Andrew Lobaczewski - Political Ponerology: A Science on the Nature of Evil Adjusted for Political Purposes
effect already being done. In practice, however, the majority of
chromosomal anomalies are not transferred to the next genera-
tion; furthermore, their carriers constitute a very small propor-
tion of the population at large, and their general intelligence is
lower than the social average, so their ponerological role is
even smaller than their statistical distribution. Most problems
are caused by the XYY karyotype47 which produces men who
are tall, strong, and emotionally violent, with an inclination to
collide with the law. These engendered tests and discussions,
but their role at the level studied herein is also very small.
47 Sandberg, A. A.; Koepf, G. F.; Ishihara, T.; Hauschka, T. S. (August 26,
1961) “An XYY human male”. Lancet 2, 488-9.
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Much more numerous are those psychological deviations
which play a correspondingly greater role as pathological fac-
tors in the ponerological processes; they are most probably
transmitted through normal heredity. However, this realm of
genetics in particular is faced with manifold biological and
psychological difficulties as far as recognizing these phenom-
ena. People studying their psychopathology lack biological
isolation criteria. Biologists lack clear psychological differen-
tiation of such phenomena which would permit studies of he-
redity mechanics and some other properties.
At the time most of the observations on which this book is
based were being done, the works of many researchers who
have since shed light upon many aspects of the matters dis-
cussed herein, during the latter half of the sixties, were either
nonexistent or unavailable. Scientists studying the phenomena
described below were hacking their way through a thicket of
symptoms based on previous works and on their own efforts.
An understanding of the essence of some of these hereditary
anomalies and their ponerogenic role proved a necessary pre-
condition for reaching the primary goal. Results were gleaned
which served as a basis for further reasoning. For the sake of
the overall picture, and because the manner elaborated also
brings in certain theoretical values, I decided to retain the
methodology of description for such anomalies which emerged
from my own work and from that of others at the time.
Numerous scientists during the above-mentioned fertile era,
and some subsequent scientists, such as R. Jenkins, H.
Cleckley, S.K. Ehrlich, K.C. Gray, H.C. Hutchison, F. Kraupl
Taylor, and others did cast more stereoscopic light upon the
matter. They were clinicians, concentrating their attention upon
the more demonstrative cases which play a lesser role in the
processes of the genesis of evil, in accordance with the above-
mentioned general rule of ponerology. We therefore need to
differentiate those analogic states which are less intense or
contain less of a psychological deficit. Equally valuable for
ponerology are inquiries concerning the nature of the phenom-
ena under discussion, which facilitate differentiation of their
essence and analysis of their role as pathological factors in the
genesis of evil.
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123
~~~
Schizoidia: Schizoidia, or schizoidal psychopathy, was iso-
lated by the very first of the famous creators of modern psy-
chiatry.48 From the beginning, it was treated as a lighter form
of the same hereditary taint which is the cause of susceptibility
to schizophrenia. However, this latter connection could neither
be confirmed nor denied with the help of statistical analysis,
and no biological test was then found which would have been
able to solve this dilemma. For practical reasons, we shall dis-
cuss schizoidia with no further reference to this traditional
relationship.
Literature provides us with descriptions of several varieties
of this anomaly, whose existence can be attributed either to
changes in the genetic factor or to differences in other individ-
ual characteristics of a non-pathological nature. Let us thus
sketch these sub-species’ common features.
Carriers of this anomaly are hypersensitive and distrustful,
while, at the same time, pay little attention to the feelings of
others. They tend to assume extreme positions, and are eager to
retaliate for minor offenses. Sometimes they are eccentric and
odd. Their poor sense of psychological situation and reality
leads them to superimpose erroneous, pejorative interpretations
upon other people’s intentions. They easily become involved in
activities which are ostensibly moral, but which actually inflict
48 Emil Kraepelin (1856- 1926): German psychiatrist who attempted to create
a synthesis of the hundreds of mental disorders, grouping diseases together
based on classification of common patterns of symptoms, rather than by
simple similarity of major symptoms in the manner of his predecessors. In
fact, it was precisely because of the demonstrated inadequacy of the older
methods that Kraepelin developed his new diagnostic system. Kraepelin also
demonstrated specific patterns in the genetics of these disorders and specific
and characteristic patterns in their course and outcome. Generally speaking,
there tend to be more schizophrenics among the relatives of schizophrenic
patients than in the general population, while manic-depression is more fre-
quent in the relatives of manic-depressives. Kraepelin should be credited with
being the founder of modern scientific psychiatry, psychopharmacology and
psychiatric genetics, according to the eminent psychologist H. J. Eysenck in
his Encyclopedia of Psychology. Kraepelin postulated that psychiatric dis-
eases are principally caused by biological and genetic disorders. His psychiat-
ric theories dominated the field of psychiatry at the beginning of the twenti-
eth century. He vigorously opposed the approach of Freud who regarded and
treated psychiatric disorders as caused by psychological factors. (Wikipedia)
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damage upon themselves and others. Their impoverished psy-
chological worldview makes them typically pessimistic regard-
ing human nature. We frequently find expressions of their
characteristic attitudes in their statements and writings: “Hu-
man nature is so bad that order in human society can only be
maintained by a strong power created by highly qualified indi-
viduals in the name of some higher idea.” Let us call this typi-
cal expression the “schizoid declaration”.
Human nature does in fact tend to be naughty, especially
when the schizoids embitter other people’s lives. When they
become wrapped up in situations of serious stress, however, the
schizoid’s failings cause them to collapse easily. The capacity
for thought is thereupon characteristically stifled, and fre-
quently the schizoids fall into reactive psychotic states so simi-
lar in appearance to schizophrenia that they lead to misdiagno-
ses.
The common factor in the varieties of this anomaly is a dull
pallor of emotion and lack of feeling for the psychological
realities, an essential factor in basic intelligence. This can be
attributed to some incomplete quality of the instinctive substra-
tum, which works as though founded on shifting sand. Low
emotional pressure enables them to develop proper speculative
reasoning, which is useful in non-humanistic spheres of activ-
ity, but because of their one-sidedness, they tend to consider
themselves intellectually superior to “ordinary” people.
The quantitative frequency of this anomaly varies among
races and nations: low among Blacks, the highest among Jews.
Estimates of this frequency range from negligible up to 3 %. In
Poland it may be estimated as 0.7 % of population. My obser-
vations suggest this anomaly is autosomally hereditary.49
A schizoid’s ponerological activity should be evaluated in
two aspects. On the small scale, such people cause their fami-
lies trouble, easily turn into tools of intrigue in the hands of
clever and unscrupulous individuals, and generally do a poor
job of raising children. Their tendency to see human reality in
49 Autosomal: the disease is due to a DNA error in one of the 22 pairs that are
not sex chromosomes. Both boys and girls can then inherit this error. If the
error is in a sex chromosome, the inheritance is said to be sex-linked. [Edi-
tor’s note.]
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125
the doctrinaire and simplistic manner they consider “proper” –
i.e. “black or white” - transforms their frequently good inten-
tions into bad results. However, their ponerogenic role can
have macrosocial implications if their attitude toward human
reality and their tendency to invent great doctrines are put to
paper and duplicated in large editions.
In spite of their typical deficits, or even an openly schizoi-
dal declaration, their readers do not realize what the authors’
characters are really like. Ignorant of the true condition of the
author, such uninformed readers thed to interpret such works in
a manner corresponding to their own nature. The minds of
normal people tend toward corrective interpretation due to the
participation of their own richer, psychological world view.
At the same time, many other readers critically reject such
works with moral disgust but without being aware of the spe-
cific cause.
An analysis of the role played by Karl Marx’s works easily
reveals all the above-mentioned types of apperception and the
social reactions which engendered animosity between large
groups of people.
When reading any of those disturbingly divisive works, we
should examine them carefully for any of these characteristic
deficits, or even an openly formulated schizoid declaration.
Such a process will enable us to gain a proper critical distance
from the contents and make it easier to dig the potentially valu-
able elements out of the doctrinaire material. If this is done by
two or more people who represent greatly divergent interpreta-
tions, their methods of perception will come closer together,
and the causes of dissent will dissipate. Such a project might be
attempted as a psychological experiment and for purposes of
proper mental hygiene.
~~~
Essential psychopathy: Within the framework of the above
assumptions, let us characterize another heredity-transmitted
anomaly whose role in ponerogenic processes on any social
scale appears exceptionally great. We should also underscore
that the need to isolate this phenomenon and examine it in de-
tail became quickly and profoundly evident to those research-
ers – including the author - who were interested in the macro-
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social scale of the genesis of evil, because they witnessed it. I
acknowledge my debt to Kazimierz Dabrowski50 in doing this
and calling this anomaly an “essential psychopathy”.
Biologically speaking, the phenomenon is similar to color-
blindness but occurs with about ten times lower frequency
(slightly above 1/2%),51 except that, unlike color blindness, it
affects both sexes. Its intensity also varies in scope from a level
barely perceptive to an experienced observer to an obvious
pathological deficiency.
Like color blindness, this anomaly also appears to represent
a deficit in stimulus transformation, albeit occurring not on the
sensory but on the instinctive level.52 Psychiatrist of the old
school used to call such individuals “Daltonists of human feel-
ings and socio-moral values”.
The psychological picture shows clear deficits among men
only; among women it is generally toned down, as by the effect
of a second normal allele. This suggests that the anomaly is
also inherited via the X chromosome, but through a semi-
dominating gene. However, the author was unable to confirm
this by excluding inheritance from father to son.
Analysis of the different experiential manner demonstrated
by these individuals caused us to conclude that their instinctive
substratum is also defective, containing certain gaps and lack-
ing the natural syntonic responses commonly evidenced by
50 Kazimierz Dabrowski (1902-1980):Polish psychologist, psychiatrist, phy-
sician, and poet. Dabrowski developed the theory of Positive Disintegration,
a novel approach to personality development, over his lifetime of clinical and
academic work. [Editor’s note.]
51 Recent research by Robert Hare, then Martha Stout, and finally Salekin,
Trobst, Krioukova, have tended to increase the probably rate of occurrence in
a given population. The latter researchers, in “Construct Validity of Psycho-
pathy in a Community Sample: A Nomological Net Approach”, Salekin,
Trobst, Krioukova, Journal of Personality Disorders, 15(5), 425-441, 2001),
suggest the prevalence of psychopathy to be perhaps 5% or more, although
the vast majority of those will be male (more than 1/10 males versus ap-
proximately 1/100 females). [Editor’s note.]
52 Current day research suggests that many of the characteristics displayed by
psychopaths are closely associated with a profound lack of ability to con-
struct an empathic mental and emotional “facsimile” of another person. They
seem completely unable to “get into the skin” of others, except in a purely
intellectual sense. [Editor’s note.]
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members of the species Homo Sapiens.53 Our species instinct is
