Sociopaths

The Sociopath in the Office Next Door
What to Do When You Work With Such a Person
By DAVIA TEMIN, Forbes.com
Nov. 23, 2010

....Four percent of the global population is made up of sociopaths, Dr. Martha Stout, psychologist and clinical instructor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, tells us in her book "The Sociopath Next Door". That means one out of every 25 human beings has no conscience, no sense of right or wrong, no empathy, no ability to understand emotion -- no soul. Worse, while they can mimic emotion, they see other humans as mere pawns or saps, to be used for their benefit or amusement, or both.

Add that to the fact that science now is questioning whether there is any difference at all between sociopaths and psychopaths, and that those with narcissistic personality disorder also have some of the same characteristics (an inability to care about anyone but themselves), it means that "evil" is all around us, even at work.

Sociopaths lie with impunity, cast blame where it does not belong, humiliate and berate their direct reports or colleagues. They set up co-workers, betray confidences and undercut good work because it is a threat to them.

....And this is the problem: The smarter the sociopaths, the harder it is to catch them. And, the more destructive they can become to individuals who interact with them and the organization as a whole.  FULL STORY

Also see Are CPS Sociopaths?