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Which Personality Type Are You
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Which Personality Type Are You?
by KUBARK
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Tired of the same old personality
classifications: Is she a Cancer? Is he a
Sagitarius? Well, do we have a solution for you,
courtesy of the US's very own Central
Intelligence Agency, who had its psychologists
draw up thumbnail sketches of nine personality
types its agents might encounter in their
counterintelligence interrogations.
These types are based on "the fact that a
person's past is always reflected, however
dimly, in his present ethics and behavior. Old
dogs can learn new tricks but not new ways of
learning them. People do change, but what
appears to be new behavior or a new
psychological pattern is usually just a variant
on an old theme."
The descriptions are hard-core. They bite. They
draw blood. None of this "I'm okay, you're okay"
nonsense. And, of course, you are not okay.
You're under interrogation, remember?
Here they are, direct from the (mostly)
declassified KUBARK Counterintelligence
Investigation manual.
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Personality Categories
The number of systems devised for categorizing
human beings is large, and most of them are of
dubious validity. Various categorical schemes
are outlined in treatises on interrogation. The
two typologies most frequently advocated are
psychologic-emotional and geographic-cultural.
Those who urge the former argue that the basic
emotional-psychological patterns do not vary
significantly with time, place, or culture. The
latter school maintains the existence of a
national character and sub-national categories,
and interrogation guides based on this principle
recommend approaches tailored to geographical
cultures.
It is plainly true that the interrogation source
cannot be understood in a vacuum, isolated from
social context. It is equally true that some of
the most glaring blunders in interrogation (and
other operational processes) have resulted from
ignoring the source's background. Moreover,
emotional-psychological schematizations
sometimes present atypical extremes rather than
the kinds of people commonly encountered by
interrogators. Such typologies also cause
disagreement even among professional
psychiatrists and psychologists. Interrogators
who adopt them and who note in an interrogatee
one or two of the characteristics of "Type A"
may mistakenly assign the source to Category A
and assume the remaining traits.
On the other hand, there are valid objections to
the adoption of cultural-geographic categories
for interrogation purposes (however valid they
may be as KUCAGE concepts). The pitfalls of
ignorance of the distinctive culture of the
source have "[approx. 12 lines deleted]".
The ideal solution would be to avoid all
categorizing. Basically, all schemes for
labelling people are wrong per se; applied
arbitrarily, they always produce distortions.
Every interrogator knows that a real
understanding of the individual is worth far
more than a thorough knowledge of this or that
pigeon-hole to which he has been consigned. And
for interrogation purposes the ways in which he
differs from the abstract type may be more
significant than the ways in which he conforms.
But KUBARK does not dispose of the time or
personnel to probe the depths of each source's
individuality. In the opening phases of
interrogation, or in a quick interrogation, we
are compelled to make some use of the shorthand
of categorizing, despite distortions. Like other
interrogation aides, a scheme of categories is
useful only if recognized for what it is -- a
set of labels that facilitate communication but
are not the same as the persons thus labelled.
If an interrogatee lies persistently, an
interrogator may report and dismiss him as a
"pathological liar." Yet such persons may
possess counterintelligence (or other)
information quite equal in value to that held by
other sources, and the interrogator likeliest to
get at it is the man who is not content with
labelling but is as interested in why the
subject lies as in what he lies about.
With all of these reservations, then, and with
the further observation that those who find
these psychological-emotional categories
pragmatically valuable should use them and those
who do not should let them alone, the following
nine types are described. The categories are
based upon the fact that a person's past is
always reflected, however dimily, in his present
ethics and behavior. Old dogs can learn new
tricks but not new ways of learning them. People
do change, but what appears to be new behavior
or a new psychological pattern is usually just a
variant on the old theme.
It is not claimed that the classification system
presented here is complete; some interrogatees
will not fit into any one of the groupings. And
like all other typologies, the system is plagued
by overlap, so that some interrogatees will show
characteristics of more than one group. Above
all, the interrogator must remember that finding
some of the characteristics of the group in a
single source does not warrant an immediate
conclusion that the source "belongs to" the
group, and that even correct labelling is not
the equivalent of understanding people but
merely an aid to understanding.
The nine major groups within the
psychological-emotional category adopted for
this handbook are the following.
1. The orderly-obstinate character. People in
this category are characteristically frugal,
orderly, and cold; frequently they are quite
intellectual. They are not impulsive in
behavior. They tend to think things through
logically and to act deliberately. They often
reach decisions very slowly. They are far less
likely to make real personal sacrifices for a
cause than to use them as a temporary means of
obtaining a permanent personal gain. They are
secretive and disinclined to confide in anyone
else their plans and plots, which frequently
concern the overthrow of some form of authority.
They are also stubborn, although they may
pretend cooperation or even believe that they
are cooperating. They nurse grudges.
The orderly-obstinate character considers
himself superior to other people. Sometimes his
sense of superiority is interwoven with a kind
of magical thinking that includes all sorts of
superstitions and fantasies about controlling
his environment. He may even have a system of
morality that is all his own. He sometimes
gratifies his feeling of secret superiority by
provoking unjust treatment. He also tries,
characteristically, to keep open a line of
escape by avoiding any real commitment to
anything. He is -- and always has been --
intensely concerned about his personal
possessions. He is usually a tightwad who saves
everything, has a strong sense of propriety, and
is punctual and tidy. His money and other
possessions have for him a personalized quality;
they are parts of himself. He often carries
around shiny coins, keepsakes, a bunch of keys,
and other objects having for himself an actual
or symbolic value.
Usually the orderly-obstinate character has a
history of active rebellion in childhood, of
persistently doing the exact opposite of what he
is told to do. As an adult he may have learned
to cloak his resistance and become
passive-aggressive, but his determination to get
his own way is unaltered. He has merely learned
how to proceed indirectly if necessary. The
profound fear and hatred of authority,
persisting since childhood, is often
well-concealed in adulthood, For example, such a
person may confess easily and quickly under
interrogation, even to acts that he did not
commit, in order to throw the interrogator off
the trail of a significant discovery (or, more
rarely, because of feelings of guilt).
The interrogator who is dealing with an
orderly-obstinate character should avoid the
role of hostile authority. Threats and
threatening gestures, table-pounding, pouncing
on evasions or lies, and any similarly
authoritative tactics will only awaken in such a
subject his old anxieties and habitual defense
mechanisms. To attain rapport, the interrogator
should be friendly. It will probably prove
rewarding if the room and the interrogator look
exceptionally neat. Orderly-obstinate
interrogatees often collect coins or other
objects as a hobby; time spent in sharing their
interests may thaw some of the ice. Establishing
rapport is extremely important when dealing with
this type.[approx 3 lines deleted]
2. The optimistic character. This kind of source
is almost constantly happy-go-lucky, impulsive,
inconsistent, and undependable. He seems to
enjoy a continuing state of well-being. He may
be generous to a fault, giving to others as he
wants to be given to. He may become an alcoholic
or drug addict. He is not able to withstand very
much pressure; he reacts to a challenge not by
increasing his efforts but rather by running
away to avoid conflict. His convictions that
"something will turn up", that "everything will
work out all right", is based on his need to
avoid his own responsibility for events and
depend upon a kindly fate.
Such a person has usually had a great deal of
over-indulgence in early life. He is sometimes
the youngest member of a large family, the child
of a middle-aged woman (a so-called
"change-of-life baby"). If he has met severe
frustrations in later childhood, he may be
petulant, vengeful, and constantly demanding.
As interrogation sources, optimistic characters
respond best to a kindly, parental approach. If
withholding, they can often be handled
effectively by the Mutt-and-Jeff technique
discussed later in this paper. Pressure tactics
or hostility will make them retreat inside
themselves, whereas reassurance will bring them
out. They tend to seek promises, to cast the
interrogator in the role of protector and
problem-solver; and it is important that the
interrogator avoid making any specific promises
that cannot be fulfilled, because the optimist
turned vengeful is likely to prove troublesome.
3. The greedy, demanding character. This kind of
person affixes himself to others like a leech
and clings obsessively. Although extremely
dependent and passive, he constantly demands
that others take care of him and gratify his
wishes. If he considers himself wronged, he does
not seek redress through his own efforts but
tries to persuade another to take up the cudgels
in his behalf -- "let's you and him fight." His
loyalties are likely to shift whenever he feels
that the sponsor whom he has chosen has let him
down. Defectors of this type feel aggrieved
because their desires were not satisfied in
their countries of origin, but they soon feel
equally deprived in a second land and turn
against its government or representatives in the
same way. The greedy and demanding character is
subject to rather frequent depressions. He may
direct a desire for revenge inward, upon
himself; in extreme cases suicide may result.
The greedy, demanding character often suffered
from very early deprivation of affection or
security. As an adult he continues to seek
substitute parents who will care for him as his
own, he feels, did not.
The interrogator dealing with a greedy,
demanding character must be careful not to
rebuff him; otherwise rapport will be destroyed.
On the other hand, the interrogator must not
accede to demands which cannot or should not be
met. Adopting the tone of an understanding
father or big brother is likely to make the
subject responsive. If he makes exorbitant
requests, an unimportant favor may provide a
satisfactory substitute because the demand
arises not from a specific need but as an
expression of the subject's need for security.
He is likely to find reassuring any
manifestation of concern for his well-being.
In dealing with this type -- and to a
considerable extent in dealing with any of the
types herein listed -- the interrogator must be
aware of the limits and pitfalls of rational
persuasion. If he seeks to induce cooperation by
an appeal to logic, he should first determine
whether the source's resistance is based on
logic. The appeal will glance off ineffectually
if the resistance is totally or chiefly
emotional rather than rational. Emotional
resistance can be dissipated only by emotional
manipulation.
4. The anxious, self-centered character.
Although this person is fearful, he is engaged
in a constant struggle to conceal his fears. He
is frequently a daredevil who compensates for
his anxiety by pretending that there is no such
thing as danger. He may be a stunt flier or
circus performer who "proves" himself before
crowds. He may also be a Don Juan. He tends to
brag and often lies through hunger for approval
or praise. As a soldier or officer he may have
been decorated for bravery; but if so, his
comrades may suspect that his exploits resulted
from a pleasure in exposing himself to danger
and the anticipated delights of rewards,
approval, and applause. The anxious,
self-centered character is usually intensely
vain and equally sensitive.
People who show these characteristics are
actually unusually fearful. The causes of
intense concealed anxiety are too complex and
subtle to permit discussion of the subject in
this paper.
Of greater importance to the interrogator than
the causes is the opportunity provided by
concealed anxiety for successful manipulation of
the source. His desire to impress will usually
be quickly evident. He is likely to be voluble.
Ignoring or ridiculing his bragging, or cutting
him short with a demand that he get down to
cases, is likely to make him resentful and to
stop the flow. Playing upon his vanity,
especially by praising his courage, will usually
be a successful tactic if employed skillfully.
Anxious, self-centered interrogatees who are
withholding significant facts, such as contact
with a hostile service, are likelier to divulge
if made to feel that the truth will not be used
to harm them and if the interrogator also
stresses the callousness and stupidity of the
adversary in sending so valiant a person upon so
ill-prepared a mission. There is little to be
gained and much to be lost by exposing the
nonrelevant lies of this kind of source. Gross
lies about deeds of daring, sexual prowess, or
other "proofs" of courage and manliness are best
met with silence or with friendly but
noncommittal replies unless they consume an
inordinate amount of time. If operational use is
contemplated, recruitment may sometimes be
effected through such queries as, "I wonder if
you would be willing to undertake a dangerous
mission."
5. The guilt-ridden character. This kind of
person has a strong cruel, unrealistic
conscience. His whole life seems devoted to
reliving his feelings of guilt. Sometimes he
seems determined to atone; at other times he
insists that whatever went wrong is the fault of
somebody else. In either event he seeks
constantly some proof or external indication
that the guilt of others is greater than his
own. He is often caught up completely in efforts
to prove that he has been treated unjustly. In
fact, he may provoke unjust treatment in order
to assuage his conscience through punishment.
Compulsive gamblers who find no real pleasure in
winning but do find relief in losing belong to
this class. So do persons who falsely confess to
crimes. Sometimes such people actually commit
crimes in order to confess and be punished.
Masochists also belong in this category.
The causes of most guilt complexes are real or
fancied wrongs done to parents or others whom
the subject felt he ought to love and honor. As
children such people may have been frequently
scolded or punished. Or they may have been
"model" children who repressed all natural
hostilities.
The guilt-ridden character is hard to
interrogate. He may "confess" to hostile
clandestine activity, or other acts of interest
to KUBARK, in which he was not involved.
Accusations levelled at him by the interrogator
are likely to trigger such false confessions. Or
he may remain silent when accused, enjoying the
"punishment." He is a poor subject for
LCFLUTTER. The complexities of dealing with
conscience-ridden interrogatees vary so widely
from case to case that it is almost impossible
to list sound general principles. Perhaps the
best advice is that the interrogator, once
alerted by information from the screening
process (see Part VI) or by the subject's
excessive preoccupation with moral judgements,
should treat as suspect and subjective any
information provided by the interrogatee about
any matter that is of moral concern to him.
Persons with intense guilt feelings may cease
resistance and cooperate if punished in some
way, because of the gratification induced by
punishment.
6. The character wrecked by success is closely
related to the guilt-ridden character. This sort
of person cannot tolerate success and goes
through life failing at critical points. He is
often accident-prone. Typically he has a long
history of being promising and of almost
completing a significant assignment or
achievement but not bringing it off. The
character who cannot stand success enjoys his
ambitions as long as they remain fantasies but
somehow ensures that they will not be fulfilled
in reality. Acquaintances often feel that his
success is just around the corner, but something
always intervenes. In actuality this something
is a sense of guilt, of the kind described
above. The person who avoids success has a
conscience which forbids the pleasures of
accomplishment and recognition. He frequently
projects his guilt feelings and feels that all
of his failures were someone else's fault. He
may have a strong need to suffer and may seek
danger or injury.
As interrogatees these people who "cannot stand
prosperity" pose no special problem unless the
interrogation impinges upon their feelings of
guilt or the reasons for their past failures.
Then subjective distortions, not facts, will
result. The successful interrogator will isolate
this area of unreliability.
7. The schizoid or strange character lives in a
world of fantasy much of the time. Sometimes he
seems unable to distinguish reality from the
realm of his own creating. The real world seems
to him empty and meaningless, in contrast with
the mysteriously significant world that he has
made. He is extremely intolerant of any
frustration that occurs in the outer world and
deals with it by withdrawal into the interior
realm.
He has no real attachments to others, although
he may attach symbolic and private meanings or
values to other people.
Children reared in homes lacking in ordinary
affection and attention or in orphanages or
state-run communes may become adults who belong
to this category. Rebuffed in early efforts to
attach themselves to another, they become
distrustful of attachments and turn inward. Any
link to a group or country will be undependable
and, as a rule, transitory. At the same time the
schizoid character needs external approval.
Though he retreats from reality, he does not
want to feel abandoned.
As an interrogatee the schizoid character is
likely to lie readily to win approval. He will
tell the interrogator what he thinks the
interrogator wants to hear in order to win the
award of seeing a smile on the interrogator's
face. Because he is not always capable of
distinguishing between fact and fantasy, he may
be unaware of lying. The desire for approval
provides the interrogator with a handle. Whereas
accusations of lying or other indications of
disesteem will provoke withdrawal from the
situation, teasing the truth out of the schizoid
subject may not prove difficult if he is
convinced that he will not incur favor through
misstatements or disfavor through telling the
truth.
Like the guilt-ridden character, the schizoid
character may be an unreliable subject for
testing by LCFLUTTER because his internal needs
lead him to confuse fact with fancy. He is also
likely to make an unreliable agent because of
his incapacity to deal with facts and to form
real relationships.
8. The exception believes that the world owes
him a great deal. He feels that he suffered a
gross injustice, usually early in life, and
should be repaid. Sometimes the injustice was
meted out impersonally, by fate, as a physical
deformity, an extremely painful illness or
operation in childhood, or the early loss of one
parent or both. Feeling that these misfortunes
were undeserved, the exceptions regard them as
injustices that someone or something must
rectify. Therefore they claim as their right
privileges not permitted others. When the claim
is ignored or denied, the exceptions become
rebellious, as adolescents often do. They are
convinced that the justice of the claim is plain
for all to see and that any refusal to grant it
is willfully malignant.
When interrogated, the exceptions are likely to
make demands for money, resettlement aid, and
other favors -- demands that are completely out
of proportion to the value of their
contributions. Any ambiguous replies to such
demands will be interpreted as acquiescence. Of
all the types considered here, the exception is
likeliest to carry an alleged injustice dealt
him by KUBARK to the newspapers or the courts.
The best general line to follow in handling
those who believe that they are exceptions is to
listen attentively (within reasonable
timelimits) to their grievances and to make no
commitments that cannot be discharged fully.
Defectors from hostile intelligence services,
doubles, provocateurs, and others who have had
more than passing contact with a Sino-Soviet
service may, if they belong to this category,
prove unusually responsive to suggestions from
the interrogator that they have been treated
unfairly by the other service. Any planned
operational use of such persons should take into
account the fact that they have no sense of
loyalty to a common cause and are likely to turn
aggrievedly against superiors.
9. The average or normal character is not a
person wholly lacking in the characteristics of
the other types. He may, in fact, exhibit most
or all of them from time to time. But no one of
them is persistently dominant; the average man's
qualities of obstinacy, unrealistic optimism,
anxiety, and the rest are not overriding or
imperious except for relatively short intervals.
Moreover, his reactions to the world around him
are more dependent upon events in that world and
less the product of rigid, subjective patterns
than is true of the other types discussed.
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For further reading, see the complete KUBARK
Counterintelligence Interrogation Manual.
-30-
from The Laissez Faire City Times, Vol. 2, No.
36, Nov. 2, 1998