14 DAY TRIAL // A team of psychologists currently working with the University of Leicester now argue that, contrary to Shakespeare’s depiction of him, the late king Richard III was by no means a psychopath.
However, he did display certain control freak tendencies, whose underlying cause was a so-called “intolerance to uncertainty syndrome.”
The Alpha Galileo Foundation explains that these psychologists' decision to piece together the character of this highly controversial historical figure stemmed from their desire to add a human touch to the image science has already constructed for this monarch based on physical evidence alone.
Following their analyzing several historical reports having to do with this monarch's life experiences and behavioral patterns, the researchers came to realize that Richard III almost never displayed any of the traits commonly referred to as the hallmarks of a psychopath.
Thus, he was seldom characterized by narcissism, deviousness, callousness, recklessness and lack of empathy, the same source informs us.
Still, it appears that this late monarch did suffer from a psychological condition which made him stand out amongst others: a so-called “intolerance to uncertainty syndrome.”
According to Professor Mark Lansdale, “This syndrome is associated with a need to seek security following an insecure childhood, as Richard had. In varying degrees, it is associated with a number of positive aspects of personality including a strong sense of right and wrong, piety, loyalty to trusted colleagues, and a belief in legal processes - all exhibited by Richard.”
“On the negative side it is also associated with fatalism, a tendency to disproportionate responses when loyalty is betrayed and a general sense of ‘control freakery’ that can, in extreme cases, emerge as very authoritarian or possibly priggish,” Professor Mark Lansdale went on to argue.
Interestingly enough, it appears that Richard III's oddly curved spine also played its part in shaping out his character, simply because such deformities were then perceived as an indicator of a flawed soul.
Therefore, odds are that this monarch often found himself having to be extremely cautious when interacting with others.
These insights into Richard III's personality were shared with the scientific community this past Saturday, during a presentation held at the University of Leicester.