The Psychology of Espionage

Why Spy? The Psychology of Espionage Dr. Ursula M. Wilder They [the KGB] went around and they wrapped all the agents up. I was amazed. I was anxious and amazed and shocked and scared. And in the course of the following years, all of the agents I told them about were recalled, transferred, arrested, whatnot, and then later on some of them were shot. The KGB later told me that they regretted acutely that they had been forced to take those steps [thereby triggering a mole hunt at “In the whole march of CIA]. Had I known they were going to do that, I either would not have gone and sold them that information or I would have passed them out history, a little espio- one by one. nage doesn’t amount to — CIA mole Aldrich “Rick” Amesa a hill of beans.” There was just one part of me, a small part of me, I guess, that wanted — FBI spy Robert something that was a bit abandoned, a bit uncontrolled, almost suicidal, Hanssen maybe. — Former CIA watch officer William Kampiles v v v People who commit espionage sustain double lives. When a person passes classified information to an enemy, he or she initiates a clandestine second identity. From that time on, a separation must be maintained between the person’s secret “spy” identity, with its clandestine activities, and the “non-spy” public self. The covert activities inescapably exert a powerful influence on the person’s overt life. They necessitate ongoing efforts at concealment, compart- mentation, and deception of those not witting of the espionage, which includes almost everyone in the spy’s life. For some people, sustaining such a double identity is exciting and desirable; for others, it is draining and stressful. For a a. “Why I Spied: Aldrich Ames,” New York Times interview with Tim Weiner, 31 July 1994. A career CIA case officer, Ames was arrested in 1994 for spying over a nine-year period for the KGB and its successor, the Ministry of Security for the Russian Federation. Ames made a calculated decision to give the Russians the names of US penetrations in Russia who were in position to alert their American handlers—and therefore the FBI—that there was a mole in the CIA. All but one were executed. Weiner wrote, “He sold a Soviet Embassy official the names of two KGB officers secretly working for the FBI in Washington. The price: $50,000. The next month, he volunteered the names of every Soviet intelligence official and military officer he knew was working in the United States, along with whatever else he knew about CIA operations in Moscow . he received a wedding present from the KGB: $2 million.” Ames is serving a life sentence without parole. The views, opinions, and findings expressed in this article are those of the author and should not be construed as asserting or implying US government endorsement of its factual statements and interpretations or representing the official positions of any component of the United States government. Studies in Intelligence Vol. 61, No. 2 (Extracts, June 2017) 19 Why Spy? For some people, sustaining a double identity is exciting and desirable; for others, it is draining and stressful. Third, ease of opportunity is a prerequisite for espionage. The few heroic people, spying is a moral First, any consideration of mo- potential spy must have access not imperative that they would prefer to tivation in espionage must closely only to classified information but also avoid but feel compelled to act on. examine personality pathology. Per- to an interested “customer.” The ma- sonality is the mix of traits, attitudes, nipulations of such customers, who This article focuses on spies and values that characterize a person. are often professionally trained to whose espionage appears to be Spies frequently have pathological present themselves to potential spies primarily self-interested, rather than personality features that pave the way as rewarding and safe patrons, can be altruistic or self-sacrificing. Within to espionage, such as thrill seeking, a major determinant in motivating a this criminal or treasonous type, a sense of entitlement, or a desire vulnerable person to take the step of specific psychological factors com- for power and control. In addition, committing espionage. monly occur, providing a guide to healthy countervailing traits—such as The elements of personality, crisis, understanding the motives, behavior, a calm temperament or strong sense and opportunity do not operate inde- and experiences of this type of spy. of responsibility—may be either pendently. Vulnerabilities in one area The risk of espionage can be reduced weak or entirely absent. through understanding these psycho- generate vulnerabilities in the others. logical patterns and tailoring counter- The second essential motivator A person with a problematic mix of measures accordingly. is an experience of acute personal personality features will tend to have crisis resulting in intense distress. more than the average number of life Though the spy may have regrets crises, including job terminations, Elements of Espionage in hindsight, at the time he or she initiates the espionage, it appears a Three essential elements set the logical decision to solve a problem or ployees to establish a baseline of employee conditions for a person’s entry into attitudes and opinions regarding counterin- the only option available to escape a telligence and security policies, procedures, espionage: b desperate or painful situation. requirements, and training. The results • dysfunctions in the personality attest to employee awareness of the links between psychological factors and counter- • a state of crisis Offenders,” Slammer Psychology Team intelligence risks. Those surveyed identified Technical Report, May 1992; and “Manag- • ease of opportunity emotional instability related to ambition, ing At Risk Employees,” Project Slammer anger leading to a need for revenge, feel- The converse is true as well. Safe- Report, February 1993. Project Slammer is ings of being unrecognized and unreward- guards or strengths in these areas an Intelligence Community research effort, ed, and loneliness as the top vulnerabilities initiated in 1983, to understand espionage mitigate the risk of espionage.a on the road to espionage. They ranked such through in-depth interviews and psycholog- problem behaviors as drug abuse and illicit ical evaluations of incarcerated spies. More sex as second, and various mental crises or a. “Why People Spy,” Project Slammer than 40 spies were interviewed. stresses brought on by debt, work issues, Report, December 1992; “Personality b. In the wake of the Aldrich Ames case, the or psychological factors such as depression Characteristics of Convicted Espionage CIA surveyed 1,790 randomly selected em- as third. Scope Note A classified version of this article was published in Studies in Intelligence in December 2003. The concepts discussed in the 2003 article are unchanged in this revision, but the case study information contained in textboxes in the original article have been updated with unclassified or declassified material made available since 2003.This revision is intended to supplement the author’s re-examination, 14 years later, of the psychological drivers of espionage and of intentional leaking of intelligence data. The latter is an issue the original article and this, now unclassified, article do not address because such leaking was not then the prominent problem it now is. The new article, “Why Spy? Why Leak?” begins on page 1. Unless otherwise noted, quotations and information about the convicted spies used in this article are drawn from multiple sources, including law enforcement investigative documents, counterintelligence reports, court documents, and publicly available media accounts and books about US espionage and intelligence. 20 Studies in Intelligence Vol. 61, No. 2 (Extracts, June 2017) Why Spy? No typology can encompass the full complexity of the relationship or family problems, and psyche of any individual spy. financial troubles. Such personal crises will, in turn, further stress this, everybody, but money I don’t believe that I was affect- and magnify problematic traits and solves everything. And it did. ing the security of this country behaviors just when the person needs And why did it all fall apart? [the United States] and the safe- most to function with stability and You wanna know? I’ll tell you. ty of its people. I didn’t give maturity. Agents “spotting” a vulner- Because the Soviets cut off that stuff to the Soviets because able person may insinuate themselves the money supply and the old I thought espionage is a dirty into the situation and find ways to lady—I couldn’t pay her off game. I mean, that’s trivial. exacerbate the personal crisis, “ripen- anymore—so she picked up the c ing” a targeted person’s vulnerability phone [tipping off the FBI]. —CIA mole Rick Ames to recruitment. Handlers will then Otherwise I would not be sitting Psychopaths are predators, continue to manipulate a recruited here. Money solves everything.a asset’s vulnerabilities to maintain the approaching life with remorseless- person’s long-term engagement in —Navy spy John Walker ness, manipulation, pursuit of risk espionage. and excitement, and sharp, short- If I really thought of the conse- term tactical abilities alongside poor The descriptive categories that quences all the time, I cer- long-term and strategic planning. follow are offered as a map of the tainly wouldn’t have been in They frequently leave people with a psychological terrain of espionage. the business. I’m sure that the positive first impression. Over time All maps oversimplify to a degree, people from Dow Chemicals in and with extended exposure, the ini- and so does this one. No typology Delaware, I’m sure that they tial impression wears away as people can encompass the full complexity didn’t think of the consequences become aware of, or are directly of the psyche of any individual spy.

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