A look into the psychopathic mind beyond stereotypical media portrayals.
By: Sreya 12.1
What makes someone a psychopath?
At a time when labels like ‘psychopath’ and ‘sociopath’ are carelessly thrown around to describe anyone displaying antisocial behaviour, most people can’t explain with educated accuracy what psychopathy is. Psychopathy in itself is not recognised as a clinical diagnosis of a mental disorder. Instead, it falls under the umbrella of Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD), according to the guidelines laid out by the DSM V (Diagnostic and Statistics Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition).
Although the terms psychopath and sociopath are often used interchangeably, there are notable differences between the two. Psychopaths tend to be cold and calculating, putting on a mask of empathy, whereas sociopaths often struggle to hide their true intentions. Both are recognised for their lack of empathy, but unlike psychopaths, sociopaths are considered to have a guilty conscience and a moral compass. However, neither psychopathy nor sociopathy classifies as a mental disorder. Mental health professionals would diagnose an adult displaying such behaviours as having ASPD. This disorder is generally characterised by a combination of the following traits:
Lack of remorse and empathy
Deceitful and manipulative tendencies
Inability to distinguish between moral and immoral behaviour
Impulsivity and recklessness
Defiance of laws and social norms
Stereotypes & Misconceptions
When hearing the term ‘psychopath,’ people tend to picture infamous serial killers and violent criminals such as Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy. Many psychologists claim that Ted Bundy meets the criteria for ASPD, but this is not always the case with every criminal. More often than not, psychopath is only an inaccurate oversimplification of their behaviour, the label slapped on without a scientific basis.
Take Jeffrey Dahmer: known for his murders of 17 men and boys, completing his profile with a dash of necrophilia and cannibalism. Some forensic psychologists initially believed him to show signs of psychopathy or ASPD. Nevertheless, the official diagnosis was a combination of schizotypal personality disorder, BPD (borderline personality disorder), and a psychotic disorder.
Additionally, James Fallon, a psychiatry professor at the University of California, agrees that Dahmer’s symptoms were more indicative of BPD than psychopathy. Much of his motivations in his criminal activities seemed to originate from a fear of abandonment, which is more consistent with BPD.
Evidently, not all criminals are psychopaths, and not all psychopaths are criminals. Popular media has confined our perception of psychopathic individuals to villainous murderers. Hence, we find ourselves ignorant of the majority of psychopaths who lead mundane civilian lives. Rather than displaying violent or aggressive behaviour, you may find them subtly manipulating others in reckless pursuit of self-gain.
Aaron Kipnis (PhD, clinical psychologist and author of The Midas Complex) explains that “at worst, they are cold, calculating killers.” Others excel in scaling corporate hierarchies, regardless of who they have to step on in the process.
Psychopathy in a Corporate Setting
A common manifestation of psychopathic behaviour is the desire for power and authority. What better way to achieve this than by conquering the cutthroat business world? Estimates by some researchers claim that over 4% of business leaders and CEOs are psychopaths. In other studies, this number goes up to 21%, similar to the findings in prisoner populations. The overall consensus is that there is a significantly higher prevalence of psychopathy in business leaders.
One such case of a corporate psychopath is Albert J. Dunlap, nicknamed “Chainsaw Al.” An especially prominent figure in the 90s, Dunlap was known for saving failing enterprises by firing a large portion of their workforce. Recognising the cold ruthlessness of his methods, Jon Ronson, a journalist experienced in psychopathy research, interviewed Dunlap at his house. As Ronson went through his psychopathy checklist with him, he found that Dunlap presented several psychopathic tendencies (manipulative, grandiose sense of self-worth, shallow affect, etc.).
We now arrive at the question: why is psychopathy more common in businesspeople?
“Capitalism at its most ruthless rewards psychopathic behaviour” – Robert Hare, PhD, a specialist in psychopathy research, creator of the PCL-R (Psychopathy Checklist-Revised.)
In the modern business environment, psychopathic characteristics such as the following can become rather advantageous: lack of empathy and remorse allows one to act solely in their best interest, impulsive risk-taking can bring bigger rewards, superficial charm can help to gain the favour of colleagues, and calculated manipulation ensures they achieve their goals.
Paul Verhaeghe, a Dutch psychologist and psychotherapist, argues that such traits are becoming essential to succeed as a businessperson. This argument is further supported by the findings from the Babiak, Neumann and Hare (2010) study. In their sample of 203 corporate professionals, there was a link between their psychopathy scores and strengths: charisma, creativity, strategic thinking and communication skills. On the other side of this double-edged sword, they lacked teamwork and organisation.
In this world of grey areas, we must question whether success can truly justify antisocial behaviour. A corporate psychopath is more likely to have a toxic influence on their co-workers, and engage in unethical and illegal business practices. Yet, the same traits form their building blocks for prosperity. Where do we draw the line between successful entrepreneurship and moral corruption?
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