Adolf Hitlers psychological profile: 9 personality traits
What were the psychological characteristics of this dictator? There are reports that deal with the subject.
If someone asks us for the name of some of the people who have caused the most deaths in modern history, it is easy to think of the name of Adolf Hitler.
This Austrian-born German military and politician, responsible for starting World War II and killing millions of people under his rule as Führer, has been one of the most feared historical figures of modernity.
The characteristics of his personality and his leadership and manipulation skills, as for example could be seen in his skill in the use of rhetoric and oratory, have been the subject of study ever since. In this article we will attempt to provide the psychological profile of Hitler based on the profiles made by Murray and the visualization of graphic and literary documents.
Adolf Hitler: difficulties of analysis
Establishing a psychological profile of a particular person without observing and analyzing his behavior and characteristics directly is complicated and ineffective, since no real psychological exploration can be carried out. Any psychological profile carried out on a person without any contact between the health professional and the subject in question is more inaccurate, which is also the case when drawing up a psychological profile of a deceased person.
In the case of Hitler, there is no evidence that he underwent a psychiatric evaluation, and the professionals who were in direct contact with him died, probably being executed by the SS or sent to concentration camps. The only way to try to establish anything resembling a psychological profile is by is the analysis of his speeches, his actions and the ideas he conveyed through writing. through writing.
Hitler's psychological profile
Adolf Hitler's personality was an aspect of great concern to different governments during World War II. During the period in which he lived, various researchers and experts were commissioned to establish a psychological profile of the dictator. Specifically Henry Murray's work for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was the most important. (Office of Strategic Services or OSS, the forerunner of today's CIA) and by Joseph MacCurdyThe two profiles are in agreement.
However, it must be taken into account that neither of the two authors had direct contact with the person being analyzed, so that the profiles elaborated were made from the analysis of different materials and not from the exploration of the individual.
The main personality characteristics of Adolf Hitler that can be extracted from these reports, as well as from the different documentary sources at both the audiovisual and written levels, include the following considerations.
1. Egolatry and Messiah complex
In the various surviving speeches and documents of the dictator, it is possible to observe how Adolf Hitler considered himself a chosen force to lead Germany to victory. and lead it to victory. He considered himself an incarnation of good, destined to lead his people.
This fact would be aided by the adoration of a large part of the German people during his rise to power. Nowadays, it could be considered a case of self-referential delirium.
2. Difficulties with intimacy
Hitler's intimate life, apart from his relationship with Eva Braun, is little known. However, the records of the time seem to indicate that while the dictator could display great charm with those who surrounded and followed him, he had severe problems in establishing deep relationships, in part because of the difficulty he found it difficult to to express his feelings in terms of affection.
3. Feelings of inferiority and self-loathing
The different studies and profiles that have been carried out on his personality and his history indicate that the dictator had a strong inferiority complex. had a strong inferiority complexwhich in turn drove him to seek superiority and self-affirmation. In fact, Murray's report highlights the presence of a weak ego structure, possibly as a result of the abuse he was subjected to by his father.
It is also partly revealing that the Aryan race he advocated had characteristics that he himself lacked, which seems to favor the idea of the existence of low self-esteem and feelings of inferiority.
4. Contempt for weakness
Associated with the previous trait we find the presence of contempt for weakness. This contempt for those he considered inferior can be seen in his actions and the systematic elimination of those who at the time were considered weak, such as psychiatric patients and the intellectually disabled.
5. Perseverance
The various records and communiqués seem to indicate that Hitler was particularly tenacious and stubborn about his goals, and he had a hard time admitting defeat. In fact, Murray's report indicated that there was a likelihood that the dictator would commit suicide in the event of losing the war.
6. Charisma and ability to manipulate
One of the best known facets of Adolf Hitler's personality is his high capacity for charisma. The German dictator aroused passions among his troops and among the masses, as can be seen in the various documents of the war.The German dictator aroused passions among his troops and the masses, as can be seen in the various graphic documents of his speeches and the behavior and staunch loyalty to his figure on the part of most of his troops.
It also highlights his ability to convince and manipulate both the masses and individuals of his position and the truthfulness of his words.
7. Theatricality
Adolf Hitler possessed a great capacity for theatricality and dramatism.This made it easier for him to reach the people and helped to convince others of his points of view.
8. Obsession with power
As with many other dictators, power was important to Hitler. The creation of organizations such as the Gestapo to maintain the obedience of the population and the elimination of dissidents are evidence of this. The same can be seen in his expansionist can be seen in his expansionist policyinvading different countries like Poland or trying to attack Russia. In the book he wrote during his stay in prison, Mein Kampfhe wrote that his party was not there to serve the masses, but to subdue them.
9. Little capacity for empathy
The little or no capacity to identify with the subjugated peoples and the proposal of various extermination plans for various types of population such as Jews, homosexuals, gypsies, people with psychiatric problems and dissidents demonstrate little or no capacity for empathy.
Psychopathologies associated with the dictator
The different personality characteristics together with the atrocity of his acts have meant that throughout history various mental disorders have been attributed to Hitler. Murray's report spoke of schizophrenia, neurosis and hysteria, among other terms.among other terms.
Other authors reflect that Hitler may have suffered alterations due to substance abuse, paranoid schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or even Asperger's syndrome. Different paraphilias such as sadomasochism are also associated with him. The personality characteristics described above may have a certain link with the existence of a certain degree of psychopathy, given that typical characteristics of this type of subjects are met, but it is also quite possible that they are pure propaganda to discredit his figure taking advantage of the stigmas that weigh on people with mental disorders..
In any case, it must be borne in mind that none of these considerations can be considered as proven nor can they be affirmed categorically, since, as we have said, they are based on the analysis of events and documents without having had any real contact with the person being analyzed. Likewise, there is a risk of minimizing the responsibility of the subject, as well as trivializing something as serious as the mass genocide committed by the leader of Nazism.
(Updated at Apr 14 / 2024)