Case Study: Psychopath at Work | 'Successful Psychopathy'

This video answers the question: Can I analyze a case study involving Factor 1 Psychopathy in the workplace?

A case study typically refers to a situation where a clinician documents their experiences in treating a client with the client’s consent. It can also be when a mental health clinician is hired by an organization as a consultant to identify problems and recommend solutions.

Factor 1 Psychopathy (primary) - callous/unemotional, manipulative, pathological liar, fearless dominance, lacking in remorse

Factor 2 Psychopathy (secondary) - impulsive, irresponsible, neurotic, emotionally reactive, criminal, sensation-seeking

Antisocial Personality Disorder

1: Repeated unlawful behaviors
2: Consistent deceitfulness
3: Impulsivity, poor planning
4: Aggressiveness, physical fights
5: Reckless disregard for safety
6: Consistent irresponsibility
7: Lack of remorse

American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders
(5th ed.). Washington DC: American Psychiatric Association.

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[timothyernst]

As someone who works in HR, I've seen this sort of thing plenty of times and even been a victim of it. What amazes me is how enthusiastic employers are in terminating people who just want to do their jobs rather than engage in corporate pep rallies and cheerleading, but how gun shy they often are in disciplining employees who display marked antisocial tendencies.

[martcichocki]

Fascinating case study. As I look back, this "Dave, " character was reflective of MOST of my former supervisors. It does explain behaviors that baffled me in the 90's. TY, again!

[Denise]

I’ve noticed poor management in the workplace. It allows aggressive employees to manipulate good people and destroy their livelihoods.

[targoltran]

What I like most about Dr. Grande is, he discusses case studies. Text book definitions are great. However; he analyzes the behavior and the consequences. Dr. Grande is the best.

[SONAAwareness]

It’s awful to work around narcissist! Dont allow the narcissist to separate you from everyone else because they will try to triangulate and manipulate others by turning everyone against each other.

[Heywood.Jablome]

It's important to keep in mind that Dave was not the ONLY employee with narcissism and psychopathy. Many, especially in leadership positions, are "on the spectrum" and therefore sympathetic to Dave's style of *leadership*. If you add "very physically attractive" to his qualities, we find such people can literally get away with murder. Attractiveness can't be underestimated when it comes to success in mating and business success within an organization. The assumed *goodness* of attractive people is called the "Halo Effect".

[cellison]

I had a situation at work with a supervisor who displayed psychopathic behavior. Luckily, my employer, the Director, was well aware, which came as a relief to me
and others. Finally, this supervisor ended up being escorted of the property. It is true that this person had a small band of loyal fans. What about these people? Why do they continue to back bad behavior? Thanks.

[monkachick]

I can absolutely confirm that this can happen today, I live it every day. Our work place values aggressiveness in employees so our likely psychopathic narcissist is not likely to be totally reined in. She is the biggest kiss butt to management but spends all of her free time getting people upset about stuff and creating drama. She is one of the most horrible people I have ever met in my life but she thinks we are friends and it will remain that way for as long as possible, it just isn't worth the drama to take her on, she will stop at nothing to take down an "enemy" and i wouldn't put it past her to actually kill someone.

[ourcollectiveinsanity]

Reminded me of the saying; "The best disinfectant is sunlight", too bad some high iq psychopaths have the ability to blindfold most people in their surroundings or make allies with promises they arent ever going to keep, but drag morally weakened morons to their team while they can be of personal use. At this point and age a psychologist's opinion should be part o the hiring criteria especially for positions of power. Outstanding video as always Dr. Grande.

[juliettedowns]

My boss was fired 6 months ago all very similar so yes does still happen in this day and age. Within 6 months 16 people left because of him and every month more people went to
HR to report his behaviours. In the end he was fired for drinking on shift. Love your videos thank you

[jamesgerboc]

I experienced a very similar situation as this case for over 4 years. I was highly respected and successful. Yet I almost lost the battle. One problem is I couldn't fight what I couldn't see. Backdoor communications are deadly and kept private. Second, they have a habit of doing things that make others look good, making them reluctant to believe you. Finally, companies are focused on "team" and see you as being disruptive to that model. There would likely never have been a resolution but a new director came in, who knew and was screwed over years prior by this individual. The thing I found mist difficult was working with someone who goes against everything you stand for like you support them. Its like forced cognitive dissonance in reverse.

[rejaneoliveira]

Fascinating case!
Unfortunately I think these types of people continue to thrive in many work settings. The sad part is that a lot of supervisors and managers are completely oblivious of employees like Dave. I strongly believe that workshops/ lectures in mental health topics must be implemented in companies as to increase awareness of the destructive power psychopaths and narcissists can create in organizations.
Thank you again Dr. Grande!

[GodListens]

I'm in healthcare, working in a corporate environment. The medical director and director exhibit the good cop - bad cop routine. They allow and protect passive aggressive behavior from subordinates. They change the rules saying it's always been that way (and blame us for not knowing even though they never told us) causing us to question our own memories even if we have proof otherwise. Several of us realized how toxic the place is and are leaving. It astounds me how horrible this is and how upper management can't see the team falling apart, numbers are down, etc. High turnover, even from the original team members who are almost gone now, have become the norm. Not sure if it's because I now know what this behavior is or that there are more of these types in society, or both. Thank you for your information, it's very helpful.

[werrand]

It's amazing what can happen in the workplace. A friend had their manipulative bully co-worker fake a seizure when the boss called him out for insulting co-workers and trash talking them to their clients. The ambulance officer was actually laughing at him because he was that bad at acting (I believe it involved him dramatically flailing his limbs straight up in the air). A lesson that being good at manipulation doesn't necessarily equal high intelligence.

[mrs.reluctant]

Both dark triad case studies you made, the one with Jim and this one today are outstanding. The characteristics of the disorders are very clearly demonstrated. Absolutely wonderfully done.

[Mia-lofg]

I worked for a guy just like Dave who tried to get me fired because he knew that I knew who he really was under that persona and I was a threat. After I left the company it took me a long time to recover from the stress, manipulation and lies I encountered. I wasn't the only victim in the company but like you said in your analysis people at top though this behavior was sign of ambition and they were probably psychopaths as well. Thanks Dr Grande for analysis it has given me some closure.

[vb]

I knew a manager who would actually say "it's all about me" in meetings when people would raise issues. 7 people quit her team in a 6 month period and each time she would tell everyone the person left because they were lazy and greedy. She openly said she didn't like wfh because she couldn't intimidate people as easily and didn't want "email proof" of things she would say. When someone finally made an HR complaint the company found that she was unreliable in her recounting of events and overestimated her accomplishments but that nothing would be done because the company didn't want to "bet against itself". She's finally retiring soon, after a long 30 year reign of mentally abusing people.

[marisawoods]

My dad is exactly like "Dave." He destroyed my mother and brother, who are both dead, now. He destroyed me, until I cut ties with him. I don't wish negative things on him, but could care less what happens to him. As far as I'm concerned, my dad "died" the first time he abused my mother. I hope God opens his eyes.

[ellietobe]

Over some years of working in healthcare I have worked with at least two of this type of person. Criminal behavior, blame shifting, constantly going to those in authority, that no one else would ever think of approaching in order to avert being fired. The fairly “normal” people working their asses off while this guy is always finding something else to do and/or taking time off that was not due him. Always getting special privileges when he did next to nothing in the work place. We would be amazed by how this one guy in particular was constantly getting above and beyond what he deserved. Amazed about how he had these friends in high places. He finally got fired for writing illegal narcotics prescriptions. He did not have a license for that and yet there was still someone that would have spoken for him but they knew it would only effect their own job negatively. Just incredible.

[SweetBlackSistah]

I just cannot get enough of these educational vids!
I'm addicted and love psychology!