"Robert Hare, the eminent Canadian psychologist who invented the psychopath checklist, ... recently announced that you're four times more likely to find a psychopath at the top of the corporate ladder than you are walking around in the janitor's office," journalist Jon Ronson tells Guy Raz, host of weekends on All Things Considered.
Ronson is the author of a new book, The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry. The titular test is called the PCL-R. Invented by Hare, it's a checklist of characteristics common to psychopaths: things like glib and superficial charm, grandiosity, manipulative behavior and lack of remorse.
"Now, more than ever, the illusions of division threaten our very existence. We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another as if we were one single tribe.” -King T'Challa, Black Panther
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Science Chic wrote: it's a checklist of characteristics common to psychopaths: things like glib and superficial charm, grandiosity, manipulative behavior and lack of remorse.
I saw the interview last night on Jon Stewart with Jon Ronson, it was pretty interesting. He (Ronson) is a pretty interesting guy himself.
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RivendaleFarms wrote: I saw the interview last night on Jon Stewart with Jon Ronson, it was pretty interesting. He (Ronson) is a pretty interesting guy himself.
I ordered the book today and will report back soon.
I don't take much stock in psychologists labels. There are degrees to everyone's personality, and personalities as disorders is way too subjective. I think it is a stretch to say that CEOs are true sociopaths. Plus even his use of psychopath seems to be a way to just dramatize.
However, that being said, I happen to know what it is to be close to a true sociopath. They are extremely destructive, manipulative, charming and because thy have no conscience in any way they can lie and make people believe whatever they say. They never feel guilty for anything that they do. That is usually the difference. And they almost always get found out. But usually after they have cause hell somewhere.
We all know people at work that always were able to get the promotion and you knew that they were just good at the politics game at work. (watch office space sometime) It would seem to me, CEOs and some successful people have to have something that is real to back up their work title. Some of them may have problems with not doing the right thing and get caught but that does not make them a "psychopath'.
Believe me the traits they are talking about are different with a real sociopath. I am guessing some wall street sales types that keep being put in jail may fit this story or be true sociopaths.
Either way it is an interesting topic. I have to say many people are always interested when I say I know a sociopath for real and know what they are truly like. You have no idea how destructive they are. Scary destructive. I am interested in the book but I have seen these before. Believe it or not, all of us have traits of a psychopath (as he says) A true one is rare. And a checklist? Forget that. A true sociopath would never answer it truthfully anyway.
The lack of conscience and the manipulation were two of the main things he talked about in the interview. He has issues, for lack of a better term, of his own, especially around anxiety, so for him to take this on and considering some of the people he interviewed, it was pretty fascinating all the way around. He's also not blanketing "all CEOs are sociopaths or psycopaths," in fact it was only about 4% as the statistics went.
Sally Ball, Broker Associate
Keller Williams Foothills Realty
P: 303-838-3000 C: 303-506-7405 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
rivendalefarmandranch.com/
things like glib and superficial charm, grandiosity, manipulative behavior and lack of remorse.
I was going to say that these characteristics define women. But then I realized that I would suffer untold repercussions upon my life whenever my wife read such a statement from me. So....nevermind.
