Female Psychopathic Traits
Psychopathic behaviour is always measured on a continuum, meaning a person can exhibit low-level traits without meeting the full criteria or have some traits but not others. The more traits a person exhibits, the more dangerous their behaviour, regardless of the setting. From an Organisational Psychopathy perspective, this can determine whether a workplace functions efficiently or barely at all. Additionally, the term ‘Organisational Psychopath’ is descriptive, not a diagnosis. It refers to a collection of traits that, when embedded in organisational structures, can cause harm with minimal accountability.
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Leading clinicians in the field, such as Dr Robert Hare (Psychopathy Checklist Revised or PCL-R) and Dr Clive Boddy (Psychopathic Measure – Management Research Version 2), have identified key criteria used in diagnosing psychopathy. Both Hare and Boddy based their scales on the work of Dr Hervey Cleckley, who wrote “The Mask of Sanity” in the 1940s after observing a pattern of psychopathic behaviours in a clinical setting.
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In everyday settings, understanding behaviour can help clarify the overarching impact at work and at home. Below are 12 keywords (by Dr Fiona Girkin) related to observable behaviour that reflect established psychopathic scales. This is not a test or a validated scale, but it can help you to know what behaviours to look for to assist you in recognising psychopathic behaviour in women.
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