“Corporate psychopaths” threaten to ruin the lives of others at work. Who are they and how to spot them? Amélie Boukhobza, clinical psychologist, gives you some keys.
Approximately 1% of the adult population is psychopathic and “lack of emotions“, according to a recent study carried out by Anglia Ruskin University. However, these people resolutely “toxic” can pose significant threats to workers and businesses. So, how can we identify these individuals in the business world to protect ourselves from them? Amélie Boukhobza, clinical psychologist, gives us some ideas.
Corporate Psychopaths Hold Powerful Positions
According to researchers at Anglia Ruskin University, the term “corporate psychopath” refers to high-functioning psychopaths who work in business and/or political sectors.
They appear to be effective leaders, but represent a huge threat to business stability.
“We know that corporate psychopaths are likely to hold very senior positions in business and industry – largely due to their social personality traits – however, their incredibly selfish behavior can potentially ruin businesses. entire sectors. The quest for money, power, and control is what motivates corporate psychopaths, and they are ruthless in obtaining them“, assures Dr Boddy, deputy director of the School of Management at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU).
In fact, businesses have an important role to play.
“They have an enormous responsibility to be more vigilant, to identify these individuals and to ensure that they cannot endanger our economy and society as a whole.“, insists the research director.
Corporate psychopaths: how to spot them?
Although psychopaths are fortunately very few in number – in business as elsewhere – it is nevertheless important to recognize them.
Amélie Boukhobza, clinical psychologist, helps us see things more clearly.
“The psychopath’s objective is always the destruction of the other; it can therefore sometimes resemble perversion. Other typical behaviors are: a sadistic attitude, manipulation, lies, real dishonesty. The psychopath thinks he is above the law, he creates his own rules, and has great self-esteem. Overall he only thinks about himself and his own success and if he can crush everyone in his path, even better! Without ever obviously feeling either guilt or remorse“, underlines the expert.
If these behaviorsdo not date from today but were built during childhood“, the psychologist reminds us that we must not fall into the trap of self-analysis, which is sometimes biased.
“Be careful not to label everyone a psychopath just because you recognize one of the signs.“, she concludes.
Watchword ? So protect yourself, without falling into paranoia.
