Kim Philby: personality/temperament profile

 

Kim Philby: Psychological Profile and MMPI Assessment

Overview of Kim Philby

• Full Name: Harold Adrian Russell "Kim" Philby
• Lifespan: 1912–1988
• Background: Kim Philby was a high-ranking British intelligence officer who was also a Soviet double agent. He systematically betrayed Western intelligence during the Cold War while working for MI6, ultimately defecting to the Soviet Union in 1963. Philby is regarded as one of the most infamous traitors in modern history, and his actions had profound implications for international espionage.

Key Traits and Characteristics:

• Intelligence: Philby possessed high intelligence and was seen as charming and charismatic. He rose quickly through the ranks of British intelligence due to his competence and social skills.
• Deception and Betrayal: Philby's most notable flaw was his capacity for deceit. He lived a double life for decades, betraying his colleagues, friends, and his country.
• Cold Calculations and Lack of Remorse: Throughout his life as a spy, he remained calm under pressure and showed little sign of guilt or remorse, suggesting a degree of detachment from the consequences of his actions.
• Alcoholism: He suffered from alcoholism, which worsened after his defection to the Soviet Union.
• Paranoia and Secrecy: His occupation required constant secrecy and vigilance. The nature of his work as a double agent likely fostered paranoia.

MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) Overview

The MMPI is a psychological assessment tool that measures personality traits and psychopathology. The test consists of 10 Clinical Scales and other additional scales, which indicate various psychological conditions. The clinical scales include:

1. Scale 1 (Hypochondriasis): Preoccupation with health.
2. Scale 2 (Depression): Depressive symptoms.
3. Scale 3 (Hysteria): Emotionality and physical symptoms without a medical basis.
4. Scale 4 (Psychopathic Deviate): Disregard for societal rules, social alienation, and rebellious attitudes.
5. Scale 5 (Masculinity-Femininity): Non-traditional gender role identification.
6. Scale 6 (Paranoia): Suspiciousness, hostility, and potential delusions of persecution.
7. Scale 7 (Psychasthenia): Anxiety, obsessive thinking, and compulsiveness.
8. Scale 8 (Schizophrenia): Odd thinking, alienation, and emotional instability.
9. Scale 9 (Hypomania): High energy levels, impulsivity, and grandiosity.
10. Scale 0 (Social Introversion): Social withdrawal and shyness.

MMPI Scales for Kim Philby

Based on the known traits and behavior of Kim Philby, we can infer how he might score on various MMPI scales. Note that this exercise is speculative and does not substitute for a formal psychological evaluation.

Scales Philby Would Score High On:

1. Scale 4 (Psychopathic Deviate):

   • Philby would likely score high on this scale, as it measures disregard for societal norms and authority, as well as antisocial or rebellious tendencies. His betrayal of Britain and his role as a Soviet double agent reflect a significant deviation from accepted moral and legal standards.

2. Scale 6 (Paranoia):

   • As a double agent, Philby constantly lived a life of secrecy and betrayal. Such a lifestyle would foster high levels of paranoia. He likely exhibited traits of suspicion, distrust, and hypervigilance for potential threats or exposure.

3. Scale 9 (Hypomania):

   • Philby demonstrated a high level of energy and grandiosity, particularly in his ability to juggle dual identities and rise to prominence in British intelligence. His confidence and enthusiasm for his double life may suggest elevated levels of hypomanic traits such as impulsivity and risk-taking.

4. Scale 7 (Psychasthenia):

   • Though Philby was known for his cold and calculating demeanor, the strain of living a double life might have led to underlying anxiety, obsession, and compulsiveness. The secrecy and stress of maintaining a false identity could contribute to high anxiety, which is measured by this scale.

Scales Philby Would Score Low On:

1. Scale 1 (Hypochondriasis):

   • Philby was not known to be preoccupied with his health. His focus was primarily on his espionage activities, and he managed to function at a high level even under pressure, suggesting a low likelihood that he suffered from health-related anxiety.

2. Scale 3 (Hysteria):

   • Philby was calm, composed, and controlled under pressure, even when his double life was under threat of exposure. He did not exhibit the kind of emotional instability or psychosomatic symptoms that are typically measured by this scale.

3. Scale 5 (Masculinity-Femininity):

   • There is no significant evidence to suggest that Philby struggled with traditional gender roles or identification; hence, his score on this scale would likely align with established male norms of his time.

4. Scale 0 (Social Introversion):

   • Philby was known for his charm and social skills. He was able to network effectively with others, both in his personal and professional life. His sociability would likely result in a low score on this scale, indicating little tendency towards introversion or social withdrawal.

5. Scale 8 (Schizophrenia):

   • While Philby led a double life and engaged in significant deception, he did not display symptoms of reality distortion, delusions, or extreme emotional instability, traits measured by this scale. His behavior was calculated rather than erratic or disconnected from reality.

Summary of Likely MMPI Scores for Kim Philby

MMPI Scale	Expected Score
Scale 1 (Hypochondriasis)	Low
Scale 2 (Depression)	Moderate
Scale 3 (Hysteria)	Low
Scale 4 (Psychopathic Deviate)	High
Scale 5 (Masculinity-Femininity)	Low
Scale 6 (Paranoia)	High
Scale 7 (Psychasthenia)	Moderate to High
Scale 8 (Schizophrenia)	Low
Scale 9 (Hypomania)	High
Scale 0 (Social Introversion)	Low

Conclusion

Based on the available information about Kim Philby, it is likely that he would score high on scales related to paranoia, psychopathic deviance, and hypomania, reflecting his ability to deceive and maintain a double life with confidence and energy. He would likely score low on scales related to hypochondriasis, social introversion, and hysteria, as he was neither preoccupied with his health nor emotionally unstable.

In addition:

Jungian Archetypes: Trickster, Shadow

Myers-Briggs 4 letter type: INTJ (Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Judging)
Myers-Briggs 2 letter type: NT (Rational)

Enneagram: Type 5w6 (The Investigator with Six Wing)

New Personality Self-Portrait Styles:

• Primary: Vigilant, Solitary
• Secondary: Serious, Self-confident
• Notable: Idiosyncratic

4-Temperament Theory: Melancholic-Phlegmatic blend

Possible Personality Disorders:

• Antisocial traits
• Narcissistic traits

Hierarchy of Basic Desires:

1. Power
2. Independence
3. Status
4. Vindication
5. Understanding

Hierarchy of Basic Values:

1. Loyalty (to communism)
2. Intelligence
3. Secrecy
4. Control
5. Achievement

Hierarchy of Basic Ideals:

1. Communist ideology
2. Strategic superiority
3. Perfect deception
4. Intellectual mastery
5. Social revolution

Character Flaws:

• Duplicitous
• Manipulative
• Emotionally detached
• Alcoholism
• Trust issues

Neurotic Defense Mechanisms:

• Rationalization (justifying betrayal through ideology)
• Compartmentalization
• Denial
• Projection

Possible Trance States:

• Dissociative episodes during high-stress operations
• Alcohol-induced altered states

Big Five Dimensions:

• High: Conscientiousness, Openness
• Low: Agreeableness, Neuroticism
• Moderate: Extraversion

Main NLP Meta-Programs:

• Away-From motivation
• Options over Procedures
• Internal Reference
• Global Pattern
• Necessity Sort

Sources

1 The Sourcebook of Magic by L. Michael Hall Ph.D. and Barbara Belnap M.S.W.

2 New Personality Self-Portrait by John M. Oldham, M.D. and Lois B. Morris

3 Personality Plus Revised and Expanded Edition by Florence Littauer

4 Personality Plus by Florence Littauer

5 Jungian Archetypes by Robin Robertson

6 Personality Puzzle by Florence Littauer and Marita Littauer

Some follow-up questions:

1. Relationship matches:
   Good match: ENFP or ENFJ woman (complementary functions)
   Bad match: ESFJ or ISFJ woman (values conflict)

2. Famous person matches:
   

   Here are some notable ENFP women:

   • Marilyn Monroe 
   • Anne Hathaway
   • Sandra Bullock
   • Jennifer Aniston
   • Elizabeth Taylor
   • Drew Barrymore
   • Ellen DeGeneres

   Notable ENFJ women:

   • Jennifer Lawrence
   • Emma Thompson
   • Maya Angelou
   • Oprah Winfrey
   • Nicole Kidman
   • Dakota Fanning
   • Kate Winslet

   Both ENFP and ENFJ women tend to be:

   • Charismatic and engaging
   • Natural communicators
   • Empathetic and people-oriented
   • Idealistic
   • Creative
   • Enthusiastic
   • Warm and supportive

   The key difference is that ENFPs tend to be more spontaneous and scattered, while ENFJs are more structured and organized in pursuing their goals.

   In terms of relationship dynamics with an INTJ like Kim Philby:

   • ENFPs would provide spontaneity and emotional warmth while respecting his need for independence
   • ENFJs would provide structure and emotional support while helping him connect with others

   Both types could potentially handle the complexity of someone like Philby, though they might struggle with his deceptive tendencies and emotional distance.

   
   

   Here are some notable ESFJ women:

   Taylor Swift

   Mary Tyler Moore

   Anne Murray

   Jessica Alba

   Martha Stewart

   Mariah Carey

   Betty White

   Notable ISFJ women:

   Mother Teresa

   Kate Middleton

   Rosa Parks

   Queen Elizabeth II

   Laura Bush

   Anne Frank

   Jessica Lange

   Both ESFJ and ISFJ women tend to be:

   Traditional and conventional

   Service-oriented

   Nurturing and caring

   Detail-focused

   Security-seeking

   Practical and grounded

   Duty-bound

   For someone like Kim Philby (INTJ), these types would be challenging matches because:

   
   

   They value tradition and stability vs his revolutionary mindset

   They need emotional transparency vs his secretive nature

   They seek security vs his risk-taking

   They prioritize social harmony vs his strategic manipulation

   They value practical reality vs his abstract theorizing

   They maintain strong moral convictions vs his flexible ethics

   They need consistent emotional connection vs his detachment

   The cognitive functions are also in conflict:

   
   

   Their dominant Feeling vs his dominant Thinking

   Their auxiliary Sensing vs his auxiliary Intuition

   
   

   
   

   Story ideas for Leslie, a fictional character with the Philby personality type:

   Leslie as a brilliant corporate whistleblower living a double life

   Leslie infiltrating a corrupt organization while maintaining multiple identities

   Leslie as a chess master using psychological warfare in tournaments

   Leslie developing a complex web of deception in academia