Psychopaths are as prevalent in the Corporate world [and POLITICS] as they are in Prisons

At the same time ethical and integrity issues surrounding the Sam Dastyari affair and Corporate donations to political parties is top of mind a very closely related item has hit the newspapers.

Journalist Anna Patty published a story in the SMH today titled "One in five bosses is a psychopath, research reveals."
Ref: http://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace-relations/one-in-five-bosses-is-a-psychopath-research-reveals-20160913-greyg6.html

Anna reports that: "Forensic psychologist Nathan Brooks and research colleagues Dr Katarina Fritzon of Bond University and Dr Simon Croom of the University of San Diego looked at the psychopathic traits of people working in the business sector. Their research will be presented at the Australian Psychological Society Congress in Melbourne this week."

Nathan Brooks suggests executive recruiters should place a higher priority on assessing the personality traits of candidates. He said, "Many companies have their recruitment screening back-to-front."

"It needs to be firstly about the candidate's character and then, if they pass the character test, consider whether they have the right skills." Dr Brooks said.

It's is at least self-evident to myself that this approach surely needs to start applying to political candidates, as well as those 'executives and staff' working across Political Parties and taxpayer supported Think Tanks.

Scientific research such as this objectively supports the increasingly common view of the need for an ICAC styled Federal Anti-Corruption body being established.

Likewise it indicates that calls for a Banking-Finance-Insurance Royal Commission are more than justified.

The SMH report goes on to say:
The 2008 Global Financial Crisis has prompted researchers to focus on the so-called "successful psychopath" - high-flyers with psychopathic traits including insincerity, a lack of empathy or remorse, egocentric, charming and superficial.

Dr. Brooks said the research has major implications for the business sector because the "successful psychopath" may also engage in unethical and illegal business practices and have a toxic impact on other employees.

"Typically psychopaths create a lot of chaos and generally tend to play people off against each other," he said
[end quote]

Australian authors of study:
http://www.forensicpsychologycentre.com.au/nathan-brooks/

http://www.researchgate.net/publication/239795209_Self-Report_Psychopathy_in_an_Australian_Community_Sample

http://bond.edu.au/researchers/research-strengths/faculty-research-profiles/society-design/c-firm

and http://apps.bond.edu.au/staff/profile.asp?s_id=415

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It's not first time issues around Corporate Psychopaths and Destructive Leadership have made the news.

My own personal experiences and anecdotal reports tell me that there is no shortage of psychopathic, narcissistic, antisocial tendencies present at most senior levels in Australian businesses and institutions especially the Media.

I know that 'Eddie O'Beid' is not One-Off Exception - but IS the Rule. Psychopathy manifests in all kinds of ways but is kept private, covert, unseen, and rarely reported by those who know.

Victims of psychopaths in business (people with integrity usually) have to quit to get away - if they are not fired first.

Integrity and a Conscience is always looked at a direct THREAT.

Anyone with involvement up to Board level would know for certain the Minutes of Board Meetings do not always reflect the nature of business done nor cover all 'the discussions' behind decisions made.

Should a concerted public call for effective Whistle-Blower protections in Business arise, I believe corporate reactions will make the response to the Mining Tax look like a minor 'storm in a tea cup.'

"There's nothing new under the Sun." Behind every institution and corporate entity are real people coming in all shapes and sizes. Human psychology including pathological personality disorders and psychopathy are never far away.

Google Scholar is a great resource
See http://scholar.google.com.au/scholar?hl=en&q=corporate+psychopath&btnG=&as_sdt=1%2C5&as_sdtp=

"SNAKES IN SUITS: When Psychopaths Go to Work" by Paul Babiak and Robert D. Hare an excellent from 2006
http://tamingthewolf.com/wp-content/uploads/Snakes-in-Suits-Excerpts.pdf

Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised
http://www.cbc.ca/doczone/features/the-hare-psychotherapy-checklist
http://www.minddisorders.com/Flu-Inv/Hare-Psychopathy-Checklist.html

What Is a Psychopath? http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/mindmelding/201301/what-is-psychopath-0

The Dunning-Kruger effect - poorest performers are the least aware of their OWN INCOMPETENCE.
http://www.spring.org.uk/2012/06/the-dunning-kruger-effect-why-the-incompetent-dont-know-theyre-incompetent.php

Kruger, Justin; Dunning, David - Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 1999
http://psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/1999-15054-002

How to Recognize a Narcissist
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/narcissistic-personality-disorder/basics/definition/con-20025568

DSM’s requirements for NPD:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolution-the-self/201311/6-signs-narcissism-you-may-not-know-about

Who are Pathological Narcissists and Emotional Manipulators?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7j2axIRja4 (5mins)

Unmasking Narcissists - Sam Vaknin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU305NqXT94

Exploring the Psychology of Wealth (9mins)
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business-jan-june13-makingsense_06-21/

On Wealth and Wrongdoing: How Social Class Influences Unethical Behavior
http://escholarship.org/uc/item/57x7n454

Global Economic Symposium (GES) 2013 - interview with George Lakoff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjNwXx2DwcQ

Professor George Lakoff on The Political Mind
http://library.fora.tv/2008/06/20/George_Lakoff_on_The_Political_Mind
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Albie Manton in Darwin, I agree totally with your assessment of trainees.

I have three apprentice butchers, a 1st year and two almost ready to qualify.

When my boys finish they will be capable of running a shop, however, all that is required is that they perform each task just once and in some shops they never do that task again.

The result is that in butchery these days there is an alarming trend whereby so called 'qualified butchers' are having difficulty holding a job as their skill levels are simply below par and they don't represent value for money.

Self assessment has been a dismal failure.

I want to chuck in my 2 cents and state that I am sick and tired of the mistruths and attempts to manipulate my thoughts and opinions by the corporate media, who treat me like a mushroom.
Almost every single article I read these days seems like it was written by some leftist globalist halfwit that seeks not to give it to me straight, but tries to influence me with biased BS.
And they are written in a way that starts out non-biased but you know where they are going.
They treat me like a 5 year old that can't think for myself and its downright insulting.
For they represent the kids at school who were bullied, immigrants and queers who were picked on and pretty much give a voice to any weakling that screams inequality at the expense of our country.

They're traitors and I'm fed up with reading their war mistruths and propaganda.

Here's the article that angered me.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/syria-a-brutal-time-warp-to-cold-war-rivalry-20160919-grjep2.html

It's really peeving me because we are at the brink of WW3. (And no-ones paying attention)
If Syria is lost, Israel and Qatar will get the oil pipelines they want into Europe destroying whats left of the Russian economy.
So it's do or die for Russia.

US is in a similar position.
If it doesn't keep support for the Petrodollar its economy goes down too.
And we see that the US isn't budging.
US is being pushy, forcing it's hand trying to stop Assad flying in his own country.

Interesting article showing things are heating up.
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950631000607

Not only are we at the brink of WW3 but we deliberately took part in firing the first shot.
The attack on those Syrian soldiers a few days back ended any chance for peace between Russia and the US.

So now all out war IMO is inevitable, unavoidable and history books might one day say that it's already begun.

@Armchair Critic, comes out fighin' fists a flying - by some leftist globalist halfwit - but tries to influence me with biased BS. - I'm fed up with reading their war mistruths and propaganda. - It's really peeving me because we are at the brink of WW3. (And no-ones paying attention) -- (I AM HAVE BEEN FOR YEARS) --

Ouch! Damn, you're da man (nothing new there for me) - but what I do not get (seriously) is the first line " by some leftist globalist halfwit " .... I haven't read your link yet (maybe I should have) but generally these matters are usually ALL Neocon CIA PR Neoliberal driven BS.

Now I know that Labor have been on the neoliberal bandwagon since Hawke/Keating but they were not "leftists" and nor is todays Labor Party .... so I am 'confused' by your labels.

Man I have seen articles on the Guardian and others that pure shill Neocon rhetoric that must have been written by a CIA Operative sitting in the White House and not a UK/French journo which the byline said.

so fwiw "globalist" is NOT a leftist conspiracy it is driven by Finance and Big Business = shareholders and movers and shakers - it is not a workers neo-nirvana.

And fwiw the last thing Obama and Hillary are "leftists" or "socialists" so if you're calling them "lefties" that ain't right or kosher, they are not.

But Obama sure did go into bat for the good ole "globalisation bs is great for jobs and growth" myths at the UN .... he's a great at giving speeches ... but so was Hitler. (shrug)

Oh and btw, if WW3 is on our door step everyone will lose, but the US definitely will not win this one. Dumb Europeans should have dumped NATO and we should have dumped anzus long long ago. But whatever, the traditional career politicians are idiot hacks and brainwashed zombie cultists, let's face it.

PS "You have to be more intelligent than your fear."

- said Magda Szubanski's father who hid Jews in Poland during WW2

@Armchair Critic fwiw parse it carefully

The SMH article was wishy washy smarmy nothing of import imo. reusing the poor kids photo as if it means anything - may as well toss in some lolcats and keep people 'happy'

re "The operations room was located in the Western part of Aleppo province - Several US, Turkish, Saudi, Qatari and British officers were also killed along with the Israeli officers."

Um, idiots! Putin did warn Netanyahu straight before the Russians went into to Syria. Oh well - why are they on Syrian territory near Aleppo in the far NW?

No one told us that on the 6 o'clock news nor in Parliament - LOL

and who said: "No US boots on the ground in syria"?
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160916/1045389953/moderate-rebels-chase-us-commandos.html

new airbase
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160910/1045164527/russia-iran-hamadan-base.html

a fellow at Defense Priorities and Master in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government says:
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160917/1045400544/russia-syria-us-disengagement.html

(syrian oppostion party) We need to look at this issue objectively, and to admit that a Third World War is taking place in Syria, one which is led by the US and its allies – even if these allies are simultaneously victims as well.
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160922/1045602725/wwiii-in-syria.html

Then there's Obama's UN speech. A drover's dog and a stray cat did turn up to hear Turnbull's. :-)

What can I say
http://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/review-dangerous-allies-by-malcolm-fraser/
- Malcolm told me he'd read it. Fat lot good that did him.
<shaking my head>

Madness, it was always going to go this way - Yanks are too stupid by half and most of them Paranoiac Schizophrenics I was told by a Psyche once - oh, all in my humble opinion.