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What is a Psychopath?
"Psychopaths are social predators who charm, manipulate and ruthlessly plow their way through life, leaving a broad trail of broken hearts, shattered expectations without the slightest sense of guilt or regret. Their bewildered victims desperately ask, 'Who are these people?'" We often think of psychopaths as the disturbed criminals who capture headlines and crowd the nation's prisons. But not all psychopaths are killers. They are more likely to be men and women you know who move through life with supreme self-confidence -- but without a conscience. "What makes them the way they are? How can we protect ourselves?" -- Robert D Hare, "Without Conscience"
The Human Capital and Management Library says: "High-functioning psychopaths...tend to rule the world. They rise to the highest levels of power in politics and business." They are smooth, charming and persuasive. Sometimes they project an image of caring. Sometimes they shy away from the spotlight. But the only thing they are really interested in is power. Dr David Mashburn says "high-functioning psychopaths can be very successful. They appear to be confident and calm and seem to have their act together. The defining characteristic is that they are insatiable liars and skilled manipulators." It's appropriate that we should be thinking about this right now because we are in a year where much of the leadership of the world will be changing gears. We can sense it in the air.
Significantly, it's happening in the two most powerful countries in the world. China has already selected its next president.. Elections, uprisings and threats of removals are also happening from Syria to France and from Russia to Mali. Politicians are not in this for the altruistic ideals they espouse. The political aphrodisiac is power. It is the ability to stride with kings and presidents, and the sure knowledge that your opinions will be listened to and acted upon.
And before we laugh, it is no different in business. In a recent piece of research, Clive Brody at Nottingham Trent University referred to the "corporate psychopaths" who caused the economic crisis because of "their lack of conscience... and their inability to have any feelings, empathy or sympathy for people". The other expert in psychopathy is Canadian Robert Hare, who found that a significant percentage of business leaders display "definite signs of being psychopaths". The extraordinary thing is that it is the very qualities that make people attractive to us as forceful, strong leaders that often conceal the worst parts of their personalities. So, in business as in politics, watch out for the suave manipulator who makes all those promises, and look again at what Jim Collins, author of Good to Great calls the "level five" leader: the outstanding one who will do an excellent job and who is usually an introvert, the one who shies away from the limelight.
Dutton claims the professions that seem to have the most psychopaths are: 1. Chief executive officer 2. Lawyer 3. Media (Television/Radio) 4. Salesperson 5. Surgeon 6. Journalist 7. Police officer 8. Clergy person 9. Chef 10. Civil servant Dutton also lists the following professions as least attractive to psychopaths: 1. Care aide 2. Nurse 3. Therapist 4. Craftsperson 5. Beautician or stylist 6. Charity worker7. Teacher 8. Creative artist 9. Doctor 10. Accountant
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According to the authors: Babiak and Hare, the corporate worlds (any organization run like corporations), are increasingly target-rich environments for psychopaths for four basic reasons: 1) Some core psychopathic personality traits (talents) may seem attractive in job applicants and get them hired; traits such as: assertiveness; ability to appear genuine when faking sincerity and honesty; ability to quickly assess vulnerabilities of people and manipulate them; shallow affect; take-charge narcissism; and expertise manipulating through schmoozing and networking; etc.; 2) Superficial notions of effective management and leadership (focus on hierarchy; taking charge; exercise of top-down power and decision-making but with avoidance of accountability; etc.) play right into the hands of psychopaths. Typical proclivities for megalomania, malignant narcissism, manipulation, intrigue and using/treating people as mere useful objects or instruments, may appear, to those themselves not real managers or leaders, or even to fellow psychopaths, as decisive management; and even leadership. Either like attracts like, or, those lacking substance, typically, are not willing to select for substance even if they could recognize it.
3) The changing nature and structures of businesses often favour psychopaths. As businesses become less hierarchical, more lean, more complex and more flat, and as businesses have to become increasingly flexible and agile, the devolution of power and accountabilityor at least accountabilityto what were lower levels of corporations, then, in such contexts, the take charge, ruthless, demanding, manipulative and apparently results-oriented managers, often psychopaths, appear increasingly attractive to those at the top who want power and perks but not proportionate accountability on themselves. What appear to be take -charge, as well as take-theheat types, sometimes psychopaths, appear to be perfect for those at the very top who want power and perks but not accountability. Of course, psychopaths typically do the same to those below them. 4) In the context of increasingly lean, complex and agile businesses and other institutions, the types of individuals who are willing to ignore cumbersome and constraining rules, laws, best practices in management, and, are ruthless and devoid of empathy, coupled with abilities to con and manipulate as well as direct, may be attractive in some fast-paced and ultra-competitive organizations. As Plato, one of the first recorded analysts of psychopathy (along with Lao-tze) put it: "Those who seek power are invariably the least fit to hold and wield it." Plato understood, perhaps instinctively, or perhaps from examples around him, that those who would self-anoint, self-proclaim, self-credential themselves as "leaders", to be parachuted "down" on and over, those they purport to "lead", demonstrate a certain level of hubris, absolute certainly, malignant narcissism and megalomania that is breathtaking and extremely dangerous. As an old Chinese aphorism goes: "Power is something a good person will not seek, and a bad person should not have." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmUXp_zE14E
Corporation: an ingenious device for obtaining individual profit without individual responsibility. The Devils Dictionary, Ambrose Bierce
What is an Alpha male? Does an Alpha male have similar psychopathic characteristics?
In the Alpha Male Syndrome, Kate Ludeman and Eddie Erlandson tell us that alpha males are aggressive, results-driven achievers who insist on top performance from themselves and others. At the extreme, alpha anger is explosive, alpha competitiveness is ruthless, and alpha aggressiveness and urgency is in the red zone. Former Disney chief Michael Eisner is a classic alpha male as is Chainsaw Al Dunlap, who was famous for his ruthless cost-cutting. Importantly, Ludeman and Erlandson continue, the alpha male drive for dominance that once assured the survival of t he toughest has become increasingly maladaptive. In an environment where brains count a whole lot more than brawn, a physical pipsqueak can be a giant. The co-authors endorse a more feminine style of leadership, noting that female managers tend to be perceived as more consultative and inclusive, whereas men are more directive and task oriented.
Similarly, in the Harvard Business Review article, Leadership Run Amok: The Destructive Potential of Overachievers, Scott W. Spreier, Mary H. Fontaine and Ruth L. Malloy explain how overachievers command and coerce rather than coach and collaborate, thus stifling subordinates. Overachievers are so bent on getting results that they cut corners, keep their plans to themselves and run roughshod over anyone who opposes them. Marshall Goldsmiths What Got You Here, Wont Get You There covers similar territory. He coaches executives on how to stop 20 bad habits such as never apologizing or thanking people, taking all the credit, interrupting rather than listening and, generally, needing too strongly to be right. Explaining why he put the excessive need to win at the top of his list of bad habits, Goldsmith states: Winning too much is easily the most common behavioral problem that I observe in successful people. He adds that the need to win is the core issue, because it underlies nearly every other behavioral problem.
Becoming an alpha male is one of the highest achievements a man can ever have. Its not just about learning how to be smooth with the ladies (but thats also part of it), there is so much more to the Alpha male lifestyle. Its all about living a life full of fulfillment and self-actualization. An alpha male lives inside all men; its what makes us manly as men. Its the Big Difference between us and the ladies. And women love it! They find it so irresistible. Its what really attracts them to men. A woman will say she wants a man who buys her flowers and listens to her stories and cares and bla bla bla (all that sissy stuff) but at the end of the day she will fall for the alpha male (Usually found in bad boys) and break all her rules. This is because for women attraction is not in the head; its in the heart. Its how they are wired To fall for Alpha Males And they cant help it. This is why you want to become an alpha male. But does been an Alpha Male mean we are also psychopathic?
12. A True Alpha male is not bossy. Not at all. He likes to listen to others opinions. If he is in a position of leadership he will let everyone share their thoughts and collectively find the solution. Thats why his co- workers love him! His team always wins. 13. He is not afraid to face his faults or admit when he is wrong. For a real Alpha male, there is nothing wrong with admitting when he has done something wrong. Its all about moving on with life, finding a solution, moving forward. If he wronged someone, he will politely admit and apologize, without making a big deal out of it, then move on to the next best thing. 14. He does not have to prove himself. An alpha male is being of very high self-esteem, he does not need anyones approval to make him feel better about himself. 15. Alpha males are very clever, smart and cunning people. Hes got a real keen mind. He will assess situations and find the best logical solutions. In business alpha males do very well, their analytical skill and keen mind goes a long way. 16. Dominant, not aggressive, Alpha males also possess superior social skills. 17. Social behaviour Hang out mostly with other alpha males. A true Alpha male finds the most value in hanging out with others like him. He also finds growth in doing this by learning from others who are better than him at one thing or another. That is why he never fails in life, he surrounds himself with people who are either like him or better achieved than him. Those are his company. 18. Physically fit. Alpha males are into healthy living and proper eating. They work out regularly; this also helps them become more focused on their goals and ambitions. This is why most Alphas are well built and all masculine. 19. Optimistic. Alpha males will always see the positive side of things and make the best out of what they have. A true Alpha male knows that in every problem there lies therein an opportunity. They just have to find it. Body Language 20. Alpha males talk slowly. They never rush things, they are always in control. They have a way of having their audience eat at their every word. They know they are important and when they talk they command this importance. 21. They walk slowly, not lazily. There is a difference. Alpha males are very controlled people. They are not always in a rush like everyone else. An Alpha male will be very disciplined to be on time or earlier for a meeting and well prepared. He will therefore have enough time to observe and think through his strategy. 22. Really Good Communicators. The alpha male is a great communicator both verbal and nonverbal. He shows his feelings through positive body language and is not afraid to show his sexual side. Women love this too Men who are not wussies at flirting and showing their sexuality. It is not about telling a woman that you love her. Its about expressing it in body Language and letting her read it with her subconscious mind.
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23. Witty. Alpha males have a high sense of humor; they always live on the fun side of life. Its never always too serious for them. 24. Alpha males know that they are important. When you call them (unlike Beta Males) they will take their time to turn their head and focus on you . You always have to prove worthy of their attention. 25. Alpha males Demonstrate Strength. The kind of strength that will make a woman believe that she is safe with him and that he can protect her when it comes to that. Women are generally the weaker sex, and always look for comfort in Alpha males; men who are dominant.
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http://www.minddisorders.com/Flu-Inv/Hare-Psychopathy-Checklist.html
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