Ep 07: Personalities That Kill

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we discuss personality darkness and specifically focus on personalities that are prone to violence and extreme behavior. We also discuss two important research studies, the Milgram study and the Stanford prison experiment, that shed light on the capacity for humans to engage in harmful acts. We then delve into the different personality types within Cluster A (schizoid, schizotypal, and paranoid); Cluster B (borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic); and Cluster C (avoidant, dependent, obsessive-compulsive) and discuss their risk levels for violence and murder. In this conversation, we also explore sadistic personalities, a category not included in the DSM, but included in multiple other personality theories. We highlight the characteristics and behaviors associated with each type and discuss the potential for violence and destructive behavior. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding these personalities and their potential risks in order to promote awareness and better understanding of human behavior.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction: Personality Darkness and Violence

• 02:43 The Influence of Authority: Milgram’s Study

• 05:03 The Influence of Situational Factors: Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment

• Cluster A:

  • 08:01 Schizoid
  • 10:18 Schizotypal
  • 12:27 Paranoid
    • 18:45 Paranoid Subtypes: Querulously, Insular, Malignant

• Cluster B:

  • 23:01 Borderline
  • 27:05 Histrionic
  • 28:58 Narcissistic
    • 31:26 Narcissistic Subtypes: Elitist, Exploitative, Unprincipled
  • 35:00 Antisocial
    • 37:17 Antisocial Subtypes: Reputation-Defending and Malevolent

• 41:44 Sadistic Personalities

• Cluster C:

  • 46:22 Avoidant
  • 47:43 Dependent
  • 50:32 Obsessive-Compulsive Personality

• 55:54 Summary and Closing