The modus operandi of the corporate psychopath: Analysis of the literature review

Abstract

The scarcity of research on corporate psychopaths in Brazil aroused the interest of the present study. The main objective was to analyze and explain the modus operandi adopted by psychopaths in companies, based on the specialized literature. For this, the research, of an exploratory nature, used the bibliographic review as a methodology, consulting books, scientific articles and websites. The results revealed that most authors agree on the characteristics of the corporate psychopath, such as the search for power and control, the manipulation of colleagues, and the exploitation of dysfunctional organizational cultures. However, there are disagreements about the definition, nomenclature, origin and classification of psychopathy. The study concludes that corporate psychopathy is a real problem and that more research is needed to understand and combat it. Identifying and addressing this profile is crucial to protect victims and organizations from the negative impacts of corporate psychopathy.