Research into psychopaths has found that they are more likely to be successful in business and economics. This confirms the notion that business people are heartless and self-serving.
At the other end of the scale are people intending to study psychology. They are the least likely to have psychopathic traits.
Results taken from a survey of over 400 Danish students. They conducted an individual test along with providing information on their future academic choices. All information was collected before they started their course, so it is unlikely that business and economics courses turned them into psychopaths.
Those who intend to study business and economics scored more points on the "Triple Triad" of personality traits:
Psychopathy: Selfish, heartless, ruthless and antisocial.
Machiavellianism: manipulation, low morale and exploitation of others.
Narcissism: Excessive amounts of pride, fuss, and massive ego. At the same time, I have little sympathy for others.
The study authors conclude: “… there are more people with manipulative, ruthless and self-serving behavior in the corporate world than elsewhere. It has long been known that this is partly due to a specific human model, in which students of economics, business and law are constantly involved”.
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Studying business suits the psychopath and therefore makes sense, the authors write: “The pursuit of power, status and money, characteristic of individuals of the dark triad, can direct them, for example, to economics, business and legal education, because these formations open the way for a career in the corporate world, and the corporate world as a whole provides an environment in which people with dark personalities can use their qualities and succeed."
The study was published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences.
Yai Evgeniya
