Professions that attract the most psychopaths

Psychopaths thrive in professions that offer power and require cutthroat decision making. Picture: Thinkstock

You could easily be working in the company of a psychopath, according to a new book, because psychopaths tend to gravitate towards and thrive in professions that offer power and require cutthroat decision making.

The book The Wisdom of Psychopaths: What Saints, Spies, and Serial Killers Can Teach Us About Success has outlined the ten jobs psychopaths are most likely, and least likely, to be found in.

While most people think of psychopaths as serial killers and rapists – because most serial killers ARE psychopaths – not all psychopaths are murderous.

In the workplace, psychopaths are characterised by their attempts to try to undermine and “mentally destroy” their co-workers to feed their need for a sense of power and domination over other human beings.

A leading psychotherapist last month warned Australian bosses they need to implement strategies to manage workplace psychopaths because they exist in most large companies.

“They don’t suffer any guilt or remorse, or in fact they enjoy the suffering of other people,” Dr John Clarke told a conference in Tasmania.

The book said psychopaths are drawn to and thrive in roles where people need the ability to make “objective, clinical decisions divorced from feelings”, the Business Insider reported.

Top jobs for psychopaths:

1. CEO
2. Lawyer
3. Media (TV/radio)
4. Salesperson
5. Surgeon
6. Journalist
7. Police officer
8. Clergyperson
9. Chef
10. Civil servant

On the other hand, psychopaths are likely to steer clear of professions that require empathy, human interaction and feelings.

Least likely professions for psychopaths:

1. Care aide
2. Nurse
3. Therapist
4. Craftsperson
5. Beautician/Stylist
6. Charity worker
7. Teacher
8. Creative artist
9. Doctor
10. Accountant