8 Movie Heroes Who Definitely Have Personality Disorders

4. James Bond - Functional Psychopath

Psychoanalysis of James Bond's character reveals that he is an almost textbook functional psychopath. In his role as a spy, Bond displays all of the major umbrella characteristics for a psychopath: Ruthlessness, focus, charm, fearlessness, lack of empathy, narcissism and extroversion. Whilst much of this serves him well in the line of duty, his impulsive, thrill seeking nature, combined with a disdain for authority (also psychopathic traits), are not. These combined with his excessive drinking and borderline delinquent behaviour actively put others, and national security, at risk. Despite this risk-taking, Bond displays parasitic traits and a failure to take responsibility for his own actions, expecting others (specifically, M) to get him out of trouble. This isn't in the hope of forgiveness, but in order to enable him to continue his behaviour. His sexual promiscuity and manipulative nature, particularly with regard to women, are also strong indicators. Bond is what is referred to as a "socialised psychopath", in the sense that he understands how to use his charm and manipulate social conventions in order to get what he wants. He can be considered a "functional psychopath" in the sense that many of his psychopathic traits serve him well in his specific and unusual line of work. Outside of the world of espionage, these traits would be significantly more problematic, particularly if they were to be channelled into criminality.