Friday, March 16, 2012

1 in 10 Wallstreeters are psychopaths

According to Sherree DeCovny, a the former investment broker and got the figure from "researchers," including a Wall Street psychologist.  Selections from the Wall Street Journal:

  • They excel in any arena where aggressive behavior is rewarded and where grandiose levels of confidence can result in rousing applause.
  • It is often difficult to argue that these people are indeed sick until the day they have to exchange their Armani suit for an orange jumpsuit.
  • I only know one man who openly admits he's a psychopath. I called him to see what he thought of the numbers Ms. DeCovny reported. "First of all, it's not one out of 10," says Sam Antar. "It's probably eight out of 10." "The reality is, to succeed on Wall Street you've got to be a psychopath in one form or another," Mr. Antar says.
  • Mr. Antar now teaches law-enforcement organizations how to spot psychos. He thinks of himself as a psychopath in remission, but he admits he could snap back at any time, much like a relapsing alcoholic.
  • It may be part of the human condition to venerate psychos, mistaking their grandiosity for leadership.
  • If you work on Wall Street, chances are good you are not a psychopath, but chances are also good you report to one.





25 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Michael Martin PlunkettMarch 16, 2012 at 12:42 AM

      which of the regulars here ya think mr sam antar is ?

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  2. I worked on a derivatives desk.

    Readers of this blog may be interested to know that if anything, there seemed to more very low empathy narcissists than actual sociopaths.

    I'm saying that because they had shame and a tremendous lack of self-awareness.

    FWIW, Wall St. guys are more competitive and risk-seeking than people with personality disorders. Basically, they are gambling-prone. Big surprise, right? Here's the evidence: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/26/stockbroker-psychopath_n_981950.html

    Madoff, for instance, comes off as a malignant narcissist - he imagines that he's really a good guy: http://nymag.com/news/features/berniemadoff-2011-3/

    He's actually ashamed that he got caught. That shit would roll right off the back of a real sociopoath. And Madoff hated his enemies (the goyishe Wall St. firms that are long gone) - a sociopath wouldn't bother making teams and putting himself on one, and fighting against the other.

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  3. A criminal mind should be too paranoid and self protecting to do anything obviously shady.

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  4. "Normal, horny males are at the mercy of their bodies, a sociopathic male his drive for power. Unlike horny guys they make great listeners


    True lol

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  5. Can I ask a good listener something?

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    Replies
    1. I will ask when I get a better handle and can express myself more clearly. Right now I keep answering my own questions and also keep veering off the path. I think I am avoiding something and trying to use logic and make excuses for feelings. I have to get more clear with myself before I spew retardation.

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    2. Also, thank you.

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  6. sociopathic yes sociopaths no

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  7. According to Hare there is a higher percentage of pscyhopaths among the top corporations and wall st crowd than in the general pop. He has stated that he wished he had been studying corporate psychopaths instead of criminal all along as they do far more damage to the global economy and thus the greater number of victims. Drug dealers are small frys.

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  8. These guys make a living finding loopholes in the legal system in order to make money and bet on peoples money until regulation figures out a way to stop it. New markets open up all the time. Unregulated until it is. Thats pretty sociopathic. Darwin would cringe.

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  9. Hmmm, see, I was diagnosed a 'psychopath' and I see all of you fighting (fucking fighting!!) about who is the 'best psycho' Have any of you ever thought about what happens when it's the other way around - when you've got this shitty, fucking 'handle' and you can't get rid of it. When you are told you are a 'psychopath' and cannot be helped? I am NOT a psychopath, I DO NOT want to be one and yet.... and yet?

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    Replies
    1. I am sorry you are going through that Friend. Thank you for being so honest!

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    2. I see that on here too. Thank you for the perspective. I've noticed the competition as well. (Not that I'm the authority, by any means..) But I wonder if the people who self identify here understand what they are labeling themselves with? I know media has done a LOT of glamorizing. Well anyways, stay strong, Anon.

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    3. Yes---good words Anon 7:27

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    4. (continuing from my reply above) I think its really convenient for some people to boast on here because they can do it anonymously and there are no real consequences. Dealing with this stuff in real life is a lot more harsh. Its nice to have a network of people who understand. But cruel doesn't equal smart. The fact that they are wasting the effort discredits the whole "evil-genius" persona.

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    5. Thanks Monica

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    6. Stop your fucking crying and get a PCLR and brain scan done. Then, like the idiot you are, take the results and beat them to death with it.

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  10. if I do intimacy with a person and I cry like how a deaf person will cry at the sound of his voice for the first time, won't I look like a fuckin idiot?

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  11. Hahaha! Yes, you will.

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  12. That will be interesting for me. I think I will enjoy it.

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  13. Remember that psychopaths will often manipulate others into accepting their beliefs and values, because they believe they are superior. They use mind control techniques to do this and will, in effect, create clones of themselves. This often means that 'normal' people around them can be led do do evil things.

    There is a great video here about psychopathy and the economic crises.
    http://www.fisheadmovie.com/

    ReplyDelete

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