Guide to identifying 'corporate psychos'

By JASON BENNETTO

If you suspect your boss is a sadistic control freak with violent tendencies, or fear the head of accounts is a psychopath likely to run off with the pension fund, then help is at hand.

One of the world's leading authorities on psychopathy is about to publish the first guide to help to identify "corporate psychos".

The 107-point questionnaire, known as a "B-scan", which stands for business scan, enables companies to spot potential trouble-makers or managers who are likely to turn violent or defraud the company.

The man behind the guide, Professor Robert Hare, of the University of British Columbia, a consultant for the Home Office and the FBI, estimates that about 1 per cent of the population in North America are psychopaths, and that about 15 per cent of the male prison population in that country also suffer from the disorder.

Until now Professor Hare has concentrated on devising tests to identify convicted offenders who have the disorder.

But he believes that psychopaths' cold blooded ability to manipulate others without remorse, coupled with a veneer of charm, can also make them extremely successful in many walks of life including business and politics.

So the professor, whose 20-point questionnaire - known as the "P-scan" - is considered the standard test for identifying criminals with psychopathic traits, has, along with colleague Dr Paul Babiak, devised a new system to detect undesirables within the business world.

Under the B-scan, colleagues and a supervisor of the person being tested are asked to fill in a detailed questionnaire that considers four aspects of the subject's personality: anti-social tendencies, organisational maturity, inter-personal relations, and personal style.

Within each category there are questions that are used to discover whether the person has a number of personality traits including being insincere, arrogant, untrustworthy, manipulative, insensitive, remorseless, impatient, erratic, or unethical.

There is no set score to determine whether someone is considered a psychopath, but anyone who has more than about a quarter of the traits highlighted could be deemed to be a potential problem.

A total of more than three-quarters puts the subject into the seriously dangerous category.

Professor Hare explained: "We are not necessary looking for psychopaths in organisations, but for clues that individuals share some of their traits, and could go on to wreak havoc within the company.

"The idea is not to smoke out these people and give them the boot. Some organisations would value some of the traits, such as being remorseless and manipulative. Used-car salesmen, for example, will probably need to be cut-throat."

He added: "The major problem is that psychopaths get into organisations very well as they interview well and can convince people that they are right for the job. But as soon as the person is hired all sorts of problems start."

Professor Hare, who acts as an adviser for the FBI in helping to identify child abductors and serial killers, said the B-scan was due to be available from this month.

- INDEPENDENT