Can Psychopathic Tendencies Help You Achieve Success? | Science

Some psychologists argue that individuals with psychopathic traits, such as meanness, can excel in areas like business where boldness is advantageous. When we think of psychopaths, we often envision Hollywood villains like Hannibal Lecter or Anton Chigurh. However, psychopathic traits exist on a spectrum, ranging from mild to severe. There may be a psychopath sitting next to you right now. Some psychologists believe that the focus on violent and criminal behavior has overshadowed the study of “successful psychopaths” who can navigate society without getting into trouble, possibly even benefiting from their traits.

The definition of psychopathy has been widely misunderstood. Psychopathic traits exist in varying degrees in everyone and should not be romanticized or stigmatized. The study of successful psychopaths takes us back to the origins of the field. In his book “The Mask of Sanity”, psychiatrist Hervey Cleckley outlined the personality profile of a psychopath: superficial charm, egocentrism, and unreliability with an underlying antisocial core. Cleckley distinguished between psychopaths who could control their behavior and those who couldn’t. However, over time, psychopathy became associated primarily with dangerous and violent criminals.

In recent years, psychiatry has adopted a dimensional approach to psychopathy, emphasizing scales and spectrums of traits and symptoms. This has allowed researchers to study psychopathy outside of prisons and examine the behavior and biology of individuals with successful or mild psychopathy in the general population. Psychopathy is composed of various interacting traits, including meanness, disinhibition, and boldness. Meanness is aggressive resource-seeking without regard for others, while disinhibition manifests as a lack of impulse control. Boldness, on the other hand, involves social dominance, emotional resiliency, and venturesomeness.

While boldness alone does not make someone a psychopath, when combined with meanness and disinhibition, it can enable individuals to mask extreme behavior and excel in positions of leadership. Certain psychopathic traits can also be advantageous in specific careers, such as meanness in the corporate world where making cutthroat decisions under pressure is necessary. Some have even suggested that psychopathic traits like fearlessness and narcissism can lead individuals to behave heroically.

However, there is controversy surrounding the inclusion of boldness as a defining psychopathic trait. While some studies suggest that meanness and disinhibition explain antisocial behaviors, others argue that boldness plays a protective role in well-being and workplace behavior. The debate stems from a historical focus on studying violent and criminal psychopaths, neglecting the exploration of positive adjustment traits. Additionally, researchers studying the positive aspects of psychopathy lack a screening tool comparable to the one used to identify more severe cases.

In conclusion, the study of successful psychopaths challenges traditional perceptions of psychopathy and aims to understand the positive traits associated with the condition. By examining psychopathy on a spectrum and considering traits like boldness, researchers hope to gain a comprehensive understanding of this complex phenomenon.

 

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Jessica Irvine

Jessica Irvine is a tech enthusiast specializing in gadgets. From smart home devices to cutting-edge electronics, Jessica explores the world of consumer tech, offering readers comprehensive reviews, hands-on experiences, and expert insights into the coolest and most innovative gadgets on the market.