Watch CBS News

Does Your Job Attract Psychopaths?

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Are you working with psychopaths?

One psychologist claims some careers are more attractive to psychopaths than others.

"Psychopaths are a specialized group of individuals with a distinct subset of personality traits including ruthlessness, fearlessness, self-assurance, charm, charisma and a lack of empathy and conscience," psychologist and author Kevin Dutton said.  "Sure, this personality profile can get you into trouble. But if you deploy the right combination of these traits at the right level in the right context, they can also [be] code for success."

Dutton wrote about the subject in his book "The Wisdom of Psychopaths: What Saints, Spies, and Serial Killers Can Teach Us About Success."  He also created a top 10 list of careers most likely and least likely to attract psychopaths.

"I wrote the book primarily to debunk two deep-seated myths that people have about psychopaths. Firstly, that they're all mad or bad. And secondly that psychopathy is an all-or-nothing affair – you're either a psychopath or you're not," Dutton said.

Does your job make one of the lists?

According to Dutton, the careers that seem to attract the most psychopaths are:

1. Chief executive officer

2. Lawyer

3. Media (Television/Radio)

4. Salesperson

5. Surgeon

6. Journalist

7. Police officer

8. Clergy person

10. Civil servant

Dutton claims the careers least attractive to psychopaths are:

1. Care aide

2. Nurse

3. Therapist

4. Craftsperson

5. Beautician or stylist

6. Charity worker

7. Teacher

8. Creative artist

9. Doctor

10. Accountant

For more information, click here.

What are your thoughts?  Leave your comments below.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.