Psychopathy: The Types

Archetypal clusters: Who are you?

Feb 08, 2026

This is the sixth article in a series on understanding psychopathy. Previous articles covered the framework, biology, environment, psychological structure, and empathy mechanisms. This article presents common clusters – archetypal profiles that tend to co-occur.

Introduction

The previous articles described dimensions – G, N, E, D, B, A, C – and their variants. But people don’t come as random combinations of features. Certain profiles cluster together, producing recognizable types.

This article describes 13 clusters I’ve identified through conversations with friends and observation. These are hypotheses, not established categories – patterns I’ve noticed, not validated subtypes. But they may help you recognize yourself or people you know.

The clusters are ordered by typical distress level – from those who are generally content to those who suffer chronically. Please take this assessment with a grain of salt as self-report and behaviors are unreliable guides to the actual intensity of the suffering. But I’ve tried not to make various common mistakes.

How to Read These Clusters

Each cluster is described with:

Feature profile. The typical G, N, E, D, B, A, C features.
Narrative. A developmental story – how this pattern emerges.
Distinguishing features. What sets this cluster apart.
Distress level. How much the person typically suffers.
Representatives. Real and fictional examples.

If a cluster resonates, it doesn’t mean you are that cluster. Profiles are complex; clusters are approximations. But resonance is information.

Tier 1: Low Distress

These clusters involve people who are generally content with their lives.

Cluster 1: The Lucky Primary

The person who has constitutional psychopathy but developed well.

Feature Profile.

G: G-callous
N: N-hypoactive (constitutional)
E: E-I-secure, E-C-normal, E-P-success, E-A-stable
D: D-secure, minimal other pathology such as well-regulated sadism or masochism
B: B-minimal
A: A-observational or A-strategic

Narrative. Born with genetic loading for reduced empathy and fear, expressed neurologically as constitutional amygdala hypoactivity. But raised by attuned, secure parents in a stable environment. The psychopathic substrate is only substrate – it never developed into pathology because there was no adverse shaping.

May have sadistic interests, but channels them into regulated outlets (BDSM, fiction, competitive fields). Has stable relationships, prosocial behavior, and may not identify as having any disorder.

Distinguishing Features.

No vulnerable phases (not NPD)
No rigid self-structure (not sovereign)
Sadism present but regulated
High functioning
Sense of self
No memory of being different
Very open, unembarrassable, fearless
Remarkably emotionally stable
High stress and trauma tolerance
Often strict but habitual (not obsessive) adherence to personal rules
Secure attachment style
Good friendships and relationships

Distress Level. Very low. Life is fine. No internal conflict because there’s nothing to conflict.

Representatives.

Some portrayals of James Bond
Surgeon/CEO archetypes

Cluster 2: The High-Functioning Machiavellian

The ambitious manipulator who exploits within legal bounds.

Feature Profile.

G: G-callous
N: N-hypoactive
E: E-I-secure or E-I-avoidant, E-C-normal or E-C-golden, E-P-success, E-A-stable
D: D-autonomic-asymmetric
B: B-subclinical
A: A-strategic

Narrative. Moderate psychopathic loading channeled into conventional success. Good-enough environment provided socialization; intelligence enabled navigation of systems. Uses others instrumentally but within legal bounds. May be ruthless in business but not criminal.

Differs from Cluster 1 in having more predatory orientation – uses the substrate antagonistically rather than collaboratively. Might not see the point in respecting others’ autonomy if they’ve never had a self to feel autonomous.

Distinguishing Features.

Successful by conventional metrics
Exploitative but not criminal
Strategic, not impulsive
Unlikely to seek therapy
Often tenuous sense of self
Struggles with interpersonal relationships

Distress Level. Low. Winning feels good. No internal conflict.

Representatives.

Real: James Fallon (The Psychopath Inside), various CEOs, politicians, surgeons (see Kevin Dutton’s research)
Fictional: Gordon Gekko (Wall Street), Bobby Axelrod (Billions)

Cluster 3: The Enlightened Machiavellian

The presence that is really an absence – manipulation as concomitant of a lack of selfhood.

Feature Profile.

G: G-callous
N: N-hypoactive
E: Variable (often E-C-neglect or E-C-chaotic)
D: D-anatta
B: B-factor-1
A: A-observational

Narrative. Constitutional psychopathic loading without a self. Unlike Cluster 1, there’s a felt absence – the distinction between self and other was never learned. Unlike Cluster 5 (sovereignty), there’s no grandiose self-structure, no rigidity, no investment in power.

Manipulation is instrumental, for stimulation, out of a lack of understanding what selfhood feels like, or a byproduct of not making a distinction between self (manipulation okay) and other (manipulation not okay). May be curious about humans as objects of study. Observational relationship to own behavior.

Distinguishing Features.

Felt absence
Lacking understanding of personal continuity, long-term planning, self-preservation, etc.
Observational stance (“I watch myself do things”)
No rigid (or any) self structure
May show unusual honesty about self (nothing to defend)
Boredom is a major problem

Distress Level. Low to moderate. The boredom can be annoying but is rarely excruciating because feelings are hard to locate and not clearly relevant to anyone.

Representatives.

M.E. Thomas (Confessions of a Sociopath)

Tier 2: Moderate Distress

These clusters involve people who function but face situational distress or external challenges.

Cluster 4: The Street Primary

Constitutional psychopathy channeled into criminal expression.

Feature Profile.

G: G-callous + G-impulsive
N: N-hypoactive
E: E-I-avoidant or E-I-disorganized, E-C-chaotic + E-C-neglect, E-P-antisocial, E-A-crime
D: D-anatta + D-autonomic
B: B-mixed + B-violent
A: A-strategic or A-observational

Narrative. Same constitutional loading as Cluster 1, but shaped by chaotic, violent environment. Adversity was physical and chaotic (violence, poverty), not control-focused (controlling parents). Defense was behavioral – fight, survive, take – not self-structural.

No NPD develops because there was no need or opportunity for grandiose self-construction. Trait narcissism may be present (adaptive, useful) but not pathological.

Distinguishing Features.

No self-image injuries (not NPD)
No grandiose self-structure
Criminal history; often incarcerated
Violence is instrumental and/or reactive
No memory of empathy or guilt in childhood
Drug addictions

Distress Level. Moderate, but the distress is external (prison, poverty, consequences) not internal. The psychopathy itself is not distressing.

Representatives.

Real: Edward Bunker (Education of a Felon)
Fictional: Tommy DeVito (Goodfellas)

Cluster 5: The Primary Sovereign

NPD stabilized by psychopathic substrate – the classic “malignant narcissist.”

Feature Profile.

G: G-callous
N: N-hypoactive + N-dissociative
E: E-I-avoidant or E-I-disorganized, E-C-controlling/E-C-parentified/E-C-neglect
D: D-sovereign
B: B-factor-1 (mostly)
A: A-strategic, A-retroactive, A-narrativizing, A-selective, A-absorbed

Narrative. Constitutional psychopathic loading meets neglect- or control-focused adversity. The substrate hinders normal moral development; the specific adversity (controlling parent, parentification, neglect) leaves a void and triggers NPD development to fill it. E-I-avoidant prevents the maturation of the amygdala and other brain regions for an N-hypoactive substrate; or E-I-disorganized meets a constitutional N-hypoactive brain. Either way, there is little fear or reactivity.

Where children are normally parented by their parents, these children are parented by the strategies they can find to extract what they need from their environment. They cannot learn that asking for solace or reassurance gets their attachment needs met, because that doesn’t happen, but they can learn that lying and stealing get their material needs met. They repress the attachment needs that are impossible to fulfill and fill the void with the pleasures of exploitation and control.

Result: Sovereignism – NPD stabilized by psychopathic substrate. Power/control orientation rather than admiration-seeking. Sadism is ego-syntonic. Very early sadism onset; the moral emotions never fully form.

Distinguishing Features.

No classic vulnerable phases but a superficially schizoid retreat
Sadism is ego-syntonic
Control/power orientation, not admiration
Rarely acts impulsively
Claims rare impulsive acts as intentional (A-retroactive)
No memory of empathy or guilt in childhood
Rigidity around selfhood/identity
Drug addictions

Distress Level. Moderate. The void exists; control-needs are constant work. But grandiosity is stable – no cycling.

Representatives.

Real: Donald Trump
Fictional: Frank Underwood (House of Cards), Amy Dunne (Gone Girl), Cersei Lannister (Game of Thrones)
Clinical: What Kernberg describes as malignant narcissism, though the paranoia is optional

Cluster 6: The Autonomist

Extreme autonomy-preoccupation without full sovereignty.

Feature Profile.

G: Variable
N: Variable
E: E-I-avoidant or E-I-disorganized, E-C-controlling or E-C-enmeshed
D: D-autonomic (defensive or symmetric), possibly D-avoidant or D-anatta
B: Variable
A: Variable

Narrative. Primary feature is extreme autonomy valence associated with high avoidant attachment from early control/enmeshment experiences. May or may not have psychopathic substrate. Organizing principle is freedom from constraint rather than power-over-others.

If symmetric (D-autonomic-symmetric), may have principled libertarian ethics – values others’ autonomy equally. If asymmetric, hypocritical – demands own freedom, impinges on others’.

Distinguishing Features.

Extreme reactivity to perceived constraints
Contractarian social model (“I didn’t agree to that”)
May be principled or hypocritical
Not necessarily sadistic or predatory
Rage or withdrawal when constraints imposed
Functions well until obligations arise

Distress Level. Moderate (situational). Fine when autonomy isn’t threatened; distressed when it is.

Representatives.

Fictional: John Wick (John Wick), Ron Swanson (Parks and Recreation), Buttercup (Powerpuff Girls)

Cluster 7: The Alexithymic

Appears psychopathic but the issue is access, not absence.

Feature Profile.

G: G-minimal
N: N-disconnected (especially insula)
E: E-I-avoidant, E-C-unattuned or E-C-invalidating or E-C-neglect
D: Variable
B: B-minimal
A: A-observational, A-strategic

Narrative. Appears psychopathic – doesn’t seem to feel or respond emotionally – but the issue is access, not absence. Emotions may be there but can’t be identified, labeled, or articulated. Often comorbid with autism or developed from chronic invalidation.

Key distinction: Not low empathy – low interoceptive/emotional awareness. May respond to interventions that restore access.

Distinguishing Features.

Difficulty identifying own emotions
May have somatic complaints
Relationship difficulties from apparent coldness
No antisocial behaviors
May respond to interoceptive training

Distress Level. Moderate. Confused by own reactions; relationship friction.

Representatives.

Some autistic presentations

Tier 3: Moderate-High Distress

These clusters involve internal conflict and significant suffering.

Cluster 8: The Secondary Sovereign

Sovereignty developed defensively; potentially recoverable.

Feature Profile.

G: G-minimal or G-reactive
N: N-dissociative + N-hyperactive
E: E-I-disorganized, E-C-chaotic/E-C-controlling/E-C-chaotic/E-C-scapegoat/E-C-punitive
D: D-sovereign
B: B-mixed
A: A-strategic, A-retroactive, A-narrativizing, A-selective, A-absorbed

Narrative. Originally normal or reactive child who developed sovereignty defensively. The N-hyperactive pattern (reactive, hypervigilant) got blunted through chronic dissociation, producing current N-dissociative presentation.

Key marker: Remembers being different as a child. The moral emotions (empathy, guilt) did develop initially, then were suppressed. This means they’re potentially accessible – recovery is possible.

Distinguishing Features.

Remembers being different (the key marker)
Was reactive/sensitive as child
Multiple adversity types (violence + control)
Empathy returning “on good days”
Sadism may have mitigating conditions (“only if they hurt me first”)
May have good insight
Visible state-switching during recovery (vulnerable phases emerging)

Distress Level. Moderate to high, especially during recovery. Internal conflict between original self and defensive self.

Representatives.

Real: Tiffany, Sara Crouson (“Cluster B Milkshake”), Jacob Skidmore (“The Nameless Narcissist”) gets close
Fictional: Zuko (Avatar: The Last Airbender), Killmonger (Black Panther)

Note on Zuko. He represents the recovery path: Starts shame-based and desperate for validation from rejecting parent, develops grandiosity and aggression, then transforms through stable attachment (Iroh) and environment change. Ends genuinely heroic. If you identify with Zuko, you may be seeing your own recovery potential.

Tier 4: High Distress

These clusters involve chronic suffering.

Cluster 9: The Classic Narcissist

NPD without psychopathic substrate – empathy present but defended.

Feature Profile.

G: G-minimal, possibly G-reactive, some kind of high sensitivity
N: N-normal or N-hyperactive
E: E-I-disorganized, E-C-unattuned/E-C-golden/E-C-scapegoat
D: D-narcissistic
B: B-subclinical
A: A-narrativizing or A-retroactive

Narrative. Narcissistic personality disorder without psychopathic substrate. Narcissistic structure developed as adaptation to parental projections (unattuned parenting, golden/scapegoat dynamics) but retains capacity for empathy, guilt, shame, remorse – these are defended against, not absent.

Unlike sovereigns, when these folks hurt someone, they must actively avoid mentalizing the victim or use some other trick to not feel it. They are also more likely to suffer as a result of personal setbacks, to idealize and devalue other individuals, and to cycle between very different mood states. Their disorganized attachment is more obvious.

Distinguishing Features.

Visible empathy and moral emotions
Oriented toward admiration rather than power (except instrumentally)
If sadistic, sadism is ego-dystonic (conflicted)
Cycles between grandiose and vulnerable states
Drug addictions (cocaine, alcohol)

Distress Level. High. Cycling between states; shame breaks through; constant defense required.

Representatives.

Real: Jordan Monroe
Fictional: Don Draper (Mad Men), BoJack Horseman, Tony Soprano

Cluster 10: The Reactive Antisocial

Hot violence and dysregulation – BPD+ASPD overlap.

Feature Profile.

G: G-reactive + G-impulsive
N: N-hyperactive
E: E-I-disorganized, E-C-chaotic, E-C-neglect, E-C-punitive, E-P-antisocial, E-P-peer-failure, E-P-identity-diffuse, E-A-unstable, E-A-addiction, E-A-crime
D: D-autonomic-defensive
B: B-factor-2, B-violent
A: A-externalizing, A-amnestic, A-retroactive

Narrative. High emotional reactivity meets chaotic environment. Never develops stable self-structure or regulation. Remains reactive, impulsive, dysregulated. Violence is reactive (hot-blooded, rage-driven) not instrumental (cold, calculated).

Combined features of borderline and antisocial personality. Splitting, unstable identity, chaotic relationships, overpowering emotions. Substance use common.

Distinguishing Features.

Reactive, hot violence
Emotional dysregulation obvious
Unstable identity
Chaos in life domains
Impulsive criminality
Obvious projections
Drug addictions

Distress Level. High. Chronic dysregulation; frequent crises.

Representatives.

Fictional: Tommy Shelby (Peaky Blinders, more sympathetic portrayal); many crime drama antagonists

Cluster 11: The Echoist

Self-effacing, other-focused – the complement to narcissism.

Feature Profile.

G: G-minimal
N: N-normal or N-hyperactive
E: E-I-preoccupied, E-C-scapegoat + E-C-parentified, E-P-failure
D: D-echoist
B: B-minimal
A: A-absorbed, A-selective, A-narrativizing

Narrative. Not psychopathic at all, but included because echoists are the complement to narcissists and sovereigns. Learned to minimize self, accommodate others, avoid conflict. Takes responsibility for others’ actions and feelings, self-abnegates, uses false self defenses to suppress needs, selfishness, anger. May be organized around compensation for a feeling of uselessness or badness or in search of a cohesive borrowed identity.

Often raised by narcissistic parent (absorbed blame, became caretaker) or echoistic parent (copied expectations). May seek out narcissistic partners (intermittent feeling of being needed).

Distinguishing Features.

Self-effacing
Takes blame for others
Feels a lot of guilt and debt
Accommodating to a fault (to offset imagined debt)
Attracted to people with strong needs and expectations
Often depression, anxiety

Distress Level. High. Constant self-punishment, guilt, social self-isolation out of shame or fear of doing harm. Chronic self-neglect leads to burnout.

Representatives.

Fictional: Various “enabler” characters

See my article on echoism.

Cluster 12: The Messianic

Abstract echoism + grandiosity – self-sacrificing world-saver.

Feature Profile.

G: Variable
N: Variable
E: E-I-preoccupied, E-C-neglect, E-C-parentified, E-C-golden
D: D-echoist (toward abstractions) + D-narcissistic
B: B-subclinical to B-factor-1
A: A-strategic, A-narrativizing

Narrative. Echoist toward an abstraction (world, humanity, future generations) rather than a person. Grandiose belief in own capacity to save/fix/improve the target. Willing to sacrifice self (no need for recognition) and possibly others (ends justify means).

Differs from standard NPD (doesn’t need admiration), sovereignty (not about power for its own sake), and echoism (toward abstraction, not person).

Distinguishing Features.

Oriented toward abstract values, not admiration, power, or a partner
Doesn’t need recognition – outcome is the reward
May use controlling, Machiavellian means
Self-sacrificing component

Distress Level. Variable. May be content (mission provides meaning) or tormented (weight of moral decisions) or collapsed (benevolent but failed god) or burned out (hit human limitations).

Representatives.

Fictional: Ozymandias (Watchmen)
Some effective altruist or political figures

See my article on echoism (includes more examples).

Cluster 13: The Modeled

Learned psychopathic behavior; substrate may be intact.

Feature Profile.

G: G-minimal
N: N-normal
E: E-P-antisocial, E-A-crime, E-A-addiction
D: D-autonomic-asymmetric, D-avoidant
B: B-mixed
A: A-strategic, A-narrativizing

Narrative. Psychopathic behavior without rigid identity that is learned only in adolescence, due to environment that necessitates them. The empathy is there, defended against. May not know other ways to be. High recovery potential if new models are provided.

Distinguishing Features.

Embedded in criminal peer groups
Suffering from homelessness or addiction
Used to be different in childhood
Can learn alternative patterns
Substrate is intact

Distress Level. High, due to intact guilt and remorse, and due to whatever drives the behaviors – homelessness, addiction, blackmail.

Representatives.

Fictional: Jesse Pinkman (Breaking Bad), Michael Polischka (Knallhart)

Distinguishing Questions

Not sure which cluster fits? These questions can help:

“Were you always roughly as you currently are, or do you remember being more sensitive and empathic?”
- Always → Clusters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7
- Remember different → Clusters 6, 8, 10, 13
“When you hurt someone, do you have to avoid thinking about how they feel?”
- Yes → Clusters 6, 9, 11, 12, 13 (affective empathy present, defended)
- No → Clusters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10 (affective empathy minimal)
“Is it worse to be seen as ‘out of control’ or ‘evil’?”
- Out of control → Clusters 5, 8
- Evil → Cluster 9, 11, 12, 13
- Neither bothers me → Clusters 2, 3, 4
“What do you want from others?”
- Admiration → Cluster 9
- Control → Clusters 4, 5, 8, 12
- Resources → Cluster 2
- Stimulation → Clusters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8