Psychopathic CEOs Are Rife In Silicon Valley, Experts Say (theguardian.com)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Guardian: There is a high proportion of psychopathic CEOs in Silicon Valley, enabled by protective investors and weak human resources departments, according to a panel of experts at SXSW festival. Although the term "psychopath" typically has negative connotations, some of the attributes associated with the disorder can be advantageous in a business setting. "A true psychopath is someone that has a blend of emotional, interpersonal, lifestyle and behavioral deficits but an uncanny ability to mask them. They come across as very charming, very gregarious. But underneath there's a profound lack of remorse, callousness and a lack of empathy," said forensic and clinical psychologist Michael Woodworth, who has worked with psychopathic murderers in high security prisons, on Tuesday. According to recent studies there's a high prevalence of psychopathy among high-level executives in a corporate environment: 4-8% compared with 1% in the general population. This makes sense, according to Silicon Valley venture capitalist Bryan Stolle because "it's an irrational act to start a company." "You have to have a tremendous amount of ego [and] self-deception to embark on that journey," he said. "You have to make sacrifices and give up things, including sometimes a marriage, family and friends. And you have to convince other people. So they are mostly very charismatic, charming and make you suspend the disbelief that something can't be done." However, the positive attributes are accompanied by manipulation. "One of the main things that makes them extremely difficult to organizations is their willingness to manipulate through deception," said Jeff Hancock, a Stanford social scientist who studies psychopathy. "Psychopaths will handpick people they can use as lackeys or supporters, such as someone in HR they can have in their wheelhouse," said Woodworth.

Comments

Business

[PopeRatzo]

Although the term "psychopath" typically has negative connotations, some of the attributes associated with the disorder can be advantageous in a business setting.

What does this tell us about our economic system?

Re:Business

[meta-monkey]

What does this tell us about our economic system?

That it's a damn good idea to keep government and economics as separate as possible. If you put the government in charge of the economy, then the same psychopaths have control of both government and industry. Right now we at least have the possibility of competition between the economic psychos and the government psychos, so we can get them fighting each other instead of us.

Re: Business

[fazig]

Please don't further confuse people, by drawing in classifications made by people that are studying the mind, cannot cure these issues, and change the definition for them "frequently. "

Makes sense. Don't confuse people by using scientific definitions that everyone can look up themselves. Better use the arbitrary ones from anonymous random internet person who bases their definition on comic books and television.

Silicon Valley is like other places, then

[damn_registrars]

Wow, I'm shocked. CEOs in Silicon Valley have similar characteristics to CEOs in NYC, Washington DC, and beyond. Where's the news here? Did many people really think that the most valuable companies in Silicon Valley are actually still being led by the people responsible for their initial invention(s)?

How odd

[willoughby]

Why are the words "in Silicon Valley" in the title?

Re: Leadership

[GameboyRMH]

Hillary was actually a grizzled hardass compared to Trump, who is an impulsive lolcow who runs on preteen boy emotions. Admittedly this may result in more aggression, but aggression is usually not smart.

Re:hmm...

[whoever57]

I actually voted for the man. .... Simply the other choice was worse.

But her emails!

You, sir are an idiot. Seriously. Yes, Clinton would have been a terrible president, but compared to Trump, she would have been the best president the US has ever had. Instead, you voted for a racist, misogynistic bigot who takes his advice from someone who wants to destroy the USA.

The main problem with Clinton was the influence that Wall street had over her, but just look at Trump's appointments.

Re:Why the surprise?

[meta-monkey]

What makes you think Ramsey is a psychopath? Being mean doesn't make you a psycho. A psycho would tell you sweet lies to extract short-term resources from you, he wouldn't tell you harsh truths and scream at you to fix your fuck-ups so you can accomplish your dreams in life.

Re: Leadership

[wyHunter]

Indeed, I could see Mrs. Clinton give the order to execute billions, but somehow I find it unlikely for Mr. Trump to do so.

Re:Why the surprise?

[meta-monkey]

I'm saying he screams at the aspiring chefs on Hell's Kitchen, or the failed restauranteurs on Kitchen Nightmares, offering what appears to me to be really good (if harshly delivered) advice, and then appears genuinely pleased when they take said advice to heart and become successful. Ramsey behaves like a well-meaning asshole, not a psychopath.

Re:Why I can't take the "experts" seriously

[AutodidactLabrat]

If "Business Success" means selling defective products, lying to customers, stealing from Shareholders, yes, Business "Success" is mental illness.
Witness the "success" in the White House for examples.
Raise healthcare costs beyond reach for the old to give more tax cuts to the rich?
purest psychopathy possible.