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I actually disagree with the fact that nurses, teachers and therapists are not psychopaths. Psychopaths crave power and control over others...those three professions give a person, especially a woman, female psychopaths, an outlet for that need to dominate and control others....think Nurse Rachet, in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest".
Believe me, I have worked in both the medical and educational field...I have seen things that were beyond belief. But, psychopaths cover themselves well...
An example, a teacher singled out one child in her classroom...constantly bullied that child. She choose a weak target, with a working single Mother...who barely had time for the child. This child was given poor grades. Always targeted for something...put in time out, out in the hall...and the teacher always had reasons why this child was causing trouble...
Another example...a Social Worker, she worked for CPS. She often faked her paperwork, to show she worked more than she actually did. She was cruel to a minority unwed Mother, wrote a report and had the woman's children put in foster care...all because she could. There are grey areas in CPS, where you look to make the kids safe...but also provide support for a struggling parent...this worker took bribes to look the other way from affluent people, and was harsh with women on welfare....nice. But....she covered herself very well...no proof....and when she was confronted with a lot of issues, she quit, before being fired. They let her go away quietly....because they did not want publicity.
Those are just two examples I know of personally...I think a man wrote that article....men don't like to acknowledge female psychopaths....
I just skimmed the article, but based on the idea of careers being divorced from feelings being prime pickings for psychopaths and then to list doctor and accountant in the second more empathic list, doesn't really jibe. How touchy-feeling is accounting? There are plenty of doctors with psychopathic personalities. I worked with many attorneys and can see why that one's on the list.
Accountants are in the "least likely to be psychopaths" list? Pfft... not at the jobs I've had.
I work in accounting. Most of the people I have worked with are passive, wimpy, and boring. Not really what I would describe as charming, social, or manipulative people. Not to say they are all great people because they aren't, but, I can't imagine any of them fooling or persuading people with charm. Socially they just aren't sophisticated enough to really pull one over with their charm alone and they are too wimpy and passive to be confrontational or aggressively go after somebody.
I work in accounting. Most of the people I have worked with are passive, wimpy, and boring. Not really what I would describe as charming, social, or manipulative people. Not to say they are all great people because they aren't, but, I can't imagine any of them fooling or persuading people with charm. Socially they just aren't sophisticated enough to really pull one over with their charm alone and they are too wimpy and passive to be confrontational or aggressively go after somebody.
I tend to agree.
Psychopaths aren't really social either though. In fact, they're the opposite of social (Psychopathy is also known as Anti-Social Personality Disorder). They only pull the strings of people around them long enough to achieve their goal (which can include using wit and charm on them), then they toss the people around them to the wayside like trash with no concern of how much they've misused/abused them. Truly social people, on the other hand, actually care about people and their feelings, at least in theory.
Doctors and Nurses, in theory, want to help people no matter what sacrifices they make personally. So they wouldn't fit the definition of a Psychopath. Accountants tend to be very non-confrontational and aren't very complicated (just let them count their numbers and enjoy their money). They just don't care either way. So they also wouldn't fit the definition of a Psychopath.
But again, the list in the OP doesn't show that "CEOs are Psychopaths and Doctors are not Psychopaths", rather it shows what occupations Psychopath tend to be most attracted to.
Psychopaths aren't really social either though. In fact, they're the opposite of social (Psychopathy is also known as Anti-Social Personality Disorder). They only pull the strings of people around them long enough to achieve their goal (which can include using wit and charm on them), then they toss the people around them to the wayside like trash with no concern of how much they've misused/abused them. Truly social people, on the other hand, actually care about people and their feelings, at least in theory.
Doctors and Nurses, in theory, want to help people no matter what sacrifices they make personally. So they wouldn't fit the definition of a Psychopath. Accountants tend to be very non-confrontational and aren't very complicated (just let them count their numbers and enjoy their money). They just don't care either way. So they also wouldn't fit the definition of a Psychopath.
But again, the list in the OP doesn't show that "CEOs are Psychopaths and Doctors are not Psychopaths", rather it shows what occupations Psychopath tend to be most attracted to.
To my understanding, anti-social behavior doesn't mean you don't socialize or have friends. It means you have no empathy or conscience. I also used to work in sales. I worked with many people who knew how to scam others and make people believe them even when they may have burned the person before. To me, that is social behavior and takes a certain level of sophistication that many people don't have. It has nothing to do with caring for others, but, being able to get over on folks time and time again.
Also, I think anyone who actually believes that everyone in a particular occupation is one way or another is a fool. I don't think anyone assumed all people in certain professions are psychopaths. I used to work in sales and I'm definitely not a psychopath, but, I can see how someone who likes power and control would be attracted to it. It takes a certain skill set to be good at it.
Currently, I work in accounting the personality types are very different and someone who likes to dominate and control wouldn't be happy staring at a computer and pushing paper all day.
Last edited by knt1229; 11-11-2012 at 07:02 PM..
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