Psychological profile of Adolf Hitler: 9 personality traits

If someone asks us for the name of some of the people who have generated the most deaths throughout modern history, it is easy for the name of Adolph Hitler.

This German soldier and politician of Austrian origin, responsible for the start of World War II and the death of millions of people under his rule as Führer, he has been one of the most feared historical figures of the modernity.

His personality traits and his leadership and manipulation skills, such as how he could observed in his skill in the use of rhetoric and public speaking, have been the subject of study ever since. In this article we will try to offer Hitler's psychological profile from the profiles made by Murray and the visualization of graphic and literary documents.

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Adolf Hitler: analysis difficulties

Establishing a psychological profile of a specific person without observing or analyzing his behavior and characteristics directly is complicated and ineffective, since it is not possible to perform an exploration actual psychological. Any psychological profile carried out on a person without contact between the health professional and the subject in question is more imprecise, something that also occurs at the time of preparing the 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. concentration. The only way to try to establish something like a psychological profile is to the analysis of his speeches, his actions and the ideas he conveyed through writing.

Hitler's psychological profile

Adolf Hitler's personality was an aspect that greatly concerned different governments during World War II. In the time in which he lived, various researchers and experts were commissioned to establish a psychological profile of the dictator. Specifically those carried out by Henry Murray for the Office of Strategic Services stand out (Office of Strategic Services or OSS, forerunner of the current CIA) and by Joseph McCurdy, both profiles being consistent.

However, it must be taken into account that neither of the two authors had direct contact with the analysand, 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, both audiovisual and written, include the following considerations.

1. Egotism and messiah complex

In the different speeches and documents that are preserved from the dictator, it is possible to observe how Adolf Hitler he considered himself a chosen force to lead Germany and bring her victory. He considered himself an embodiment of good, destined to lead his people.

This fact would be favored by the adoration of a large part of the German people during his rise to power. At present, it could be considered that it was a case of delirium of self reference.

2. Intimacy difficulties

Hitler's intimate life, apart from his relationship with Eva Braun, is little known. However, the records of the time seem to indicate that although the dictator could display great charm with which he surrounded and followed him, he had severe problems establishing deep relationships, partly because it was difficult for him to he supposed Express your feelings regarding affection.

3. Feelings of inferiority and self-hatred

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, which in turn prompted him to seek superiority and self-assertion. In fact, the report prepared by Murray highlights the presence of a weak ego structure, possibly a product of the mistreatment to which he was subjected by his father.

It is also partly revealing that the Aryan race that he advocated enjoyed characteristics that he himself lacked, which seems to favor the idea of ​​the existence of a low selfsteem and feelings of inferiority.

4. contempt for weakness

Associated with the previous trait we find the presence of a contempt for weakness. This contempt for those he considered inferior can be seen in his actions and the systematic elimination of who at the time were considered weak, such as psychiatric patients and the disabled intellectuals.

5. Perseverance

The different records and communiqués seem to indicate that Hitler was especially tenacious and stubborn when it came to his objectives, and he had a hard time admitting defeat. In fact, Murray's report indicated that the dictator was likely to commit suicide if he lost the war.

6. Charisma and manipulative ability

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 graphic documents of his speeches and the behavior and staunch loyalty towards him by most of his troops.

Likewise, it highlights his ability to convince and manipulate both the masses and individuals of his position and the veracity of his words.

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7. Showmanship

Adolph Hitler He had a great theatrical capacity and dramatism, which favored that he could easily reach the town 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 proof of this. In the same way can be seen in his expansionist policy, invading different countries like Poland or trying to attack Russia. In the book that he wrote while in prison, Mein Kampf, he came to write that his party was not there to serve the masses, but to subdue them.

9. little capacity for empathy

The little or no ability to identify with the subjected peoples and the proposal of various extermination plans for various types of population such as Jews, homosexuals, gypsies, population with psychiatric problems and dissidents show little or no ability to empathy.

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Psychopathologies associated with the dictator

The different personality characteristics together with the atrocity of his acts have meant that various mental disorders have been attributed to Hitler throughout history. Murray's reportspoke of schizophrenia, neurosis and hysteria, among other terms.

Other authors reflect that Hitler could have suffered alterations due to the consumption of substances, to a paranoid schizophrenia, still Bipolar disorder or even Asperger syndrome. Different paraphilias such as sadomasochism are also associated with it. The personality characteristics described above may have some connection with the existence of a certain degree of psychopathy, given typical characteristics of this type of subject are fulfilled, but it is also very possible that they are pure propaganda to discredit their figure taking advantage of the stigmas attached to people with mental disorders.

In any case, it must be taken into account that none of these considerations can be considered as proven or affirmed with emphatically, since as we have said they start from the analysis of events and documents without having maintained real contact with the analyzed. Likewise, there is a risk of minimizing the responsibility of the subject, as well as trivializing something as serious as the massive genocide committed by the leader of Nazism.