Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work

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Favorite targets include affinity groups like charities or religions, because such groups are built on mutual trust, which is easy to take advantage of.

One might think that conning or bullying traits in a job applicant would be so obvious to employers that such candidates would not be hired for important jobs, especially those where the ability to get along with others is critical. One might also think that abusive, deceitful behavior toward coworkers would eventually lead to disciplinary action and termination. But, based on the cases we have reviewed, this often is not the case. Make sense of the climate crisis Hear weekly from the biggest climate reporting division in Africa, reporting stories that concern you, your future and your environment. Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us – by Robert D. Hare, first published in 1993 In fact, we are sometimes the only ones attentive to providing for your deepest wants and needs, the only ones so deeply attuned to them for no ulterior motive immediately discernible by you. We observe our target and strive to become a facsimile of whatever or whomever that person wants – a good employee or boss or lover. It’s not always the case that the facsimile is malicious or ill intentioned. And it makes the target feel good for the course of the transaction and usually ends without harm.

In the following key points, you’ll learn about psychopaths and how they’re able to identify your weaknesses. Unfortunately, even an organization with sophisticated hiring and promotion practices would find it challenging to defend itself against these corporate cons. Even loyal coworkers—firsthand witnesses to much of the psychopath’s machinations—do not always understand what is happening. And, when some do raise the red flag, they may find that no one at the top responds to it. Kerr insinuates that one of the factors that might lead psychopaths and sociopaths to be successful, particularly in the corporate world, may just be their immunity to emotional distress, or “emotional bulletproofing”. Unfortunately, you’ll probably have to deal with a psychopath at some point in your life. You might not know who you’re dealing with when that happens. This updated edition is essential reading for anyo

In a bizarre twist of irony, it might be the sociopaths who come “to the rescue” in the end. But only because there is something in it for them.Of course, all new employees try to be charming when, for example, they meet their boss for the first time – that’s normal. The difference is that psychopaths have no intent of ever delivering any actual work.

In the same article, Isaacson writes: “I asked him again about his tendency to be rough on people. ‘Look at the results,’ he replied. ‘These are all smart people I work with, and any of them could get a top job at another place if they were truly feeling brutalised. But they don’t.’ Then he paused for a few moments and said, almost wistfully: ‘And we got some amazing things done’.” Most people think of psychopaths as serial killers, but that’s not the case. Psychopaths are actually charming and manipulative. They can be likeable and persuasive, which makes it hard to tell if you’re dealing with one. You’ll also learn how psychopaths manipulate their way into power in a company, while keeping coworkers and bosses unaware of the fact that they are sociopaths. Finally, you will discover how to prepare yourself for the unfortunate event of having a psychopath in your life. Although it’s rare to meet them, it’s likely that you’ll do so at some point or another, and you don’t want to be their next victim. Big Idea #1: Not all psychopaths are murderers.The interview with John went exceptionally well. As the interview ended, Dave extended his hand, smiled, and said, looking straight into John’s eyes, Thank you so much for your time. I look forward to working closely with you; I know I can help you realize your strategic vision. One of the more valuable contributions that this book makes is touching upon the existing tools that could be employed in helping to identify these individuals early. Doing so would allow them to be screened out of consideration for those promotions that they crave and that enable them to inflict so much damage on their organizations.

However, a word of caution: readers should not jump to conclusions about themselves or someone else being a psychopath based on these criteria, as only qualified professionals can make such diagnoses, and even perfectly normal people may exhibit several of these traits. Over the past decade, Snakes in Suits has become the definitive book on how to discover and defend yourself against psychopaths in the office. Now Dr. Paul Babiak and Dr. Robert D. Hare return with a revised and updated edition of their essential guide. Most workers are honest, loyal, law-abiding citizens, concerned with making a living, contributing to society, and raising a family in a fair and just world. Others, though, are more selfish, concerned only about themselves with little regard for fairness and equity. Unfortunately, there are some individuals in the business world who allow the responsibilities of leadership and the perks of power to override their moral sense. A rise in the number of reports of abuse in major corporations should not be a surprise, given the increased access to unrestricted power, resources of startling proportions, and the erosion of ethical standards and values. Once psychopaths have entered an organization, they start assessing the utility of everyone there. This is made easier by the fact that new employees are actually expected to actively seek out and meet everyone in the company in their first months. Psychopaths can thus easily assess the utility of coworkers, bosses and support staff, and then charm the relevant ones.Rapid business growth, increased downsizing, frequent reorganizations, mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures have inadvertently increased the number of attractive employment opportunities for individuals with psychopathic personalities” Finally, you’ll discover how you can prepare yourself for the unfortunate event of having a psychopath in your life. Because although they’re a rare occurrence, it’s likely you’ll meet one sooner or later, and you don’t want to become their lunch.