawal. According to the neurophysiological model of Fowles and Gray, impulsive and psychopathic behavior may be due to a poor 'behavioral inhibition system' (BIS) or to an inordinate activation in the 'behavioral activation system' (BAs).

The first case would lead to primary psychopathy, while the second to secondary psychopathy. The latter feel overwhelmed, stressed and dissatisfied with themselves and their lives. Like those in the other group, they carry out crimes driven by their drives, but they differ in their remorse.They are different in the remorse and the subsequent stress they suffer, which can be even higher than that of ordinary people.

• You can already visit the article in which we talked in detail about the differences between psychopathy and sociopathy.

Bibliographical references:

• Lykken, D. (1994) Antisocial personalities. Barcelona: Herder.