The Wisdom of Psychopaths

‘They do emotions by numbers,’

Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness and Neuroticism – think OCEAN – constitute the genome of human personality.

Psychopaths are fearless, confident, charismatic, ruthless and focused. Yet, contrary to popular belief, not necessarily violent.

He saw it as a selling point.

personality disorders are not the preserve of those who piss you off (a common misconception among narcissists).

Socialite–Hermit divide (Histrionic and Narcissistic on one; Schizoid, Schizotypal and Avoidant on the other) posted, respectively, high and low scorecards on Extraversion, while those either side of the Easy Rider–Control Freak border (Antisocial and Borderline in one camp versus Obsessive-Compulsive in the other) were similarly bipolar when it ca

‘an enduring pattern of inner experience and behaviour that deviates markedly from the expectations of the culture of the individual who exhibits it’.

The question of what it takes to succeed in a given profession, to deliver the goods and get the job done,

a grandiose sense of self-worth, persuasiveness, superficial charm, ruthlessness, lack of remorse, and the manipulation of others – are also shared by politicians and world leaders.