I have long been interested in psychopathy and how it manifests itself in people and organizations.

Perhaps it is my journey to understand what makes people do what they do and why people at work on teams, managing others, taking direction from others, or just being together can be pulled into situations where they act irrationally.

Capitalism, at its most remorseless, is a physical manifestation of psychopathy

This American Life had an interesting episode #436, The Psychopath Test

You can google around and find self-assessments to see if you are a psychopath. And check out the PCLR Hare Psychopathy Checklist.

Watching the video, we see that we all have a continuum of psychopathy within us. As you read, think about your manager, your manager’s manager, and yourself…what levels of empathy and the human condition are subjugated to the throws of the system you are working in. The environment and actions you are forced to work within may entice behaviors that you would not normally exercise.

BUT maybe there is more a personality (innate) manifestation of behavior…perhaps the environment can manifest a dormant pathology, and the personality seeks to find a place where it can survive and thrive.

BUT maybe all of this is just nonsense, and like I say, “You are not a psychologist; you are a manager. Focus on the work.”

AND we have to be careful with the use of assessments to fool us into thinking they mean what we think or want them to mean.

 

What do you think?

Then again, I’m not sure your answers are valid because you may be a psychopath, and that is precisely how one would answer that question.