Have you ever secretly thought that a colleague – or even your boss – behaves like a psychopath? Well you may well be right.
A study published in New Scientist magazine has found that there are far more sub-criminal psychopaths – self-serving, narcissistic schemers who display a stunning lack of empathy, but are not criminally inclined – at large in the population than had previously been thought. And many of them end up in managerial positions.
Around one per cent of the population – or 600,000 people in Britain alone – can be categories as psychopathic, according to Professor Robert Hare of the University of British Columbia in Canada.
And because ‘corporate psychopaths’ display similar ruthless traits to sadistic killers, they often gravitate towards roles in business the media, law and politics where their scheming and bullying is just part of everyday working life.
They tend to be manipulative, arrogant, callous, impatient, impulsive, unreliable, superficially charming and prone to fly into rages. They break promises, take credit for the work of others and blame everyone else when things go wrong.
As far as I can tell this describes half of the Silicon Valley CEO’s and the yellers and screamers at Microsoft, Apple and elsewhere.
My worst boss was a former skiing buddy of mine
After a several day foolish session I was quizzed at some length on my lifetime / year/ 2 week goals. Whatever he read on the plane he was now an expert on – what a moron.
After answering the question of “What have you learnt in the last year ?” I asked in reply the same question of “What most important lesson have you learnt in the last year ?”
With a sly smile he answered “I have learnt the golden rule”
Just out of curiosity I asked what that was>
With emphasis and a coy smile he answered “The rules are golden and THEY ARE MY RULES !”
What a moron !
Apparently he is not alone in company.
Yup. Been there and felt the wrath. For whatever reason, some top managers think this is a plus.
I think this study underestimates the problem.
#4 If this leads to some new drug, it will be to make more psychos, not less. Companies actually value this sort of behavior.
It’s not just employees who suffer under these psychos, families can suffer as well. My mother and brother are both psychos and believe me, they’ll stop at nothing to get what they want. Two of the most lying, amoral and ruthless “people” you’ll ever know. I stay as far away from them both as possible.
I wouldn’t call it psychotic but it seems a disproportionate “Type A” personality does succeed in the corporate, business and political ranks.
More finely put, I perceive these types having the George Bush “you’re either with the terrorists, or against them” type of outlook in the challenges they face. Either you are their friend and best buddy because you agree completely with them on every issue, or you are the enemy.
Psychotic? Well, that misperceives psycho’s who normally aren’t so socially adept? You can see some of this sometimes in the postings here, along with a lot of “projection” which I find quite humorous===except the dolts vote.
“manipulative, arrogant, callous, impatient, impulsive, unreliable, superficially charming and prone to fly into rages. They break promises, take credit for the work of others and blame everyone else when things go wrong.”
sounds like McCain
I think they left out narcissistic.
I don’t know about politicians but I have met a fair number of successful business leaders. For the most part I have found them outstanding people, not only in their work but their personal life. Generally, you don’t get EVP or President of Fortune 1000 company by being a prick.
There are exceptions like Ballmer. However look at how the company has lost it’s way since he’s been President.
It’s the middle management that is often the problem. You do run across a fair number of jerks at this level, however they don’t last forever.
“It’s the middle management that is often the problem. You do run across a fair number of jerks at this level, however they don’t last forever.”
It just seems like they do.
#7 – don’t confuse “psychotic” with “psychopath” they are not the same thing.
I haven’t experienced it professionally but our family has suffered through a narcissistic adopted daughter (read about narcissistic personality disorder). Many of these types of people have variations of personality disorders which are a spectrum of problems. Unfortunately, its the least understood, diagnosed and treatable mental problem. Most people with these disorders don’t know or accept the fact they have a problem.
The best solution? Get away and keep away. There is very little you can do to “make things work”
10
There might be plenty of peaches but there are plenty of psychos too. Look at business that are all about relentless expansion. These leaders are usually psychos. There are business people who focus on quality products, they are usually alright.
According to Martha Stout’s “The Sociopath Next Door,” the average percentage of the population with sociopathy is more like 4%, not 1%.
Wow, they got me down to a tee.
gquaglia, what’s your stock symbol? I’m ready to invest.
Neurotics build castles in the sky.
Psychotics live in them.
Sociopaths are the guards, cos they like the uniforms.
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He forgot lawyers and politicians.
#8 funny, i was going to say the same about Obama.
I totally believe this report. Corporations are amoral institutions (at best!) and these psycho guys are the perfect fit.
It’s one reason corporations should not be allowed legal rights equal to real humans in a democracy.
“They tend to be manipulative, arrogant, callous, impatient, impulsive, unreliable, superficially charming and prone to fly into rages. They break promises, take credit for the work of others and blame everyone else when things go wrong.”
Sounds like a fair description of Rush Limbaugh.
My maxim has always been that, whoever wants the job of being boss, is probably the last person who should get it. That goes for most politicians too. They usually screen the Gong Hos out of jury pools, police and firefighters. But the rest of the work place seems to reward these little Hitler types. And give them a leg up the career ladder. The last place I worked at (a steel plant) they always gave the back stabbers, the promotions to salaried positions. I rarely ever saw any exception to this. Which is probably why the place went bankrupt. Because they screwed off at Country Clubs, while we all took pay cuts, and the place lost money from poor planning and management. But at least those clowns all felt powerful in their positions, while it lasted.
Wow, that explains a lot. Though I’m not really surprised. I wonder what it is about certain places that seem to attract large numbers of these types? “Birds of a feather” I suppose…
Yea, thats very well said.