Some modern workplaces and social influences may reward traits associated with psychopathy, according to Geraint Anderson, a former London banker and author. Anderson, who worked for 12 years in the financial district, was assessed by a clinical psychologist and told he may have exhibited "situational psychopathy" to succeed in the competitive corporate world.
Anderson, 53, described his past work environment as one that rewarded "dark triad behaviour," including being "uber confident, being able to control and manipulate others, not getting emotionally involved in decisions and being decisive." He stated, "I adapted myself for the city and started bringing out the kind of worst side of myself."
He explained that success became an obsession, with bonuses serving as a "way of gauging how wonderfully successful a human being I was." This metric appealed to his competitiveness and allowed him to compare himself to colleagues at other banks.
Understanding Psychopathy
A psychopath is typically described as someone with antisocial personality disorder, characterized by distinct ways of thinking and acting. These individuals may exploit or manipulate others, lack regret or remorse, behave irresponsibly, struggle with long-term relationships, have difficulty controlling anger, and possess a lack of guilt, often blaming others for their problems. Robert Snowden, a psychologist at Cardiff University who studies psychopathy, noted that the fundamental trait is a lack of empathy.
Snowden, who has worked with the creator of the psychopathy checklist (PCL-R), explained that psychopathy exists on a spectrum. While most people score below five on the PCL-R, a score of 25 or over is generally considered the threshold for psychopathy. Anderson reported scoring around eight or nine on such a scale.
"They can be very strong and, in some ways, make good leaders... but there are many deficits to their leadership and it's all about them and not about other people," Snowden said. He added that many psychopaths do not commit violent acts but may take advantage of or exploit others.
"Situational Psychopathy" in the Workplace
Anderson's own experience involved a rapid rise through the ranks of London finance after initially intending to work in the industry for only a few years. He transformed his appearance and demeanor to fit into the corporate culture. However, he eventually became disillusioned with "greed, reckless risk-taking and rule breaking in the industry."
Consultant and forensic psychologist Kerry Daynes evaluated Anderson and concluded he was not a psychopath but may have become a "situational psychopath." Daynes suggested that Anderson adapted his behavior to thrive in an environment that rewarded ruthless ambition, a phenomenon she described as being "in the sweet spot that most people can't attain."
Daynes stated, "You don't need to be a psychopath to thrive - for a while at least - in a psychopathic culture." She noted that Anderson was able to amplify his "darker personality characteristics" to achieve success.
Leaving the Corporate World
After leaving his finance career, Anderson became the anonymous columnist "City Boy" for The London Paper, exposing a culture of excess. This led to his book, Cityboy, which sold over 400,000 copies and was translated into six languages. He has since published five books, with his latest exploring how psychopathic traits can contribute to career advancement.
Anderson expressed that he was a "less pleasant person" during his time in the corporate world and hopes to be a "warmer person" now, striving for integrity and avoiding manipulation. He humorously acknowledged that his wife might disagree on the extent to which his psychopathic traits have disappeared.