Obsessive-compulsive personality: A review.

Abstract

A review of the term obsessive-compulsive personality (or anal character) is presented. Statistical studies of obsessive-compulsive personality conducted over approximately the last two decades are then reviewed, emphasizing the extent to which they support theory, clinical observation, and description. Evidence is still needed on precise etiological determinants, and persuasive evidence in favor of classical psychoanalytic theories about etiology is lacking. Empirically based findings to date, however, are congruent with clinical observation, description, and prediction regarding the salient behavioral characteristics and character styles of obsessive-compulsive individuals.The obsessive-compulsive personality or anal character, as it is sometimes termed, came under close scrutiny by Freud and his colleagues (

Migration Load, Ecological Opportunity, and Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder Etiology: Obsessive Character as an Adaptation to Seasonality

“…For an obsessive character, time is used in a "niggardly, thrifty, and cautious manner" (Pollak 1979) and often treated as if it was an "enemy to be fought and overcome…" (Salzman 1985, page 81). Living as if there were a stopwatch rapidly ticking away (Shapiro 1999), the "obsessional is painfully aware of the future as an extension of the present" (Salzman 1985, page 81).…”

“…On the other hand, Freud's explanation is like an old mansion, hastily built and compromised at its core. A want of empirical support (Pollak 1979(Pollak , 1987 was the first sign of decadence. Yet, it was only in the past decade that the demonstrable heritability of obsessive character (Torgersen et al 2000) would undermine the foundation of Freudian explanation (Hertler 2014a).…”

The Biology of Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder Symptomatology: Identifying an Extremely K-Selected Life History Variant

“…In part, the conscientious and harm avoidant obsessive uses the present moment in preparation for the future exigency (Salzman 1985). And as previously reviewed (Hertler 2013), the obsessive's future orientation has been extensively documented in the work of Campos (1966), Pettit (1969), and Pollak (1979). Also as previously reviewed (Hertler 2013), Salzman, in a book entitled Treatment of the Obsessive Personality, includes a section on Time and the Obsessional, wherein time, for the obsessive, is described as an aversive stress to be conquered (Salzman 1985, p. 80).…”

“…Similarly, these personality patterns are temporally separated, with psychopaths showing a lack of realistic longer-term goals and general irresponsibility, as respectively coded by PCL-R items 13 and 15. Alternatively, obsessives are widely understood to subordinate the present to the future (Campos 1966;Pettit 1969;Pollak 1979;Salzman 1985;Gibbs Gallagher et al 2003;Eskedal and Demitri 2006). Also, while psychopaths are sensation seeking, as coded by PCL-R item 3, obsessives are anxious and fearful (American Psychiatric Association 2013) and explicitly show low sensation seeking within trait studies (Lynam and Widiger 2001).…”

“…Obsessive character is associated with anxious harm avoidance across disciplines as varied as psychoanalysis and genetics. Anxiety's status as a core temperamental feature of obsessive character is extant in the seminal writings of Freud (1908Freud ( / 1959, Pollak (1979;, Shapiro (1999) and Salzman (1985). Through these writings, one can recognize a phenomenological state of heightened tension (Hertler 2015a), hyperfocus, hyperarousal, and future-oriented fear (Hertler 2015b).…”