THESE ARE THE TOP 10 JOBS MOST LIKELY TO ATTRACT PSYCHOPATHS (SHOULD WE BE WORRIED?)

[DogPawsBiscuitsNGrav]

From the book "The Wisdom of Psychopaths: What Saints, Spies, and Serial Killers Can Teach Us About Success"

Here’s the list of jobs with the highest rates of psychopathy:

1. CEO
2. Lawyer
3. Media (Television/Radio)
4. Salesperson
5. Surgeon
6. Journalist
7. Police Officer
8. Clergy person
9. Chef
10. Civil Servant
And the lowest rates of psychopathy:

1. Care Aide
2. Nurse
3. Therapist
4. Craftsperson
5. Beautician/Stylist
6. Charity Worker
7. Teacher
8. Creative Artist
9. Doctor
10. Accountant

For those who need a more "credible" source http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=psychopathys-bright-side-kevin-dutt-12-12-28

This is the original. I posted it because it detailed the list and I was being respectful of DU and the copyright laws.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/these-are-the-top-10-jobs-most-likely-to-attract-psychopaths-should-we-be-worried/

[flvegan]

1. Based on "a book"

Nice. That lends credibility. Especially for an ALL CAPS OP.

[DogPawsBiscuitsNGrav]

3. I copied and pasted the original title. It was capped. The book is by a psychologist - Kevin Dutton

[Mopar151]

5. This does'nt ring true to me....

Not passing the smell test......

[MADem]

9. Me neither--sounds like a "Make Money Horseshit" book! nt

[TheManInTheMac]

54. No doubt written by "an expert."

[ReRe]

63. Is there something in the water here at DU today?

What's wrong with books?
I think they are pretty neat things to have around and to read once in a while.

[GReedDiamond]

2. Sociopathic Chef jumps out for me...

...especially if he's packin his own "heat."

[ashling]

12. Really!

Chopped,. Cake Battles,BBQ wars, Iron Chef ..... they really play it up!

[longship]

23. Kick it up a notch. BAM!

Now I know what Emeril is about.

Thanks.

[pinboy3niner]

25. Today's Special: Liver with fava beans and a nice chianti!

Last edited Mon Jan 7, 2013, 03:23 AM - Edit history (1)

[ReRe]

37. ;-)

[pinboy3niner]

45. I also misread the title of Segami's thread about Donald Trump as...

NBC CHEF: We Might WHACK Trump If He Goes Too Far
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022146139

And I couldn't help but picture Hannibal Lecter.

[ReRe]

46. Off subject of thread...

... but how old was Anthony Hopkins when they filmed Silence of the Lambs? And Jody for that matter?

[TrogL]

30. My ex-boyfriend was in culinary arts

Chefs are sociopaths.

[zaj]

4. The Blaze?

On DU? Really?

[Mrs. Overall]

7. Very conservative site. Their recommended books are Glenn Beck, Oliver North, Bill O'Reilly.

Hmmmm.....

[BlueJazz]

6. If Kevin Dutton wrote of this then it's most likely to have merit.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=psychopathys-bright-side-kevin-dutt-12-12-28

[DogPawsBiscuitsNGrav]

14. Thank you. I copied and pasted the list, so per copyright infringement law I posted the blaze link.

I appreciate your adding this. I have to keep in mind when posting here never to post any news that isn't pre approved.

[BlueJazz]

17. Try not to let it get to ya. As soon as I saw Kutton's name I was very interested.

Welcome to DU.

[NoPasaran]

8. I wonder what Internet Troll's ranking is on that list

[ReRe]

38. ;-)

So true it's funny...

[backscatter712]

10. From Glenn Beck's little happy fun club?

Let me know when you have a real source...

[DogPawsBiscuitsNGrav]

15. is this good enough?

http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=psychopathys-bright-side-kevin-dutt-12-12-28

[backscatter712]

61. Yes it is!

Thank you.

[Hekate]

11. Civil servant? Chef? Clergy?

Where does this book get its "research" from?

[ReRe]

39. Hekate... it's true, darlin'...

You want I will create a bibliography for you? I've done a bunch of research on the subject of psychopaths/sociopaths, and the above list is true. As a matter of fact, I'm going to pick up that book soon and see how this guy's view compares to the other experts on the subject.

[socialindependocrat]

48. I'll support psycho-clergy

My first wife

Compulsive lier
Control issues
Mentally abusive
Self focused
I'm closer to God than you are

At the summer gatherings you could hear all the
discussion about how to control your congregation.

It seems that the list is of positions where people can
have control and influence over others.

[Puzzledtraveller]

51. Well my office floor is full of psychopaths then.

Family Support case workers!!!

[Gman]

13. I'm surprised lawyer was only #2

[darkangel218]

32. Yah, lawyers shouldve ranked #1.

They're nuts.

[amandabeech]

41. You are right.

I used to practice law, and let me tell you, many, many lawyers have no conscience, which is one symptom of a sociopath.

The more important the lawyer, the larger degree of sociopathology.

[ReRe]

64. I had an uncle who went to school forever to become a Corporate Lawyer....

.... when he found out how corrupt Corporations were (about a year), he quit. Never went back into law practice again. Became a country Preacher and never looked back.

[amandabeech]

67. I was a corporate lawyer, too.

It sounds like your uncle had a really bad experience, but not all the clients I dealt with were angels. There were a couple in which I had no confidence.

Sounds like your uncle found his true calling--literally.

[ReRe]

68. He was always the life of the party, not one of those stiff ...

...evangelical types. He succumbed to cancer about 5 yrs ago. Entire huge clan misses him very much. But, oh the memories!

[amandabeech]

70. He sounds wonderful!

He's undoubtedly in a much better place just waiting for a family reunion.

My Mom had a minister in her Methodist church that sounds a lot like your uncle--great sense of humor and an all around good guy. He retired, and many were really sad to see him go.

[2theleft]

16. NOT surprised CEO is #1 n/t

[limpyhobbler]

18. I knew surgeon had to be on there somewhere. Those dudes are crazy.

[Galileo126]

19. Hmmm....astronomer?

I wonder how I rate?

We always die a slow and sad death.

Very quiet, but our work is praised - albeit after death.

Harumph!

whatever.....

bt

[NashvilleLefty]

20. Very few surprises, but a couple are BIG!

The highest rates of psychopathy are really not surprising. Many are just "people who don't care" although some are people whose position require them to "remove emotion" in order to be totally objective.

The list of lowest rate was equally non-surprising except for #10 - Accountants. That one blew me away!

[dog_lovin_dem]

21. I, for one, am not at all

surprised to see "Clergy person" among the top ten. Even in the rural area where I live, I can think of 4 ministers off the top of my head who exhibit antisocial characteristics, one who has been convicted for child porn. As someone who has a BA in psych and MS in counseling, I have to agree with the author...the list seems legit.

[Jenoch]

22. What does a "Craftsperson" do and how much do they earn?

[PoliticAverse]

28. How much they earn depends on how crafty they are... n/t

[lunasun]

31. Skilled trade worker

depends on the trade
roofer,glassblower, technician,machinist just depends

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

24. LOL. I was a public servant therapist.

[dimbear]

26. Make a Venn diagram of #5 in list the first and #9 in list the second.

The fact that you have concentric circles is going to be a problem.

[Egnever]

27. Odd Why surgeons and not doctors?

[darkangel218]

29. Surgeons cut. Thats why.

I think

[LeftInTX]

35. Orthopedic surgeons break bones for a living!!

I don't know why surgeons would be psychopaths. I know from working with them they are more arrogant than other doctors and tend to have large egos.
Maybe because they don't interact with patients. I also think it is part of their training. I think as surgeons they are trained to be hyper-focused and naturally aren't very friendly.

[gkhouston]

59. You don't need social skills to be good at surgery?

[Incitatus]

78. It's specialty they get after becomming a doctor

It pays a LOT more and I understand they have much bigger egos. There are many more regular doctors than surgeons.

[tama]

33. Hierarchy and authority vs. nurture and creativity

Yes, "politician" belongs to the top of that list also. If we take a good look, we are ruled by narcissistic psychopaths also in "representative" systems.

And that basic human social psychology is the reason I'm against all sorts of power hierarchies and in favor of egalitarian anarchy.

You got psychopaths giving orders and according to Milgram experiments (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milgram_experiment) majority of us are ready to follow authoritarian orders to hurt others, at the cost of their own psychological well being.

[Live and Learn]

55. +1 nt

[tomm2thumbs]

34. I would have thought 'Authors of Books About Psychopaths Top Jobs' would have been on the list

maybe I missed it

[defacto7]

36. I'd agree with the list.

Personally speaking, I have had encounters that would verify, in my mind at least, the list to be a pretty reasonable observation within a certain margin of error.

[moondust]

40. Capitalist megalomaniacs run the world now.

Surrender, O ye weak and compassionate lovers of humanity, to your deeper cravings for omnipotent power and infinite wealth!

[ReRe]

42. Thank you for this post and reference to "The Wisdom of Psychopaths"

K&R

One of the best things to do to not become a victim of a psychopath/sociopath is to be able to know one when you see one. And in order to do that, you have to pick up a book and do some reading. Speaking of reading, I read this thread before I replied to you. There are some nay-sayers or doubters here, but please don't be offended by them. I know not being offended is easier said than done, but you will develop a thick skin if you stick around here long enough. That being said, your post does "pass the sniff test", as I have studied the subject of phychopathology/sociopathy. I do hope DUers will pick this book up and read it. They can ask for it at their local library too. Welcome to DU!

[socialindependocrat]

49. Personal experience - how to tell

I used to be a really nice guy and found that really nice people tend to attract very mean people.

This may be in the book you refer to but:

Early in my relationship my girlfriend told me she was pregnant to see how I would react. I told her I would marry her and be the
caring husband and we would live happily ever after. When she was satisfied that I was a controllable she admitted that she wasn't and just wanted to teach me a lesson.

During our marriage she would lie and would try to drive a wedge between any and all of my relationships so I was totally dependant on her.

She told me that she had conversations with my parents and they knew that I was a hard person to live with - a lie.

And - of course - the stuff that women usually get about - You're lucky you have me because no one else would have you if you left me.

And a biggie - They get really pissed if you tell someone else what they said - because they have such an intricate system of lies that they don't want anyone to be able to compare notes and find out what's been going on. Especially their parents.

So now, I am not as nice a guy as I used to be but I have a warning system that goes off when I feel that old bullshit getting slung by someone.

It still amazes me that someone who said they loved me and who married me would do things to me that I wouldn't consider doing to an enemy. Thus, the psychopathology and lack of feeling and caring for others.

[ReRe]

50. Yip, that's the one...

...glad your red flag alert is working now. Hopefully you did not have any children and are not with her any longer? I found myself in such a situation as yours once and it about blew me away. I went to the library and searched every psychological book I could find and started reading, one-by-one and finally after about the 10th book of case histories, bingo. There I was. Or I should say there my spouse was, as well as many others I had been acquainted with up to that point in my life.

Here's a couple books you could pick up (of course, in addition to the one referenced by the OP) if you are interested in reading more about these not-so-rare-anymore dangerous rabbits in our society:

The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout and

People of the Lie by M. Scott Peck

I get my online books at www.AbeBooks.com, where if you just are looking for content, you can get books in pretty good condition at garage sale prices, or at highest prices, if you're a collector. (Iam not associated with abebooks.com in any way.)

The books I referenced in this reply are user friendly, really great starter books for the general layman on this subject. I am working on a bibliography to upload in this thread later which follow along with the OP referenced book.

[Z_I_Peevey]

53. Here's another really good one:

http://www.lovefraud.com/blog/books/red-flags-of-love-fraud/

The information is good in other contexts, but is presented in the frame of dating a sociopath/psychopath. Excellent guide to spotting them.

I plan to read the Dutton book, even though I'm wary that it presents sociopathic behavior as something to be desired or emulated. The title is very off-putting.

[ReRe]

65. I agree...

...I don't care too much for the title either...

[socialindependocrat]

58. Another interesting case...

I was in a group of seminar leaders for Rape Prevention
at work. We had a yearly conference and were shown a new module about battering. After the presentation I was asked what I thought and all I could say was that I was in a daze and memories kept popping up about my wife abusing me - a male. In the group of 100 people there were 5 other males who all spoke up about being battered or psychologically abused by their wives.

Wait for it...

One guy said that he enlisted in the army and got shipped to Viet Nam so he could get out of the situation.

It says a lot when someone will choose to face death
instead of continuing to exist in an abusive relationship.

I guess the same question can be asked here that is asked of women in abusive relationships - Why didn't you just leave?

Anyway - new info for future reference.

Thanks for the book references!

[ReRe]

69. You and I are going to talk all day long!

Sorry.. as per your last post about abused hubbies. I would have thought that that was impossible, buuuuut, I have a nephew who's 1st marriage was from hell. Believe it or not, she broke his FOOT!

[gkhouston]

60. It's true... if you've been around one you're more likely to recognize another.

And let your story be a warning to others... "just wanted to teach me a lesson". When you see that sort of game-playing, run, do not walk, in the opposite direction.

[sylvi]

43. 5. Surgeon

LOL I'll have to use that one on some of the docs I know at work.

Then again, maybe not. I have a hernia surgery coming up.

I would have thought dentist would be in there somewhere:

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With apologies to any DU dentists, of course.

[Bicoastal]

44. Offhand I can't think of any fellow Creative Artists who were psychopaths...

...oh, right.

[Bucky]

47. What about web board moderators? I've often suspected them.

[tama]

56. It's not just "character flaw"

but also "all power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely".

Individuals can have various degrees of tendencies to psychopathic behavior or resistance to it, which are strengthened or healed by the the environment.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_prison_experiment, mods are the same phenomenon, to lesser degree.

[Bucky]

72. That's a terrible thing to say about Skinner!

I'm sure it's not true about Earl, either.

[tama]

73. Philosopher Kings

relax and delegate control to Jury system in innovative social experiment.

[pinboy3niner]

74. Hmmm...Bucky may have a point about that psycho thing

[tama]

75. According to Aristotle

philosophical knowledge is defined by taking theoretical distance and attitude to world. Meaning, psycho philosophers don't go to Meta without a bag of popcorn to follow the show of psycho authoritarians and authoritarian followers...

[duffyduff]

52. School administrators need to be on the highest rates list

Lots and lots of unfit people are in those jobs.

[Romulox]

57. What, no politicians? nt

[tama]

76. Shh ;) nt

[Initech]

62. My brother is an ER resident and has repeatedly backed up the surgeon = psycho claim.

[nadinbrzezinski]

66. I wonder where a journalist

Who s also an aspiring novelist, and has had an RPG company ranks



Interesting.

[demmiblue]

71. #1

Because everyone else were put on ignore!

JK!

[Scootaloo]

77. As a chef, I can affirm #9

I have not met another chef who was NOT off his or her rocker. But we have an excuse; sometimes people order well-done steaks. And send it back because they wanted medium-rare. because "other places undercook their steak." And then ask if you can make some hot dogs for the kids they brought along. Without the skin.

People don't become chefs because they're psychopaths. People become psychopaths because they're chefs