High scores in these traits, when found together, have been found to statistically increase a person's likelihood to commit crimes, cause social distress, and create severe problems for organizations, especially if they are in leadership positions.
- Narcissism: The tendency to be arrogant, have a grandiose sense of self-importance and entitlement. Characterized by overconfidence in the abilities, egotism and lack of empathy.
- Machiavellianism: The degree to which an individual maintains emotional distance, and believes the ends justify the means. Characterized by manipulation and exploitation of others, indifference to morality, lack of empathy, and a strategic focus on self-interest.
- Psychopathy: The tendency for a lack of concern for others and a lack of guilt or remorse when their actions cause harm. Psychopathy is characterized by continuous antisocial behavior, impulsivity, selfishness, callous and unemotional traits.
Examples in history: Ken Lay and Jeff Skilling, Bernie Madoff, Harvey Weinstein, Di-k Fuld, Elizabeth Holmes, Richard Scrushy, Bernie Ebbers, Dennis Kozlowski
The problem isn’t that corrupt CEOs go down, it’s all the good people they take down with them.