10 Positions that attract the most sociopaths: 1. CEO. 2. Lawyer. 3. salesperson. 4. Journalist

[Cal33]

5. Surgeon. 6. Policeman. 7. Media. 8 Clergyman. 9. Chef. 10 . Civil servant.

Also, just Google "The world is ruled by sociopaths," and maybe you'll get the surprise
of your lives.

http://mic.com/articles/44423/10-professions-that-attract-the-most-sociopaths

[MineralMan]

1. Interesting, but the article at that website offers no supporting

information. Could just be speculation, based on an amateur analysis. I wouldn't put much credit in it.

[Cal33]

3. Then just Google "Sociopaths rule the world." There are hundreds of thousands of articles

for you to choose from. Some of them are written by professionals.

[MineralMan]

4. I'm commenting on the article you posted.

It's an unsupported list of categories of people. If you post a professional article, I'll read that, too. This wasn't one, I'm afraid.

[Cal33]

5. Okay, here's one link below:

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/drishtikone/2013/10/are-ceos-and-entrepreneurs-psychopaths-multiple-studies-say-yes/

[MineralMan]

6. That's a good example of a well-supported article.

It's not a Top Ten list without any supporting information. Top Ten lists on random websites are pretty much useless as information sources. This article is not one of those.

[PATRICK]

2. Chicken or egg

and reinforcement by the ones already in place? I notice how supervisors are chosen not just by politics but by certain personalities and inclinations and THEN pressured to act and think like sociopaths for the culture of unfettered and people hostile business.

You meet certain jerks and though entirely unformed in political commitments move remorsely toward the biggest assholes running- and of course Fox News GOP in general. Seduced by hate and greed and abusive power(but not even the illusion of unselfish use of power). The event horizon of a black hole can swallow anyone but especially those attacted to the dark.

[Cal33]

10. I agree. ........

P: and reinforcement by the ones already in place? I notice how supervisors are chosen not just by politics but by certain personalities and inclinations and THEN pressured to act and think like sociopaths for the culture of unfettered and people hostile business.

c: In the corporate world, the junior execs. most likely to be promoted fast are the ones who bring in most business
to their companies. Those sociopaths without consciences are the ones who wouldn't mind using dirty tricks to increase
business and are smart enough to not get caught at it, they are the ones who will get promoted the fastest. The person
with an average consciences wouldn't do those unfair tricks. Their promotions come slower.

p: and reinforcement by the ones already in place? I notice how supervisors are chosen not just by politics but by certain personalities and inclinations and THEN pressured to act and think like sociopaths for the culture of unfettered and people hostile business.

You meet certain jerks and though entirely unformed in political commitments move remorsely toward the biggest assholes running- and of course Fox News GOP in general. Seduced by hate and greed and abusive power(but not even the illusion of unselfish use of power). The event horizon of a black hole can swallow anyone but especially those attacted to the dark.

c: Some 50 years ago Neo-Cons joined up with the Republicans. They worked their way up the political ladder, took over power,
and eventually kicked out the old-timer Republican establishment. All this was done quietly, and the Neo-Cons were smart
enough to keep the Republican Name, so that the masses who vote Republican never even knew that a coup had taken place.
The masses still think they are voting Republican, when their Party no longer even exists.

I was wondering if the latest group to join the "Republicans", the Tea Partiers, will eventually kick out the Neo-Cons in turn. The
"Republican Party" has degenerated into something awful, with more and more primitive types joining their ranks. In time any
prospective party member will have to be a sociopath first, before even being considered for membership.

[yardwork]

15. Sociopathy is different from giving in to pressure.

I worked with somebody who probably fits the definition of a sociopath. Yes, our job is high pressure, but so are most jobs, and most people manage without lying, cheating, sneaking around, and generally behaving like an asshole. He stood out and not in a good way.

[Cal33]

18. I think there are different degrees in sociopathy. Some have more of the symptoms and in

greater severity than others. Some of them, especially the brighter ones, know that they
are sociopathic, and they have learned to hide them and to practice them in more
sophisticated and secretive ways. I believe these are the successful ones who rise to
the top in corporations, for instance.

[steve2470]

7. sociopaths aka psychopaths are attracted to power and money

Any position that offers one or both of those, attracts sociopaths. Unfortunately, politics offers a way to obtain both. Any position that offers power in any form over other human beings attracts that type.

[ananda]

8. I sometimes think that there is some sort of job requirement..

.. demanding that applicants sell their souls.

It can be a devil's bargain for sure.

Not many can resist it.

[Fred Sanders]

9. Sociopathic is not psychopathic...apparently many "sociopaths" can channel their inclinations positively, hence the

difference in words used.

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2015/02/12/differences-between-a-psychopath-vs-sociopath/

[hifiguy]

11. Business schools churn them out by the tens of thousands every year.

I only met two or three genuinely sociopathic-seeming people in law school.

One stood out, though. Guy from NYC who was set on going into investment banking and wanted to know how to avoid the law. He once said that "I intend to get as rich as I can and I don't care how many bodies I leave behind me." He's a very big wheel at a major investment bank now.

[Cal33]

16. I wonder if business schools should have a mandatory course in "Business & Morality" in

their curriculum. Not that it would make any difference. Sociopaths and psychopaths
could pass the course with an A+ and still remain sociopaths.

[treestar]

12. What percentage of the population is sociopaths?

Not enough to justify broad brushing particular professions.

Stuff like this just makes people sound jealous of those who achieved being in those professions.

[Cal33]

14. According to DSM IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual - IV) used by mental health professionals,

sociopaths and psychopaths (variants of "anti-social personality disorders&quot vary between 2% and 4% of
the general population. Schizophrenics form slightly less than 1% of the general population.

[treestar]

20. that's not many, so it can't affect a profession.

and it is "according to the author" - is this based on any scientific survey? Probably not. The author just explains why he dislikes the various professions.

No, you don't want your lawyer to be bloodthirsty. A person who wants that is the sociopath themselves. The lawyer should be the one from who you seek advice on what the law is and how it affects you.

there is nothing wrong with being a clergyman or policeman. There is nothing to prove sociopaths are attracted to any particular job.

[Cal33]

21. "DSM" stands for "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual." It is written by psychiatrists, and is the

official diagnostic manual of the American Psychiatric Association. A new edition comes out
every now and then. The latest edition is the DSM-5.

2 to 4% may not sound like much, but that is the figure for the general population.
Certain professions attract sociopaths as described in the link to the OP, so there is a
much higher concentration of sociopaths in these professions. In a position such as
president of the US, all you need is one person. Would you agree to the statement
that the damage done to our country by Bush, Jr. is just about incalculable?

The places with the highest concentration of sociopaths are prisons. Even there not
all the inmates are sociopaths. Also, people who are wealthy and/or have connections
are rarely found in jail.

[Nye Bevan]

13. Where is "politician" on the list?

Since 1976 I think we have only had two presidents who were not sociopaths (Carter and Obama).

[Cal33]

17. Politicians are made up of people from all professions, but I suspect the highest

percentage of them are lawyers.

[hifiguy]

19. I believe that is the case.

And many of them call to mind Ambrose Bierce's definition of a lawyer as one skilled in the evasion of the law.

Of recent presidents, Nixon, Ford, Clinton and Obama were all educated as lawyers.

[alarimer]

22. "Civil Servant" covers a lot of territory.

You have heads of agencies down to technicians in the lowliest of jobs. Are they all sociopaths? I highly resent the implication, as a person who has worked for the government in one capacity or another my whole career.

I can honestly say I've never met an actual sociopath in any of my jobs.

[Cal33]

23. Yes, "civil servant" does cover a lot of territory. He should have been more specific, as he was

with the profession "surgeon." By the way, he never said or even implied that ALL the people
in these professions were sociopaths -- just a higher percentage.