Narcissists, psychopaths and destablisers.
Psychopaths, Machiavellians, and narcissists, collectively the Dark Triad or people of Dark Personality (DP), actively violate social norms and harm and disadvantage others by conscious choice.
A staggering 12% of leaders have been found to have psychopathic traits.
(Distinguished Professor Simon Croom, University of San Diego).
While people of Dark Personality may have positive characteristics, their own needs and goals are always foremost. Research shows they universally compromise and disadvantage organisations, communities and/or individuals.
Their characteristics include manipulation, intimidation, a drive for control or dominance, lying, bullying, self-preservation at the cost of all else and an enjoyment in seeing others harmed or devalued, yet they often appear to be compelling, ‘normal’ people and their actions may lack transparency. Even those who believe they are ‘great with people’ are often fooled by their facades.
Dark Personality traits in leaders have been linked to increased moral permissibility of accidents; widespread fraud such as embezzlement and theft; emotional exhaustion as well as mentally, psychologically, socially, reputationally, and sexually compromising and harmful behaviours.
There has been prolonged contention regarding the attributes of psychopaths, Machiavellians, and narcissists. This is detrimental to humanity as only precision-like clarity will support our understanding of this sub-set of the human population and thereby prevent harm.
A key factor has been difficulty in accessing people of Dark Personality outside the criminal justice system.
Dr Karen Mitchell, the Kalmor Institute’s CEO, is the first person in the world to collect data:
from international, expert practitioners working with people of Dark Personality and/or their targets/victims outside prison;
from experts in many fields including corporates, medicine, child sex abuse in the Catholic Church, coercive domestic violence, cults and so on; and
from experts working in both forensic and non-forensic contexts.
The data indicates higher functioning psychopaths and narcissists are as dangerous and malevolently intentioned and share the same attributes as those in prison for serious, overt crimes.
They can create a highly convincing persona of a good-natured, kind, even heroic figure however and they use intimidation against those who try to expose them.
Karen has identified a nuanced, comprehensive set of attributes common to all people of Dark Personality as well as metaphorical weaponry, or set of tactics, that they commonly engage.
She has also established how the attributes of high functioning psychopaths and narcissists manifest behaviourally in different contexts.
This work builds on and enhances the work of people like Dr Robert Hare on psychopaths, and whose models and tools originated from incarcerated populations.
At The Kalmor Institute, our work is informed by high levels of experience, the existing literature in this area and this important new research.
Workplaces.
Including automotive, banking and finance, FMCG’s, health and medical, law enforcement, manufacturing, mining, petroleum, pharmaceutical, professional services, retail, telecommunications, and technology.
Organisations and communities.
Including charities and for-purpose organisations, higher education, justice system, local government, political groups, public sector organisations, schools, sporting clubs, and religious organisations.
The justice system.
Including attorneys, barristers, children’s court professionals, criminal court professionals, domestic violence stakeholders, family court professionals, court report writers, law enforcement, lawyers, mental health professionals, and social workers.