Which professions have the most psychopaths? And which have the fewest?

theweek.com ^ | October 30, 2013 | Eric Barker

[Gay State Conservative]

I’m surprised to see Psychiatrists and psychologists not on the list. I suspect a lot of people who pursue those fields are trying to “cure” themselves or at least understand themselves.

This is a survey of psychopaths,which is a subset of mental illness/personality disorders.I've worked with psychiatrists as well as other physicians and it's true...or seemed true to me...that a good percentage of shrinks were a little "off" but not psychopaths.Remember...the following are a few examples of true psychopaths:Ted Bundy,Ted Kennedy,Stalin,Mao,Hitler,Osama Obama and Bill Ayers.

[tnlibertarian]

I have met unbalanced accountants.

We work on unbalance sheets.

[Ken H]

I’d have to say dentists have been my favorite over the years. I HATE going to them, but they have all been great to deal with.

[Williams]

Sounds about right.

[BerryDingle]

Chef? Really?

I guess it pays to tread lightly around anyone who has a set of knives bearing their initials.

A chef that runs a highly productive restaurant smokes his cooks up like cheap cigars.

[NVDave]

I didn’t say that the profession required caring and connection.

I said that I’d found accountants to be nice people. And they generally are.

Of course, this is the perspective of an engineer, who also likes sitting at a desk with reams of numbers.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Where are the politicians? Surely they belong on the list with the rest of the psychopaths — particularly our President.

[PeaRidge]

“Psychopathy is a personality disorder that has been variously described as characterized by shallow emotions (in particular reduced fear), stress tolerance, lacking empathy, coldheartedness, lacking guilt, egocentricity, superficial character, manipulativeness, irresponsibility, impulsivity, and antisocial behaviors such as parasitic lifestyle and criminality.”

There are two stages of this disorder: A psychopath usually breaks laws. A sociopath shares the same shallow emotions, but manipulates within reasonable legal restraint.

About one person in 20 is a sociopath. Psychopaths are much more rare.

[Gay State Conservative]

It’s interesting how “surgeon” and “doctor” are so far apart.

As I noted earlier I know physicians in general.Surgeons are a whole different breed that physicians in the "internal medicine" specialties.It's hard to describe briefly but here's a brief glimpse of what I'm saying:each Spring the Chief Residents for the various services are announced by teaching hospitals.I once was on an elevator with a surgical resident that I liked (she was nice *and* gorgeous) who had just been named as Chief Resident for the following year.I jokingly asked her what the motto of her chief residency was gonna be.She paused for a second,smiled,and said "the only contraindication to surgery is an allergy to steel".Surgery is a "macho" field,even for the women whereas the "medical" specialties are more about waiting and handholding.It's why the large majority of female med school grads go into either OB/GYN or one of the medical specialties...or primary care (which is "medical").

[traderrob6]

Saw some interesting figures the other day on drug addiction.

Which profession has the most addicts? (surprised me)

[mulligan]

Sounds like a politician. At least the people now in office.

[NoExpectations]

My kid is a chef. Unbelievable stories. Chef in Japan threw a pot of boiling sauce towards the cooks because he didn’t like what they were doing.

[Tax-chick]

I said that I’d found accountants to be nice people.

I agree. Actuaries were pleasant enough, too.

[TexasRepublic]

Progressive Politicians, no question about it!

[traderrob6]

Lot of Prima donna’s in that profession.

[TexasRepublic]

“I have met unbalanced accountants.”

I knew a cabinet maker than was unhinged.

[MinuteGal]

I was in contact with psychiatrists and psychologists for years when I was in elected public office....most of whom were working at government prisons, jails, juvenile detention homes, hospitals, convalescent homes, public health departments, social services and the like.

Almost without exception, each had started out pre-career in some kind of PERSONAL mental and psychological therapy.

As an aside, almost all had an abundance of facial hair and wore thick glasses...this in a time when the unshaven look was not popular as it is now.

It was like they all wanted to look like Freud, Jung, Adler and others who practiced as the profession's pioneer shrinks. Or maybe it meant something else.

I would like to get my bearded neighbor to recline on his couch so I could ask him why he's hiding behind a beard.......but, alas, I don't have a license.

LOL

Leni

[Venturer]

The Profession of politics especially Democrats.

Definitely Pschycopaths.

Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Obama, Debbie Washerman, the list is long and runs from top to bottom.

[Gay State Conservative]

About one person in 20 is a sociopath. Psychopaths are much more rare.

I've always thought of "sociopath" and "psychopath" as being basically interchangeable.Yes,it's true that some of them do nothing more than steal the life savings of little old ladies while others start wars.Both can sleep like babies while engaging in their favorite pastime but if I was forced to come in contact with either Bernie Madoff or Mao I'd take Madoff in a heartbeat.