Have you probably heard that certain professions have more psychopaths than others. But is that really supported by science, or are we dealing with another one of those myths that spreads across the internet?
The answer is more complex than it seems. Research has found differences in the levels of psychopathic traits among some occupations, but that does not mean a profession turns someone into a psychopath or that its professionals have this condition.
First of all: psychopathy is not synonymous with violence
Movies and television series often portray psychopaths as people who are necessarily violent, criminal, and incapable of living in society. In reality, the scientific discussion about psychopathy is much broader.
The concept involves a set of personality characteristics that may include traits such as lack of empathy, manipulative behavior, emotional shallowness, egocentrism, and difficulty experiencing guilt or remorse.
This also explains why researchers study the presence of psychopathic traits outside criminal settings. A person may display some of these traits without necessarily meeting the criteria for a clinical diagnosis.
Having certain personality traits does not automatically mean someone is a psychopath.
A scientific review on the prevalence of psychopathy in the adult population also warns that differences found between professions should be interpreted with caution.
Frontiers in Psychology — Prevalence of Psychopathy in the General Adult Population
Which professions show more psychopathic traits?
One of the best-known lists on this subject comes from a survey conducted by Kevin Dutton, who used a self-report scale to evaluate psychopathic traits and relate them to the participants’ occupations.
The study analyzed responses from 5,400 people in the United Kingdom. Among the occupations with the highest average levels of psychopathic traits were:
The list does not mean these professions have “more psychopaths.” The study identified higher levels of certain personality traits among participants working in these occupations.
Business executives and CEOs
Executives appeared at the top of Dutton’s list. Corporate environments often involve intense competition, decision-making under pressure, negotiation, and responsibility for leading other people.
Some of these characteristics may be associated with certain psychopathic traits, such as boldness, lower emotional sensitivity, and a willingness to take risks. But that does not mean successful executives are psychopaths.
Lawyers
Lawyers also appear among the professions with higher levels of psychopathic traits in the survey. Their work requires argumentation, negotiation, conflict management, and the ability to remain emotionally controlled in difficult situations.
These characteristics, however, may simply be professional skills. Having self-control or arguing confidently is not evidence of psychopathy.
Surgeons
The case of surgeons is particularly interesting. These professionals must make rapid decisions, work under pressure, and maintain emotional stability during delicate procedures.
An apparently cold demeanor may be necessary to perform the job with precision. Therefore, automatically associating professional detachment with psychopathy would be a mistake.
Salespeople and media professionals
Sales, radio, television, and other communication-related occupations require constant interaction, persuasion, and the ability to connect with different audiences.
Some of these behaviors may also appear in people with certain psychopathic traits, but they are equally common and valuable skills among psychologically healthy professionals.
Why might certain professional environments attract these traits?
One possible explanation lies in the characteristics of the professional environment itself. Some careers offer greater autonomy, competition, prestige, decision-making power, or exposure to risky situations.
A scientific review on psychopathy in the adult population mentions occupations such as entrepreneurs, managers, politicians, investors, salespeople, surgeons, and lawyers among those that have been associated with higher levels of certain traits. (frontiersin.org)
Among the factors that may help explain this relationship are:
But here is the important point: it is still not possible to say that these environments “produce” psychopaths. The relationship may involve both individual characteristics and the professional selection process itself.
In other words, a person may choose a certain career because their personality fits that environment, rather than developing those characteristics after entering the profession.
Are there professions with fewer psychopathic traits?
The same Dutton survey also identified occupations with lower levels of psychopathic traits. These included professionals working in social and healthcare services, nurses, therapists, craftspeople, teachers, creative artists, physicians, and accountants.
That does not mean these professions are made up exclusively of empathetic people or that their professionals are free from problematic behavior.
The result simply reflects a statistical difference found within that particular group of participants. That is precisely why we should not turn research about group averages into judgments about individuals.
A profession alone is never enough to determine someone’s personality.
PubMed in Psychology — Prevalence of Psychopathy in the General Adult Population
What do other studies say?
Later research reinforces that the relationship between psychopathy and profession is a subject that must be approached carefully.
A scientific review published in the field of psychology highlighted that studies on psychopathy in the workplace still have methodological limitations and that some conclusions promoted by the media are stronger than the available evidence allows.
Another systematic review found a higher prevalence of psychopathy among some groups of workers, such as managers and executives, but emphasized that this conclusion was based on only three studies with a total sample of 668 people. The authors recommend caution when interpreting these figures.
There are also studies showing different results. A 2021 study involving people in white-collar occupations, for example, found no support for the idea that psychopaths are necessarily more likely to occupy management positions.
It is precisely this variety of findings that prevents a simple conclusion such as “profession X has more psychopaths.”
How can you recognize problematic behavior at work?
If you are concerned about someone in your workplace, looking only at their profession is not very helpful. It is far more useful to observe concrete and repeated behaviors.
Some signs that may indicate a problematic work environment include:
Even so, none of these behaviors alone can diagnose psychopathy. Mental health diagnoses must be made by qualified professionals and cannot be based on lists found online.
If the workplace problem involves harassment, threats, discrimination, or other serious misconduct, focus on the behavior itself and seek the appropriate company channels or responsible authorities instead of trying to diagnose the person.
What does this research really teach us?
Perhaps the biggest lesson is to avoid jumping to conclusions. Some characteristics that may appear in people with psychopathic traits can also be valued in certain professions when expressed in a balanced and healthy way.
Self-confidence, decision-making ability, emotional control, courage to take risks, and negotiation skills are not negative qualities by themselves.
The problem arises when behaviors such as manipulation, exploitation, lack of responsibility, and disregard for others begin guiding decisions and harming people.
Scientific literature also discusses the concept of “successful psychopathy,” suggesting that people with certain traits may function socially and professionally without necessarily fitting the traditional profile associated with criminal behavior.
For that reason, perhaps the more useful question is not “which profession has more psychopaths?” but rather: what characteristics is an organization rewarding?
If a company values results at any cost, for example, it may create an environment where aggressive or unethical behaviors have more room to flourish. That is a matter of organizational culture, not simply individual personality.
Have you ever worked with someone who seemed extremely manipulative or lacking in empathy? And do you think companies should evaluate the behavior of their leaders more carefully before promoting them?
Conclusion
Some studies have indeed found higher levels of psychopathic traits in certain professions, especially in areas such as business leadership, law, sales, media, and surgery. However, that is far from meaning those professions are made up of psychopaths.
The most important thing is understanding the difference between a personality trait and a clinical diagnosis. A profession, a confident appearance, or emotionally detached behavior is not enough to define who someone is.
When observing the workplace, it is much more valuable to pay attention to concrete behaviors such as manipulation, abuse of power, dishonesty, and recurring unethical conduct.
FAQ
Which profession has the most psychopaths?
A widely cited study found the highest average levels of psychopathic traits among business executives, followed by lawyers, radio and television professionals, salespeople, and surgeons. The result represents average personality traits among participants, not the percentage of psychopaths within each profession.
Does being a lawyer or surgeon increase someone’s chances of being a psychopath?
There is not enough evidence to support that conclusion. These professions may require skills such as emotional control, negotiation, decision-making, and tolerance for pressure, which can also appear in people with certain psychopathic traits. That does not mean the profession causes psychopathy.
Is every psychopath violent?
No. The image of the violent psychopath is heavily reinforced by fiction. In scientific research, psychopathy involves a much broader set of personality characteristics. People with certain traits may live and work normally and are not necessarily involved in criminal behavior.
Is it possible to identify a psychopath at work?
It is not possible to diagnose someone simply by observing workplace behavior. Manipulation, dishonesty, or lack of empathy can have many different causes. A diagnosis must be carried out by qualified professionals using appropriate assessment methods.
Which professions showed lower levels of psychopathic traits?
In Dutton’s survey, professionals working in social and healthcare services, nurses, therapists, teachers, creative artists, physicians, and accountants appeared among the occupations with lower levels of psychopathic traits. These findings do not mean everyone in those professions has the same personality.
Why can some psychopathic traits help a person’s career?
Characteristics such as self-confidence, willingness to take risks, emotional control, and persuasive ability may be valued in certain professions. Problems arise when manipulation, exploitation, or lack of responsibility begin influencing decisions and causing harm to other people.
What should you do if there is abusive behavior at work?
Instead of trying to determine whether someone is a psychopath, document specific behaviors and use the appropriate reporting channels within the organization. In serious situations involving harassment, threats, or discrimination, it may also be necessary to seek professional guidance or contact the responsible authorities.
