Nightmare dressed
like a daydream
Psychopaths in
corporate world
ASIS SHANGHAI 2015
Peace of Mind ltd. - Hong Kong
Superficially charming, psychopaths tend to make a good first impression on
others and often strike observers as remarkably normal.Yet they are selfcentered, dishonest and undependable, and at times they engage in
irresponsible behavior for no apparent reason other than the sheer fun of it.
Largely devoid of guilt, empathy and love, they have casual and callous
interpersonal and romantic relationships. Psychopaths routinely offer
excuses for their reckless and often outrageous actions, placing blame on
others instead. They rarely learn from their mistakes or benefit from
negative feedback, and they have difficulty inhibiting their impulses.
Hervey M. Cleckey (1941)
Manie sans delire - "mad without being mad”
Philippe Pinel, 1801
ASIS CHINA 2015
Psychopaths in the corporate world
www.peaceofmind.hk
DEFINING A PSYCHOPATH
➤
Psychopaths do not openly express their emotions and they
do not feel shame or guilt. Psychopaths also have difficulties
in recognizing facial expressions related to negative emotions
(fear and sorrow). Blair & Frith (2000)
➤
Psychopaths amygdala does not respond to unpleasant or
frightening incidents the same way as other people do.
➤
Unlike psychopaths, narcissist can experience emotions such
as guilt, regret, empathy and physical reactions in emotional
situations. But both groups have grandiose and egocentric
view of themselves. Hare (2004), Louth, Williamson, Alpert,
Pouget & Hare (1988)
ASIS CHINA 2015
Psychopaths in the corporate world
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DEFINING A PSYCHOPATH
➤
According to a Canadian study, only 2% of psychopaths
reported feeling any kind of emotional response during the
time they committed the crime. Williamson et.al. (1987)
➤
In a study amongst psychopaths in prison population, 42% of
the psychopaths reported that they planned the crime
well before committing it, whereas other prisoners planning
was involved in 9% of the crimes committed. Haapasalo (1991)
➤
Risk taking and physical as well as social risks are typical
for psychopaths. This tendency can be seen in risk related
hobbies, activities, gambling, drug abuse and in a broad variety
of criminal behavior. Zuckerman (1979), Glicksohn, BenShalom & Lazar (2004), Hare & Jutai (1986)
ASIS CHINA 2015
Psychopaths in the corporate world
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DEFINING A PSYCHOPATH
➤
Psychopaths have difficulty understanding the emotional
content of words that add color and interest to
communication. High-emotion words (rape, blood, knife,
cancer) trigger physiological responses in most people, but not
in psychopaths.
➤
Normal participants identified emotionally charged words like
"c-a-n-c-e-r" or "r-a-p-e" more quickly than neutral words like
"t-r-e-e" or "p-l-a-t-e", this was not the case with psychopaths,
emotion was irrelevant.
ASIS CHINA 2015
Psychopaths in the corporate world
www.peaceofmind.hk
➤
“Cognitive empathy is the ability to know what
other people are feeling, and emotional
empathy is the kind where you feel what they’re
feeling.” Psychopaths can understand what
you’re thinking, it’s just that they don’t care, so
they can use you against yourself. Psychopaths
are particularly adept at detecting
vulnerability.
➤
Psychopaths were able to recognize victims by
their way of walking. (A. Book, Brock University)
➤
In a Scandinavian study was noted, that
psychopaths participated to the “Cognitive
skills” rehabilitation program only to learn
better manipulation skills.
ASIS CHINA 2015
Psychopaths in the corporate world
www.peaceofmind.hk
DEFINING A PSYCHOPATH
LIFESTYLE
ANTISOCIAL
Glibness,
Lack of remorse or
superficial charm
guilt
Need for stimulation,
proneness to boredom
Poor behavioral
controls
Grandiose sense
of self worth
Shallow affect
Parasitic lifestyle
Early behavioral
problems
Pathological lying
Callois, lacks
empathy
Lack of realistic,
long term goals
Juvenile
delinquency
Conning,
manipulative
Failure to accept
responsibility for
own actions
Impulsivity,
irresponsibility
Revocational of
conditional release
and criminal
versatilitay
INTERPERSONAL
AFFECTIVE
ASIS CHINA 2015
Psychopaths in the corporate world
www.peaceofmind.hk
PCL-R
➤
PCL-R (Hare 2003)
➤
Maximum score of 40 > Entry level for psychopaths is 24-27
➤
Normal criminals score 19-22
➤
Corporate psychopaths had a score of 19 out of 24
➤
1-2 % of general population are psychopaths
➤
10% have psychopathic traits
➤
80% of prison population have ASPD, but the most serious crimes are
being committed by psychopaths. Re-offinding rate is 5:1
➤
Most of us score less than 5, normally around 2, (PPI, Psychopathic
Personality Inventory)
ASIS CHINA 2015
Psychopaths in the corporate world
www.peaceofmind.hk
➤
Glibness/superficial charm, Grandiose sense of self-worth
and Pathological lying are the traits that often make
psychopaths "dream customers" or "dream employees". They
rarely show any signs of anxiety, uncertainty or confusion. Due
to the lack of emotional response, psychopaths do not exhibit
behavioral responses that we usually attach to lying.
ASIS CHINA 2015
Psychopaths in the corporate world
www.peaceofmind.hk
“If I wasn’t studying psychopaths in prison,
I’d do it at the stock exchange.”
Dr. Robert Hare
ASIS CHINA 2015
Psychopaths in the corporate world
www.peaceofmind.hk
CORPORATE WORLD
➤
PricewaterhouseCoopers reported that in 2003, 37 percent of
3,600 companies in 50 countries had suffered from fraudulent acts.
One quarter of the frauds was committed by senior managers and
executives with a sophisticated understanding of the company's
internal controls and risk management procedures. In 2004 the
fraud rose from 37 to 44 percent and in 2005 to 45 percent.
➤
In Hare & Babiak's study of 200 high-potential executives, about
3,5 percent fit the profile of the psychopath.
ASIS CHINA 2015
Psychopaths in the corporate world
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CORPORATE WORLD
➤
A number of psychopathic attributes were actually more common in
business leaders than in so-called disturbed criminals. (Board & Frizon,
2005)
➤
PCL-R tests were conducted with 200 voluntary top U.S. executives,
comparing the prevalence of psychopathic traits found in the
corporate world to that found in the general population at large. Not
only did the business execs come out ahead, but psychopathy was
positively associated with in-house ratings of charisma and
presentation style: creativity, good strategic thinking, and
excellent communication styles. (Hare et.al. 2010)
➤
Psychopaths, under certain extraordinary circumstances make better
financial decisions than the rest of us. (Ohira & Osumi, 2010)
ASIS CHINA 2015
Psychopaths in the corporate world
www.peaceofmind.hk
CORPORATE WORLD
➤
A number of psychopathic attributes were actually more common in
business leaders than in so-called disturbed criminals. (Board & Frizon,
2005)
➤
Psychopaths are more attracted to work for businesses that offer
fast-paced, high-risk, high-profit environments.
➤
Lack of specific knowledge about what constitutes psychopathic
manipulation and deceit among businesspeople was the corporate
con's key to success.
Babiak, P. & Hare R. (2006): Snakes in suits - When psychopaths go to work
ASIS CHINA 2015
Psychopaths in the corporate world
www.peaceofmind.hk
HR VS. FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY
LEADERSHIP TRAIT
PSYCHOPATHIC TRAIT
Charismatic
Superficial charm
Self-confident
Grandiosity
Ability to influence
Manipulation
Persuasive
Con artistry
Visionary thinking
Fabrication of stories
Ability to take risks
Impulsivity
Action oriented
Thrill seeking
Ability to make hard decisions Emotional powerty
Dutton, K. (2013)
The Wisdom of Psychopaths - What saints, spies and serial killers can teach us about success
Babiak, P. & Hare R. (2006)
Snakes in suits - When psychopaths go to work
ASIS CHINA 2015
Psychopaths in the corporate world
www.peaceofmind.hk
PSYCHOPATHS IN CORPORATE WORLD
1. Entry – psychopaths may use highly developed social skills and charm
to obtain employment into an organization.
2. Assessment – psychopaths will weigh one up according to one's
usefulness, and one could be recognized as either a pawn or a patron.
3. Manipulation – psychopath will create a scenario of “psychopathic
fiction” where positive information about themselves and negative
disinformation about others will be created.
4. Confrontation – the psychopath will use techniques of character
assassination to maintain their agenda.
5. Ascension – one's role as a patron in the psychopath's quest for
power will be discarded, and the psychopath will take for himself/
herself a position of power and prestige from anyone who once
supported them.
ASIS CHINA 2015
Psychopaths in the corporate world
www.peaceofmind.hk
PREPARING FOR THE INTERVIEW
➤
Two critical mistakes when approaching the employment interview:
not preparing for the interview and not being trained in interviewing
techniques.
Let the applicant do the talking
Take notes
Who controls the interview?
Do not decide alone
Stick to the plan
Know thyself
Ask for work samples
Verify the facts
Focus on action and behavior
Check for references
Clarify details
Look for appropriate feeling/
behavioral response
ASIS CHINA 2015
Psychopaths in the corporate world
www.peaceofmind.hk
QUESTIONS?
➤Questions
now?
➤Questions later:
➤[email protected]
➤+852 5329 1183
➤Skype: tottikarpela
ASIS CHINA 2015
Psychopaths in the corporate world
www.peaceofmind.hk
RESOURCES
➤
http://personality-testing.info/tests/LSRP.php
➤
This test is offered only for educational use. It is not a diagnostic tool or psychological
advice of any kind. Additionally, survey responses on this implementation may be recorded
for research purposes.
➤
Babiak, P. & Hare R. (2006): Snakes in suits - When psychopaths go to work
➤
Cleckley, Hervey. (1941). The Mask of Sanity. C.V. Mosby Co.
➤
Dutton, K. (2013): The Wisdom of Psychopaths - What saints, spies and serial killers can
teach us about success
➤
Fallon J. (2013), The Psychopath Inside - A Neuroscientist’s Personal Journey into the Dark
Side of the Brain
➤
Hare, RD. (1993). Without Conscience. Guilford Press: New York, NY.
➤
Levenson, M.; Kiehl, K.; Fitzpatrick, C. (1995). "Assessing psychopathic attributes in a
noninstitutionalized population". Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 68, 151-158.
ASIS CHINA 2015
Psychopaths in the corporate world
www.peaceofmind.hk