Is research on tyrants’ personality any use?

1. Is research on tyrants’ personality any use? A lay approach to understanding cruel tyranny Some reasons why it might be worthwhile A little bit of the history of personality of dictators study Some developments A new angle Some models to use Paper in progress.

2. Image with title ‘Dictators Threaten’ • Problems defining defining dictatorship • Often elites • I am coming at it from Individual Difference so likely to side with Himmelfarb (1948) “No Hitler No Holocaust” • Will avoid problems by saying “any leader anywhere who, in their authority, occasions with deliberate intent actions resulting in something which could constitute a crime against humanity”

3. Why study them? • Image of Paul I /Russia • An example of the speed with which dictators bring their province to ruin • Hitler’s tyranny didn’t last long and ruined the world • Likewise Galtieri • Occasionally, economic stability can occur (Gilson & Milhaupt 2009) Speed of collapse & dire results Image: bibliotekar.ru

4. BESTIARIES • Bad and cruel behaviour • Havoc • Always popping up • Persuasive ideologies which corrupt Herodotus, Josephus, Suetonius, Thucydides......

5. Why Study Them? World Development has more potential for them. Going into ........................the Ecological Necessity Tunnel Allusions to Right Wing Authoritarianism in the Deep Ecology Movement. NB Ann Harrington’s 1996 study of organic holism in early Nazi years

6. Further dictatorship dangers • economic necessity • Globalisation. International companies have forced national policies into authoritarian channels • Terrorism and the subterfuge of “secrecy” needs • Quote from Brecht: on the defeat of Arturi Ui (models Hitler in 1941) in the play “you may feel relieved but you shouldn’t; the womb that bore him is in heat again”

7. Problems of studying personality in dictators • Image of Pol Pot • Problems of studying personality in dictators and worse still, linking ascendancy with the masses to personality characteristics Pol Pot – Cambodia Archive Most is post hoc selective pathologised , avoids culpability Politicalcontamination Non quantitative over-individualised Ethically doubtful

8. Image of A Hitler with the Windsors! • Probably this man triggered systematic study • Walter Langer studied him biographically at a distance in 1943. Henry Murray likewise. • Lots of stories e.g. How Hitler never exited from Hypnotic Trance at Passewalk

9. Researcher Purpose Pathologisation Walter Langer 1943 strategic prediction P+++ Murray 1943 knowledge as a prevention of tyranny P+ Erich Fromm 1941,1973 wanted to put a strong psychoanalytic representation P+++ Taylor 1961 and 1982 wished to describe the political dimension P+ Coolidge 2007 prevention P+++ Coolidge 2007 leadership expose P+++ Coolidge 209 Leadership expose P+++

10. Purposes of PersonalityStudy in a psychological mode? • Viewed publication of results as to act as a sort of warning to “would-be Hitlers” Henry Murray

11. Purposes of Personality Study in a psychological mode “However, we know now that there are many who threaten world peace and stability. It is hoped that this study of Adolf Hitler’s personality (1) will be useful in understanding the role psychopathology might play in the execution of heinous acts, and (2)” ........... Frederick L. Coolidge*, Felicia L. Davis, & Daniel L. Segal (2007) Frederick Coolidge et al 2007

12. Hitler according to Collidge et al (2007) • Sadism • Paranoia • Narcissism • Antisocial PD • BUT note anger, post traumatic stress disorder and decision-making as part of the subscale elevations What did he and colleagues offer us

13. Features of Style • Used post hoc inter-rater reliability • Usually professionals – psychiatry, historians • Used less reliable instruments • Highly pathologised. Made them remote • Largely Ignored stages • Considered that knowledge about the naughtiness would convince the world about dangerous leaders (Mayer 1993)

14. Some doubts • Re-assessing using inter-rater tools • Beginning to try and involve slightly tighter instruments • Contrary opinion about the original views of the Nuremburg trial investigations by Gilbert • Laboratory studies of us very influenceable Reassing Hitler Henry, D., Geary, D.,and Tyrer,P (1993) Reassessing the Commandant of Auschwitz. Ritzler and Singer 1998 The Milgram authority experiments & subsequent The Zimbardo Prison Experiment & subsequent

15. Some additional psychological categories • Authoritarianism • Intolerance of ambiguity • Social dominance • Strong Ideology associated with poor interpersonal values (the latter time and again!) Note direction of study is now moving towards generalised characteristics of a normal population.

16. Purposes of Personality Study in a psychological mode • An assumption that the value of studying such orientations is that ideas alone will provide a response to dictatorial regime!! • His experience and knowledge says ideas won’t do anything at all when you are at the end of a gun and cruelty. Commentary by Fathali Moghaddam (2013)

17. Some Additional Psychological Categorising • BRAIN: • Changes through interaction styles with people if we dominate – seeing more as a means – lack of empathy (Robertson 2013) • Changes in reward systems in the brain – Dopamine (Boksem 2012) Evidence of the effects of power on people actually in office

18. Are such people really mad? • War crimes • Genocidal crime • Mass murder BUT they don’t replicate the mad frame Evidence has been gleaned from studies of individuals, mostly brought through to trial for crimes against humanity

19. EXAMPLE: WAR CRIMINALITY • Goreta and Covic (2004) • Slightly higher than normal population of criminality and anti social personality disorder • BUT • Secondarily traumatised [destruction of property, deaths] • Heroism politically encouraged • Polarisation discourse prevails Goreta,M., & Covik, I.P. (2004).Forensic psychiatric evaluation of perpetrators of crimes committed during the war in Croatia (1991–1995). International Journal of Law and Psychiatry 27 (2004) p. 207–214

20. Better Methods • Psycho-historical + extrapolation + legal process allowing access (we don’t execute them)+ more refined psychometrics + gaming models + awareness of social structure and effects, much advanced There are more effective methods of research using extrapolation

21. Bridges between individual and social • The joy of being right !! (or left) • His hypothesis is that the function of righteousness is to make us cohere • And dictators are always ‘right’ ! Have you ever come across one. • We don’t have to buy Haidt’s total categorising system but...... Jonathan Haidt (2012)

22. Bridges between individual and social Flocking behaviour • Maybe not at all rational but instinctive • Models coming from: • Biological systems • Computer modelling • Voting Research We are looking for those interactive moments between personality displayed and social movement

23. ‘Features of Flocking’ • Flocking requires rigidity and conformity to effect group change • Only occurs at particular times • Computer models demonstrate few and not necessarily in front initiate turning • Changes in awareness Needs are to maintain position, prevent clashing = tight network thinking

24. Nature of Meaning theories • Image of Ian Brady, killer of 5 children • Studied by David Winter Main position here and in the personal construct model is that STRUCTURE of personality via meaning is what motivates and characterises us. TIGHTNESS of our ideas [and behaving] is response to threat Example of the Moors Murderer - Ian Brady Ref: Winter, D (2007 ). Let’s change our personality study focus to meaning structure

25. Dilemmas: An example of tools for eliciting ‘tight’ meaning frameworks Side with Serbs War with Croats Peace with Croats ↓ Vs ↓ Chance to survive Being slaughtered Stojnov 2003 Read with next slide

26. Dilemmas: An example of tools for eliciting ‘tight’ meaning frameworks • Side with Croats • War with Serbia Peace with Serbs • ↓ vs ↓ • ‘Being’ yourself Losing your ‘being’

27. Nature of Meaning theories Tracing the structure and defences against loss of meaning ↓↓↓ Severe loss of meaning is compensated for in strong bonding with ideological centre ↓↓↓ I = the Party Fundamental assumption in such theories lies in the role of core meaning

29. Moving toward a testable Model • We can measure the degree of tightness in a survey of constructions of events by means of a matrix called a Repertory Grid • We can compare between two climates: i. psychology informed ii. Random selection Hypothesis that Psychologically informed climates will have less polarised/tight movement in times of change/threat

30. Psychologically informed climates • Psychologically informed climates have to be on the peoples’ own terms • They have to be local • They can be taken up in the arts • Can be reflected in deep assumptions in media Housing Runaways Depression care Detention regimes dealing with personality disorder And more to come

31. Psychologically Informed Climates • Importing the concept of “social health awareness” • Dictator studies can inform • Small group awareness in oppressive corners – e.g. workplace, military, cultural centres

32. There is growing recognition of the need for a "sea change" away from a simple clinical interventions framework for community mental health and addressing health inequalities. There are clear linkages in this new approach with past and emerging policy frameworks in public health and corporate social responsibility, including the need for more "bottom up" solutions with local ownership.  Johnson, R., Haigh,R. (2011). Social psychiatry and social policy. The 21st-century-new concepts the new needs: relational health. Mental health and social inclusion 15 (2), pp 57-65

33. Why might we wish to research these individuals? • Psychologically informed climates • Sensitisation by narrative to brutality • Develop potential recognition in individuals of tipping points • Develop wider awareness of how damaged meaning systems link the dominant individual and the society

34. WHAT ARE DICTATORS? These are people with meaning systems which propose solutions to others but which process is in effect a holding mechanism for their own crisis of meaning. The representation of this bond given the right circumstances leads to flocking/herding/hive responses to crises in a mass with minimal leadership in the body of the population. [We need to know about this]

35. Why might we wish to research these individuals? • Psychologically informed climates • Sensitisation by narrative to brutality • Develop potential recognition in individuals • Develop wider awareness of the potential circumstances • Spot the window before the flocking occurs

36. address dbury@syr.edu dennisbury@gmail.com 020 8348 9181

37. Example of dictator research • Shortly to be launched. Seeking definitions/categories and then mapping dictators of the present and of history onto the scales.

38. DEFINING Comprehensiveness 1 2 3 4 5 Dictator Rating Scales

39. The definition here is focused upon the extent to which the dictator/dictatorial elite control is invasive to the lives of ordinary citizens. This will be a reflection of pervasiveness through spying systems, media and institutions.

40. Dictator Scale Categories • Comprehensiveness • Terror • Ideological elaboration • Single figure • Consistently unstable • Militarisation Looking for “Surface” Profiles