BOOK REVIEWS
BOOK REVIEWS
Without Conscience
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The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us
Author: Robert D. Hare, PhD
Publisher: The Guilford Press, January 1999)
Reviewed by The Ambassadors Research Foundation
Prof. Robert Hare, the distinguished University of British Columbia psychologist, estimated that one in 100 people in North America is a psychopath. His 236-page book entitled, "Without Conscience" includes ten chapters and was translated to many languages. He discusses how psychopaths are neither sociopaths nor psychotics, but rather people who are well aware of the difference between right and wrong but ignore the distinction. Additionally, they are egocentric and have no feelings of empathy, guilt or remorse. They view others as potential victims and they have a trial of unhappiness behind them. In those that have succumbed to their deceitful manipulations. The book clearly presents what psychopathy is, how it is expressed, and most importantly, how to identify it. It may save you a great deal of money, heartache, and maybe even your life. He also developed the standard checklist for diagnosing someone as a psychopath which will help everyone to understand the world around them.
How do you spot the psychopath among your work colleagues?
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Is your boss a psychopath? Here are just some of the tell tale signs
They are manipulative
They lack specific goals
They have superficial relations with people
They are impulsive
They are irresponsible
They crave power and prestige
They lack empathy
They lack remorse
They lie easily
They have predatory instincts
They are cool under pressure
They seek excitement and thrills
They take credit for the work of others
They fly into rages
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Professor Robert Hare delivered a public lecture on psychopaths at work in Belfast, in the conference organised by the British Psychological Society Its team is: Pro-Assessment and Management of Dangerous Offenders.
He mentioned that, "White collar psychopaths will defraud people of their life savings, then quite happily go to the Mediterranean, have a villa and never give it a thought. People might say he or she is charismatic, high profile or 'gets things done'. We have a whole series of euphemisms for the individual who may be self centred, grandiose, lacking in empathy and does not give a damn about everybody else."
In May 2006, Prof. Hare with his colleagues Prof. Paul Babiak will release their 320-page book entitled "Snakes in Suits" published by Reagan Books which will include nine warning signs and statements from a test of psychopathic behaviour, that will help to recognize psychopathic bosses or associates. Knowing these signs will help to take precautions to avoid becoming a victim to a psychopath:
can be smooth, polished and charming, yet comes as across as cold and calculating,
is opportunistic; hates to lose and plays ruthlessly to win,
turns most conversations around, to a discussion of himself/herself.,
discredits and puts down others in order to build up his/her own image and reputation,
lies to co-workers, customers or business associates with a straight face,
considers people he/she has out-smarted or manipulated as dumb or stupid,
regularly acts in unethical or dishonest manner,
has created a power network in the organization and uses it for personal gain,
shows no regret for making decisions that negatively affect the company, shareholders or employees.
The largest Canadian publisher of employment tests is about to
market an emotional intelligence test that identifies psychopathic tendencies.
The test looks for sixteen red flags that identify psychopathic behaviour, these
16 traits into four categories:
in their personal style, they are: insecure, arrogant, untrustworthy and manipulative;
emotionally, they are: insensitive: remorseless, shallow and blaming,
working with others, the are impatient, erratic, unreliable and un-focused;
the social behaviour: selfish, dramatic, unethical and bullying.
And Professor Hare, along with colleague Dr Paul Babiak, has developed a new 107-point questionnaire - the B-Scan - which can enable people like you and me to identify which desks those smooth-talking, manipulative colleagues might be hiding behind.
On August 17, 2005, in the Canadian Globe and Mail newspaper, Wallace Immen tried to answer the question, "do you work for a psychopath?" In his article, a cartoon by Brian Gable displayed a warning for all employees to be cautious of psychopathic bosses. In general, psychologists advise that for any employee who fails to protect himself/herself from a psychopath at work. The only option will be to leave and look for a job elsewhere.
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 Finnish "Ilman omaa-tuntoa" Publisher: Gilgames Oy |
"Uten Samvittighet: Psykopatene blant oss og deres foruroligende verden" Publisher: Ad Infinitum |
Publisher: Hayakawa Publishing |
"Sin Conciencia: El inquietante mundo de los psicópatas que nos rodean" Publisher: Paidos |
"Psykopatens värld" Publisher: Studentlitteratur |
