business : Psychopathic C.E.O.'s

Are the successful CEOs of large companies slightly psychopathic and lacking in scruples? I have heard psychologists discuss this idea.

This article really fascinated me, I found while googling for "CEOs psychopathic".

It may all sound a bit far fetched to you; but as I get older and understand that world of nice middle liberal values, is unfortuntately limited to nice middle class liberals and business can be utterly ruthless and pretty random at the local level (like a steadily bubbling stream). 

According to Babiak and Hare, white-collar psychopaths are not apt to become serial rapists or murderers. Rather, they are prone to being ''subcriminal'' psychopaths: smooth-talking, energetic individuals who easily charm their way into jobs and promotions but who are also exceedingly manipulative, narcissistic and ruthless. The purpose of the B-Scan is to smoke out these ''snakes in suits.''

The individual being evaluated does not actually take the test. Instead, it is given to his or her superiors, subordinates and peers. They rate the subject in four broad categories -- organizational maturity, personal style, emotional style and social style -- and 16 subcategories, like reliability, honesty and sincerity.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/12/magazine/12PSYCHO.html