Many of the traits we seek in leaders, such as fearlessness, dominant behavior, and immunity to stress, are found in psychopaths.
Indeed, psychopaths are found in greater proportions among CEOs. Between 3% and 21% of CEOs are probably psychopaths, according to a 2016 study by Bond University psychologist Nathan Brooks. In 2021, Fortune found that 12% of corporate senior leaders in the United States showed psychopathic traits. In fact, most people display some symptoms of psychopathy — superficiality, glibness, promiscuity, etc. — and that does not make you a psychopath.
According to CNBC, while one out of five business leaders may show psychopathic tendencies, a certain "degree of nonconformity and unconventionally" can help drive innovation.
The standard screening test for potential psychopaths is the Hare Psychopathy Checklist. In the test, a clinician interviews a potential sociopath and scores them on 20 criteria, such as "promiscuous sexual Behavior" or "impulsivity." On each criterion, the subject is ranked on a 3-point scale: (0 = item does not apply, 1 = item applies somewhat, 2 = item definitely applies). The scores are summed to create a rank of zero to 40. Anyone who scores 30 and above is probably a psycho.
The test is meant to be done by a professional psychologist but if you really want to take it yourself — or make a layperson's guess at your boss's psychological makeup — keep scrolling: