General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDo you think many CEOs and politicians today are psychopaths?
"Psychopathy ... a personality disorder characterized by a pervasive pattern of disregard for the rights of others and the rules of society. Psychopaths have a lack of empathy and remorse, and have very shallow emotions. They are generally regarded as callous, selfish, dishonest, arrogant, aggressive, impulsive, irresponsible, and hedonistic."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychopathy
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By definition.
Of course, most people who use the word think of someone like Charles Manson, Jefferey Daumer, or that kid that was constantly bullied in high school who has a sudden snapping moment and decides to stab his bully with a fork.
RC
(25,592 posts)Pick a politician and see how many apply:
1. Contemptuous of those who seek to understand them
2. Does not perceive that anything is wrong with them
3. Authoritarian
4. Secretive
5. Paranoid
6. Only rarely in difficulty with the law, but seeks out situations where their tyrannical behavior will be tolerated, condoned, or admired
7. Conventional appearance
8. Goal of enslavement of their victim(s)
9. Exercises despotic control over every aspect of the victim's life
10. Has an emotional need to justify their crimes and therefore needs their victim's affirmation (respect, gratitude and love)
11. Ultimate goal is the creation of a willing victim
12. Incapable of real human attachment to another
13. Unable to feel remorse or guilt
14. Extreme narcissism and grandiose
15. May state readily that their goal is to rule the world
(The above traits are based on the psychopathy checklists of H. Cleckley and R. Hare.)
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)high up on the sociopathic scale. I've also wondered, with respect to CEOs, if capitalism is fertile ground for those with sociopathic type behavior.
In my corporate life I've worked around/with a fair number of execs that could be up there on the sociopathic scale. Those cold steely eyes, looks of the supposedly bold strong CEO type, able to make the tough decisions/calls, well might have a lot more to do with sociopathic behavior reinforced by the rewards of runaway capitalism, greed, and anything goes for profit.
NoMoreWarNow
(1,259 posts)one of our biggest problems, imo
libinnyandia
(1,374 posts)RKP5637
(67,112 posts)LeftishBrit
(41,212 posts)There has always been a tendency for psychopaths to be the ones who seek and often gain power.