[Paleopsych] sociopaths in business

Wed Nov 16 18:34:26 UTC 2005

For those interested in Dr. Robert Hare's psychopathic checklist might 
find this link of interest:
http://www.hare.org/pclr/index.html

Regards,
Gerry Reinhart-Waller

Todd I. Stark wrote:

>Frank posted this article a while back, it seems relevant to the current 
>discussion since it offers a rationale for how and when psychopaths 
>influence culture.
>
>Todd
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Evil lurks at the top? MD urges screening CEOs for psychopaths
>http://www.canoe.ca/TorontoNews/ts.ts-08-29-0014.html
>Thursday, August 29, 2002
>
>By ALAN CAIRNS, TORONTO SUN
>
>ST.JOHN'S,   Nfld.  --  A  leading  expert  on  psychopaths  said  the
>heartbreak,  chaos  and  economic slump caused by corporate corruption
>could be avoided if prospective CEOs were screened for psychopathy.
>
>Saying  he was ill at ease with many of North America's top executives
>who  are  currently under fire for misleading shareholders and milking
>hundreds  of millions of dollars in company cash, Dr. Robert Hare said
>corporate North America is likely rife with psychopaths.
>
>Hare,  whose psychopathic checklist diagnostic tool is used around the
>world,  said  ruthless psychopaths who have managed to hide their true
>nature because of a privileged upbringing can commit their crimes with
>impunity in the business world.
>
>THEY FIT THE MOULD
>
>While  he  stressed  that  many  thieves  and  fraud  artists  are not
>psychopaths,  Hare  said  when executives take hundreds of millions of
>other  people's  cash  "blatantly and with malicious forethought" they
>fit the psychopathic mould.
>
>"Many  people  will  lose  their  life  savings.  Some will have heart
>attacks,  commit  suicide.  If  they are not psychopaths, they sure as
>hell are not model citizens," he said.
>
>Hare said psychopaths typically "eat up" interviewers and head hunters
>who scrutinize CEO candidates.
>
>"For your average psychopath, it's no problem at all."
>
>He  said  screening  CEOs  and financiers who handle millions could be
>easily done.
>
>"You  would  check into his family background. He is what he is in all
>domains -- a rule breaker. The rules don't apply."
>
>Hare said companies are more at risk in today's tough economy.
>
>"That's  when the psychopath moves in ... where there is chaos and the
>rules  no  longer apply. Enter the psychopath ... saying: I've got the
>solution."
>
>Hare  gave the analogy of psychopaths who rise to power whenever there
>is  chaos in political structures, noting African warlords, the former
>Yugoslavia and Nazi Germany.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Steve Hovland wrote on 11/15/2005, 6:41 PM:
>
> > I can't remember the name of the book, but some time
> > ago some people wrote a book claiming that our child-
> > rearing practices were creating an increased number
> > of sociopaths- empathy impaired.  When I think about
> > children killing children these days, I think they
> > were right.
> >
> > So I think the supply has changed and the rules
> > have chained as well.  Those of us who don't like
> > Bush may want to reflect on the idea that he
> > represents a composite portrait of the American
> > psyche.
> >
> > Steve
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: paleopsych-bounces at paleopsych.org
> > [mailto:paleopsych-bounces at paleopsych.org]On Behalf Of Michael
> > Christopher
> > Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2005 11:34 AM
> > To: paleopsych at paleopsych.org
> > Subject: [Paleopsych] sociopaths in business
> >
> >
> >
> > Frank says:
> > >>But how did it come to pass that "greedy
> > psychotics" took over the business world?<<
> >
> > --If it's true that sociopaths have had an advantage
> > in any field, it would likely have been due to an
> > ability to "play the game" better, to manipulate
> > social networks more effectively than those who
> > concentrated on ability or ethics. And strategies that
> > get results tend to spread throughout a culture,
> > regardless of whether those strategies are ecological
> > or predatory. If it undermines long term stability,
> > that's just the outcome of everyone's short term
> > decisions.
> >
> > >>More seriously, what is there about the
> > *current* rules of business that result in "greedy
> > psychotics" taking over? Have the rules changed? Has
> > the supply of "greedy psychotics" increased? If so,
> > why?<<
> >
> > --It's possible that sociopaths eventually learn to
> > exploit *any* social system, if everyone else falls
> > asleep or is too busy focusing on personal advantage.
> > Perhaps sociopaths exploit everyone else's minor
> > flaws. It may not be the official rules that are the
> > problem, but rather the unofficial culture, the web of
> > personal connections and communication styles. As I
> > said, I have no reason to believe the problem is
> > confined to business, since I've seen groups with
> > little power or money fall under the same spell.
> >
> > >>I urge you to always think about processes and
> > the rules governing those processes.<<
> >
> > --Good advice. The faces change, but the underlying
> > processes remain.
> >
> > Michael
> >
> >
> >
> >
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>  
>