Epaphras Charles, Esq. retweetledi
What if I told you that the "successful" psychopath in your office isn't actually motivated by money, fame, or success?
I just read a fascinating 2021 paper that completely reframes why psychopaths rise to leadership.
The truth is much darker.
Here is the psychology of the "Need for Domination" 🧵👇
1/ First, let's look at the numbers.
Research estimates that psychopaths are 4x more likely to be found in high-profile leadership positions than in the general population.
But why? And how do they get there without getting caught?
2/ We usually picture psychopaths as impulsive criminals (the "prison profile").
But the paper by Palmen, Kolthoff, & Derksen identifies a different breed:
The "Controlled Primary Psychopath."
These people have the same lack of empathy, but they have one superpower: High Self-Control.
3/ This self-control acts as a "moderator."
It allows them to suppress the impulsive, antisocial behavior that usually lands psychopaths in jail.
Instead of punching someone, they use "functional impulsivity" and charm to climb the corporate ladder.
But here is where it gets weird.
4/ We assume these leaders want what we want: Money. Prestige. Achievement.
The researchers argue: No.
While Narcissists crave "Achievement" (to be admired) and "Affiliation" (to be loved), Psychopaths score LOW on both.
They don't care if the company succeeds.
5/ So what drives them?
The paper proposes a specific, intrinsic motivation: The Need for Domination.
For the psychopathic leader, power isn't a means to an end. Power is the end.
They are biologically wired by the "Dominance Behavioral System" to seek control over others.
6/ This distinction is crucial.
A Narcissist might work 80 hours a week because they want the glory of a successful product.
A Psychopath doesn't care about the product. They care about the hierarchy. They want to be the one pulling the strings.
7/ The study highlights a chilling detail about their view on resources (money/perks).
Psychopaths prefer "relative" success over "absolute" success.
They would rather have less total money, as long as they still have more than you.
It’s not about comfort; it’s about superiority.
8/ This explains why "successful" psychopathic leaders are actually terrible for business.
Because they lack the "Need for Achievement," they rarely work for the collective good.
They are parasitic. They use the organization's assets solely to increase their dominance over employees.
9/ The paper warns that this specific profile—High Dominance + Low Affiliation + Low Achievement—is a recipe for disaster.
It leads to:
Fraud
Toxic cultures
Employee burnout
They are "successful" at getting the job, but destructive once they have it.
10/ The Takeaway:
When you see a leader who is charming but creates chaos, ask yourself:
Are they trying to build something? Or are they just trying to own you?
If they seem to value control more than profit or people, you might be looking at a Controlled Primary Psychopath.
11/ If you want to dive deeper, check out the paper: "The need for domination in psychopathic leadership" (Palmen et al., 2021).
It fundamentally changed how I view corporate power dynamics.
Follow for more breakdowns of complex psychology papers! 🧠
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