How to spot a psychopath at work - from a man who worried he could be one
Former London banker Geraint Anderson discusses how high-pressure corporate environments can incentivize and reward psychopathic traits. He reflects on his own career, noting how he adopted manipulative behaviors to succeed in the financial sector.
Why it matters
It highlights the ethical risks of corporate cultures that prioritize aggressive, emotionless decision-making and the potential for such environments to foster antisocial personality traits.
Image source, Nick Cunard Image caption, Geraint Anderson said success became an obsession for him during his time as a trader in London
Most of us have had colleagues who can be tricky to work with.
They may act impulsively, be manipulative, or even outright lie to advance their careers - but how can you tell the difference between an unpleasant co-worker and someone displaying psychopathic traits?
Geraint Anderson, a former London banker-turned author, said he was assessed by a clinical psychologist who told him he may have had "situational psychopathy" in order to succeed in the cut-throat corporate world.
"I had to really become a kind of worse version of myself in order to thrive in this environment," he said.
Anderson, 53, who now lives in Monmouthshire, said some modern workplaces and social influences reward psychopathic traits.
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