The 3 personality types related to psychopathy.

Different psychological traits common in people with psychopathic tendencies.

Psychopathy is a disorder in which the individual does not feel remorse in situations feels no remorse in situations that he or she would be expected to feel or in causing harm to others.. However, there are different degrees of psychopathy, and types of personality traits associated with this phenomenon.

Personality types associated with psychopathy

Depending on the type of psychopathy, Ronald Blackburn proposed 4 types of psychopaths: the primary psychopath can be very extroverted, impulsive, hostile and aggressive; introverted with the same above traits, which is called as secondary psychopath. On the other hand, there is the one who has a great need for control, is always on the defensive, has high self-esteem and keeps his anxiety at low levels and is called a controlled psychopath. The one who is withdrawn, shy, anxious and with a low level of self-esteem is called an inhibited psychopath.

On the other hand, within the classification of personalities, there are some that due to their characteristics are highly related to psychopathic behaviors. Each one is described below:

1. Paranoid personality

They tend to be distrustful, suspicious, suspicious and resentful. They may interpret external signals as hostile or threatening even if they are not intended to be. If someone hurts them, they seek revenge. When they feel threatened, they choose to attack before they are attacked; they use reactive violence. This personality is highly related to crimes of passion.

2. Schizoid personality

They are usually isolated individuals, they may be considered by others as "weird".. They avoid relating to others and if they have to establish contact, this represents a discomfort for them. They tend to be apathetic and insensitive. This personality is related to highly violent crimes, since they use instrumental violence, so they have time to plan the crime with a "cool head" and are 100% focused on doing harm.

3. Antisocial personality

This personality can be observed since childhood, as children with this personality tend to frighten others and mistreat animals. They easily break rulesThey seek immediate satisfaction in their actions; they use reactive violence. They tend to blame their victims, as if they had provoked them and to force sexual relations.

Two variants of criminal psychopathy

Within criminal psychopathy a classification can be made of:

Organized criminal

He is the one who plans his behavior, thinks of everything; how to catch, how to commit the crime, where, what to do with the victim. He uses instrumental violence, he takes pleasure in both the execution and the damage caused, he is excited by the crime to be committed.

He chooses his victims carefullyHe chooses his victims carefully, since they mean something in the fantasy of the crime, they must fulfill certain characteristics. It is possible to identify a modus operandi, the crime scene can be modified to represent something. Neurobiologically, there is a high degree of activation in the amygdala and in the orbitofrontal cortex, which allows for a planning of his actions.

Disorganized criminal

One who does not regulate his behavior, is impulsive before the stimulus that causes him discomfort or rage.. He uses reactive violence, which means that he "acts in the heat of the moment". He has a great need to act so he does not choose his victim, it can be anyone, therefore they are often called "crimes of opportunity". He is just looking for a way to unload. It is difficult to find a pattern unlike the organized criminal.

In the neurobiological aspect, unlike the previous one, there is little or no activity in the orbitofrontal cortex so there is no inhibitory control. He is hypersensitive to social and emotional issues, there is a distortion in his social cognition. And, like the organized, there is high activation in the amygdala.

What to do to intervene psychologically?

While there is no specific treatment for psychopathy, there are suggestions for intervention. Behaviorally focused therapies are recommended.It is important to work with the awareness of the consequences of acts performed by the person, self-control, self-observation and not to seek immediate rewards.

It is important to promote critical thinking, the meaning of emotions, feelings and own perceptions. Work on the external locus of control. Within the psychopharmacological treatment, drugs are used to inhibit aggressiveness and/or impulses.