“The character of Michael Myers was 6 years old when he killed his
sister with a butcher knife and was placed in a hospital until he
escaped at the age of 21.
As a child he spent most of his time alone or and fantasized about
exceeding the expectations of his parents (remember this
for later). He wet the bed and suffered from low self-esteem. He
desired to remain close to his mother and was encouraged to be more
independent, which he took as rejection. His desire to isolate left him
without friends and with time to develop a sense of internal rage. He
was left with his grandmother often as a child and she was emotionally
distant and strict. He was also left to be watched by a neighbor who
was a member of a cult, where he learned that to save the human race, a
member of a person’s family must be sacrificed on Halloween. Michael
began to spend additional time with this neighbor and began to take on
the beliefs of the cult. He was chosen by the cult to kill his entire
family. The premise of the remainder of the Halloween series was his
pursuit of his sister to meet the expectations of the cult
(his new family).
It should be noted that Michael also hears voices, commanding him to
perform evil. The above statements may have been reports based upon his
delusional patterns. Michael is devoid of any affect and he chooses to
remain isolated from others. Most professionals in which Michael’s care
is placed after the murder believe he is catatonic. His primary doctor,
Dr. Loomis believes Michael is a primary psychopath that has no interest
in interacting with others and chooses to avoid contact with others and
remain in his violent fantasy world. He is methodical and experiences
no sense of fear. He has an obsessional quality toward meeting the
ultimate goal of killing, sees all others as objects that are in his
way, with his sister as the trophy for a fulfilled life.”
The input
ratings for the BRACE Character Profile™ can be completed by anyone with
basic reading skills and the ability to objectively rate statements
about a well known or well conceptualized character. Consensus input
ratings by two or more individuals increases the knowledge base and
minimizes rating biases. However, one objective rater with good
knowledge of the character being rated is sufficient. An analysis of the
BRACE Character Profile™ graphics and correlation charts requires basic
knowledge of the three prototypical character types, which is available
on the internet in the Frequently Asked Questions Section of
www.BRACEanalysis.com and the Contributor section of Bryan
Nelson’s website (http://www.deviantcrimes.com/BRACEindex.htm).
In brief,
there are three core aspects of human nature that must be actively
managed throughout life: TYPE A, TYPE B, and TYPE C. Each person is
more or less like Type A, more or less like Type B, and more or less
like Type C throughout each day and each phase of their life.
In the absence of developmental instruction and structure
to the contrary and without active efforts to learn and
teach self-control (self-discipline + self-restraint) and
adaptive sensitivity to others, Type A and Type B and Type
C patterns of THOUGHT, BEHAVIOR, and
MOTIVATION become progressively more characteristic of humans.
Note: The A (black), B (red), and C (yellow) in the above chart
and graphic corresponds to Type A, Type B, and Type C
characteristics.
An
analysis of a basic BRACE Character Profile™ graphic will take into
consideration not only the nine points reflected in the basic
graphic, but the average scores for each DOMAIN (Cognitive,
Behavior, and Existential), and the average scores for each
CHARACTER TYPE (A, B, and C). More advanced analysis takes into
consideration the relationships of the three Types within and
between the three Domains, as well as a more detailed analysis of
the underlying variables. The basic graphic is used for a general
analysis and quick visual comparisons with other graphics, such as
DSM-IV-TR™ Personality Disorders, to generally “rule out” and “rule
in” possible disorders, or any type of cluster of characteristics.
ANALYSIS OF BASIC GRAPHIC:
The basic graphic presents a character dominated by Type B
characteristics (power and control) in each Domain, with
exceptionally high dysfunction in the Cognitive and Existential
Domains. The extreme Type B characteristics suggest that Michael
Myers is a loner preoccupied with matters of power and control who
has no close interpersonal ties. Note that Type B characteristics
dominate the profile and should be given as much consideration as
the overall correlations. At this gross level of analysis, psychosis
can not be ruled out.
Several patterns are noteworthy:
1) The V shape formed by Type B from
Cognitive to Behavior to Existential particularly noteworthy,
indicating some type of restraint related to the expression of
Behavior. Michael Myers views the world in terms of power and
control and is primarily motivated by matters related to power and
control, but there is a significant level of force and violence that
has not been expressed. Such a pattern could be due to some type of
situational restraint (e.g., incarcerated or injured), some type of
successful deception (e.g., similar to a spy or pedophile), the
presence of a superior power, chemical restraint (medication), or
merely a lack of opportunity. Regardless of the cause, he is highly
motivated to engage in violent acting-out and this level of
discrepancy can be described as an existential crisis consistent
with an obsession and an unsatisfied compulsion.
2) The decreasing Type A characteristics
from Cognitive to Behavior to Existential, suggests poor judgment
but better than expected impulse control and higher than expected
independent functioning.
3) The overall low Type C characteristics
indicates a narrow range of interests and few reinforcing activities
to compete with his motivation related to power and control. In
fact, his highest source of pleasure and comfort is power and
control, suggesting a rigid, narrowly focused, very constricted
individual who would fit the profile of a stalker or serial killer.
The
following graphic is used for quick visual comparisons with
standardized DSM-IV-TR Personality Disorders. It is useful to rule
out and rule in possible disorders. Even though this visual
comparison is a “gross” level of analysis, it does shed some light
on the basic graphic. However, with this and other graphic
comparisons, one must keep in mind that similar Type and Domain
scores may be generated by different underlying structures.
Left Side Graphics
Right Side Graphics
301.0 Paranoid (likely match)
301.50 Histrionic (not likely)
301.20 Schizoid (possible traits)
301.81 Narcissistic (not likely)
310.22 Schizotypal (possible traits) 301.82
Avoidant (unclear)
301.7 Antisocial (possible traits) 301.6
Dependent (not likely)
301.83 Borderline (unclear)
301.4 Obsessive-Comp. (likely match)
However, with this and other graphic comparisons, one must keep in
mind that similar Type and similar Domain scores may
be generated by different underlying structures. Bottom line is that
a visual comparison of BRACE Character Profile™ graphics helps
inform clinical opinion or the opinion of anyone familiar with the
BRACE Character Profile™. Some alternatives can be ruled-out and
others more seriously considered through a more detailed analysis of
underlying variables and correlations. When a more
sophisticated analysis is required, the ratings that make up each
component part of the graphics can be correlated for direct
comparison with any “prototypical type” or any other individual in
the database. It is a quantum leap into the nature of the person
rated.
On the
following pages, are correlation charts for each of the 10 DSM-IV-TR
Personality Disorders, Asperger’s Disorder, and a prototypical
40-point HARE PCL-R. Just glancing at this data may reveal a wealth
of information to a clinician or someone familiar with the BRACE
Character Profile™. First, a comment about DSM-IV-TR and
“prototypical Personality Disorders” and their correlations with a
character’s BRACE Character Profile™.
BRACE Character Profile™ CORRELATION SUMMARY ANALYSIS AIDES:
NOTE:
A clinician using the BRACE Character Profile™ graphics and
correlations for the DSM-IV-TR™ diagnostic categories will need to
keep in mind that the DSM-IV-TR™ Personality Disorders are not equal
in terms of the types of information used as a “diagnostic criteria”
--- nor are they equal in terms of the number of available criteria
that must be met in order for a diagnosis to be made --- nor are
they equal in terms of the number and types of other qualifiers
which must be taken into consideration in order to make a diagnosis.
DSM-IV-TR™ is a categorical classification, but all members of a
diagnostic class are not homogeneous, class boundaries are not
clear, and there is significant overlap between “classifications.”
The
BRACE Character Profile™ is a dimensional classification system
which provides numerical and graphic information, which may be
subthreashold, based on a quantification of core characteristics
common to human nature. In fact, negative correlations provide as
much clinical information as positive correlations. Bottom line is
that visual comparisons of BRACE Character Profile™ graphics
correlation charts help inform clinical opinion or the opinion of
anyone familiar with the BRACE Character Profile™. Some alternatives
can be ruled-out and others more seriously considered through a more
detailed analysis of underlying variables and correlations.
The
color coding used in the BRACE Character Profile™ correlation charts
is somewhat like a traffic light:
•
green is a GO
for high positive correlation (.05 or higher).
•
yellow is a
CAUTION for a positive correlation which deserves consideration
(.1 to .06).
•
red
is a STOP, which indicates a negative correlation of .1 or
higher.
Actually, the negative correlations provide as much useful clinical
and practical information as the positive correlations. It is the
combination of high correlations, both positive and negative, that
yields the analysis. If one knows how a person thinks, what a
person thinks about, what a person does, and what a person wants,
then the person is 100% profiled. On the flip side, if one knows how
a person does NOT think, what a person does NOT think about, what a
person does NOT do, and what a person does NOT want, then the person
is also 100% profiled.
Considering the 10 DSM-IV-TR™ personality disorders, when there are
several significant positive correlations and several significant
negative correlations that consistently complement each other in
terms of the functional characteristics, the individual profiled is
well formulated and has a high level of definition provided by the
stark contrasts.
Note that “Diagnostic
Considerations” means exactly that ... consider ... and apply
clinical skills. The correlations are indicators, but analysis
requires consideration of known facts, other sources of information,
and the analysis of each Type (A, B, and C) and each Domain
(Cognitive, Behavior, and Existential). The BRACE Character Profile™
reflects patterns, characteristics of thought, behavior, and
motivation --- it does not presume to make
clinical diagnoses. There are many potential clinical paths to any
cluster of cognitive-behavioral-existential characteristics.
The
following correlation charts (analysis aides for profilers and
clinicians) include prototypical types (i.e., archetypes) for the 10
DSM-IV-TR™ Personality Disorders, a 40-point HARE PCL-R, and
Asperger’s Disorder.
The following corresponds to the columns in the charts below:
1 = Paranoid Personality Disorder
(301.0) 7 = Narcissistic Personality Disorder
(301.81)
2 = Schizoid Personality Disorder
(301.20) 8 = Avoidant Personality Disorder
(301.82)
3 = Schizotypal Personality Disorder
(301.22) 9 = Dependent Personality Disorder (301.6)
4 = Antisocial Personality Disorder
(301.7) 10 = Obsessive-Compulsive Personality
Disorder (301.4)
5 = Borderline Personality Disorder
(301.83)
11 = prototypical 40-point Hare PCL-R
6 = Histrionic Personality Disorder
(301.50) 12 = Asperger’s Disorder (299.80)
BRIEF ANALYSIS:
Michael Myers has strong paranoid and obsessive-compulsive
characteristics in combination with a marked absence of borderline
and histrionic characteristics. This combination suggests an
isolated individual of focused purpose and serious demeanor who is
mentally and physically preoccupied with matters of power and
control. There is an absence of antisocial, narcissistic, and
psychopathic characteristics but a delusion based psychosis can not
be ruled out. Taking into consideration that Type B characteristics
dominate the profile, there are strong indications that Michael
Myers is not only socially detached but that strong underlying
social fears feed his obsession with acquiring, maintaining, and
exercising power and control. The significant Type C and Type B
schizotypal characteristics suggest a reduced capacity for close
interpersonal relationships and cognitive-perceptual distortions,
which may reflect delusional beliefs and very proactive social
avoidance and related violent acting-out (e.g., serial rapist,
serial murderer, serial arsonist, terrorist).
The
above charts are available for others to do their own analysis.
Thank
you for the opportunity to profile this interesting character,
Russell
L. Smith, M.S.
www.BRACEanalysis.com
Knot4u2no@aol.com
[i]
American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text
Revision. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Association,
2000.
[ii] Hare, R.D. (1991) The Psychopathy
Checklist-Revised. Toronto, Canada: Multi-Health Systems.
