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These Are the Top 10 Jobs Most Likely to Attract Psychopaths (Should We Be Worried?)

Jan. 6, 2013 11:38am
Book Identifies Top 10 Jobs Most Likely to Attract Psychopaths

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A recent book claims to have pinpointed the top 10 jobs most likely to attract psychopaths — one of which hits particularly close to home for us here at TheBlaze.

As flagged by AOL Jobs last week, psychologist author Kevin Dutton argues in “The Wisdom of Psychopaths: What Saints, Spies, and Serial Killers Can Teach Us About Success” that “a number of psychopathic attributes [are] actually more common in business leaders than in so-called disturbed criminals — attributes such as superficial charm, egocentricity, persuasiveness, lack of empathy, independence, and focus.”

Basically, certain fields of work are more likely to attract psychopaths than others.

Here’s the list of jobs with the highest rates of psychopathy:

1. CEO
2. Lawyer
3. Media (Television/Radio)
4. Salesperson
5. Surgeon
6. Journalist
7. Police Officer
8. Clergy person
9. Chef
10. Civil Servant

And the lowest rates of psychopathy:

1. Care Aide
2. Nurse
3. Therapist
4. Craftsperson
5. Beautician/Stylist
6. Charity Worker
7. Teacher
8. Creative Artist
9. Doctor
10. Accountant

Does your field fall into either list? Let us know in the comments.

(h/t Media Bistro)

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Comments (230)

1 2 3 … 6
  • deltaman
    Posted on January 6, 2013 at 12:24pm

    I would have thought POLITICIAN would have topped list #1. THEY HIDE THEIR TRACKS VERY WELL, IN PLAIN SIGHT…

    Report this comment

    deltaman  
    • Rowgue
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 12:33pm

      They probably intentionally didn’t include politician since it isn’t really supposed to be it’s own profession. It’s supposed to be something people do on a short term basis to serve their community. Not something they do to live off the government teet the entirety of their adult lives.

      Report this comment

      Rowgue  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 12:35pm

      Add Senator Dick (appropriately named) Durbin. He has a law degree (Juris Doctorate) too.

      Report this comment

      Walkabout  
    • Old Ogre
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 12:36pm

      It is rather odd they did not make either list, perhaps the author forgot most of our politicians are Carrier offenders now….

      Report this comment

      Old Ogre  
    • grimmster
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 1:15pm

      Most politicians are lawyers,or have some form of law degree,they didnt include them, because they were already there…..

      Report this comment

      grimmster  
    • Platonician
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 1:40pm

      This “study” is totally biased, based on the liberal claim that CEOs are authoritarian and other BS. Anyone knows that most psychopaths are unemployed, criminals or in positions of authority such as policemen, doctors, teachers, psychologists… Oh and artists are pretty much psychopaths, from Virgina Woolf who was a schizophrenic nut, to the pedophile Roman Polanski. Not to mention Woody Allen, and lonnnng etc.

      Report this comment

      Platonician  
    • MrObvious
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 1:46pm

      Actually, politician would be sociopath, more than psyco. Especially, the progressive ones.

      Report this comment

      MrObvious  
    • Msgt Ret
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 2:03pm

      TERM LIMITS…the only way to fix this insanity. (Not to mention that the president is supposed to enforce and protect the constitution if he does not immediate removal)

      Report this comment

      Msgt Ret  
    • jakartaman
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 2:09pm

      I heard that a study was done and it proved via MRI’s that 1 in 10 are Psychopaths – something o do with the configuration of the frontal lobes. In fact one of the scientist on the study had an MRI done and he found out he was a psychopath – He said looking back and his feelings – He understands that he is one. The reason most do not act out is social norm pressure and of course the law. SCARY!!

      Report this comment

      jakartaman  
    • Obamujahadeen
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 2:12pm

      ”Politician” falls under the ”CIVIL SERVICE” category, only it ain’t really “Service” anymore, we service them in their way of thinking of course as demonstrated by the Chairman MaObama regime.

      Report this comment

      Obamujahadeen  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 2:12pm

      Notice that our president and most of the people in Washington fit two of the jobs. Civil servant and lawyer, and their water carriers fit the other, media. Pathological liars and narcissists.

      Report this comment

      Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • antisocialist
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 2:23pm

      Lawyer/Politician, same difference.

      Report this comment

      antisocialist  
    • sligresda
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 2:42pm

      two things. first, i would think sociopath more accurately reflects a politicians personality. second, its my understanding that psychopaths live on the fringes of society, are erratic, impulsive and have a high likelihood for violence. seems like any person with those traits might have a little trouble holding a job.

      Report this comment

      sligresda  
    • Fecal_Matters
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 2:47pm

      Deltaman…I’m with you! I thought Politicians before I even saw the list. Actually aren’t most Politicians Lawyers?

      Report this comment

      Fecal_Matters  
    • Priscilla King
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 2:48pm

      @Platonician: No, actually it’s a verification of legitimate personality psychology studies. Jobs that attract people who like to work alone or work directly with one client at a time tend attract people who are conscientious, sensitive, and sometimes but not usually depressed. Jobs that attract people who like to be the center of attention tend to attract people who are “outgoing,” fond of themselves, and sometimes but not usually conscience-less.

      Report this comment

      Priscilla King  
    • Priscilla King
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 2:52pm

      @Platonician: No, actually it’s a confirmation of clinical personality studies. Jobs that attract people who like to work alone or with one client at a time tend to attract people who are conscientious, sensitive, and occasionally depressive. Jobs that attract people who like to be the center of attention tend to attract people who are unscrupulous, “outgoing,” full of themselves, and occasionally amoral.

      Report this comment

      Priscilla King  
    • normbal
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 2:54pm

      Most politicians are lawyers. They’re on the list.

      Report this comment

      normbal  
    • Priscilla King
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 2:57pm

      Oh, wow, now the comment that disappeared is back, after I retyped it. I hate overcomplicated web sites that do that…

      Report this comment

      Priscilla King  
    • kindling
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 3:18pm

      Lawyer takes care of that!

      Report this comment

      kindling  
    • BobtheMoron
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 3:41pm

      @ROWGUE Teat not teet

      Report this comment

      BobtheMoron  
    • BobtheMoron
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 3:44pm

      @MrObvious Psychopath is the old non PC name for sociopath. Psychopath was too extreme. PC has invaded everything.

      Report this comment

      BobtheMoron  
    • Capt_Gregg
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 3:51pm

      @DELTAMAN
      Most politicians hold law degrees.

      Report this comment

      Capt_Gregg  
    • LogCabinRepublican
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 3:52pm

      The President is a Lawyer that should scare you to death!

      Report this comment

      LogCabinRepublican  
    • Look4DBigPicture
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 4:49pm

      They’re listed. The bulk of our Members of Congress are in the top 5. Also, politicians are supposed to civil servants – #10.

      Report this comment

      Look4DBigPicture  
    • dimart
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 5:14pm

      Since most politicians are lawyers, the list seems to be about right!

      Report this comment

      dimart  
    • A_CALL_TO_CONSCIENCE
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 5:38pm

      I can make this easy.

      Anyone working for the Government. Mainly Judges, cops, lawyers.

      Report this comment

      A_CALL_TO_CONSCIENCE  
    • A_CALL_TO_CONSCIENCE
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 8:02pm

      This talks about psychopaths.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZwFc6pwnm0

      Report this comment

      A_CALL_TO_CONSCIENCE  
    • The_Cabrito_Goat
      Posted on January 7, 2013 at 2:52pm

      Doctors are #9? What about Hannibal Lector?

      Report this comment

      The_Cabrito_Goat  
  • deltaman
    Posted on January 6, 2013 at 12:22pm

    I would have thought politician would top the first list. They hide their tracks very well, in plane sight…

    Report this comment

    deltaman  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on January 6, 2013 at 12:19pm

    You have to wonder if Dutton has an agenda,maybe a look into his background would reveal a bias of some sort,just a thought.

    Report this comment

    progressiveslayer  
  • environmentalandawake
    Posted on January 6, 2013 at 12:15pm

    Three cops in plain clothes, one which was at his families car dealership were shot last night in N-York city. It gave Blowberg the impetus to claim “Sometimes good guys with guns cant even stopbad guys with guns.” I just have one question Monk, “Did you go off the reservation last night?”

    Report this comment

    environmentalandawake  
  • Bobby D
    Posted on January 6, 2013 at 12:10pm

    Isn’t #1 The ISLAMIST?

    Report this comment

    Bobby D  
  • AUsername
    Posted on January 6, 2013 at 12:09pm

    i thought soldier and police officer would the number 1 and 2, you would think they would be attracted to positions where they can rip someone to shreds.

    Report this comment

    AUsername  
  • ScottPi
    Posted on January 6, 2013 at 12:06pm

    Absurd.
    Psychopaths lack almost all impulse control, and lack the ability to care about the consequences of their actions.
    The Idea that a psychopath could get thru medical school, and become a surgeon, is nuts. Likewise, law school. Impossible. Psychopaths are not successful in any conventional sense.
    As compulsive liars, they could never last long enough with any group of people to succeed at these levels. They burn bridges, hurt people, and move on.
    Kevin isn’t talking about psychopaths, the way the literature does.

    Report this comment

    ScottPi  
    • dublinthewagons
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 12:13pm

      Kinda like a community organizer. They advance to the degree of incometentcy

      Report this comment

      dublinthewagons  
    • TIMEBOMB
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 12:13pm

      They burn bridges, hurt people, and move on,sounds like me your magnificent ruler,I’ve done that my whole life and it served me well. Praise be to me BHO.

      Report this comment

      TIMEBOMB  
    • gb123
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 12:27pm

      Sounds like an Obama Voter. With all the free stuff its better than a job & the Psychopathic instincts come into play when someone tries to take away the free stuff. Also if someone dares to wake them up.

      Report this comment

      gb123  
    • Taquoshi
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 2:38pm

      The issue with surgeons is not getting through medical school. It becomes an issue when the doctor feels like he is God, determining who lives and dies on the operating table. And with the skills that they have, they can use that training on others outside of the hospital.

      Report this comment

      Taquoshi  
    • Priscilla King
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 2:49pm

      Interesting point. Sociopaths/psychopaths are often able to act normal long enough to get into positions where they can do damage, but you may be pinpointing one of the differences between sane and psychopathic extroversion.

      Report this comment

      Priscilla King  
    • dnewton
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 3:34pm

      It is also odd that a surgeon makes one list and a doctor makes the other. What about someone who has no profession because they are twenty years old and playing video games all the time? Mental illness happens to every strata, though it visits more often among the drug culture and those addicted. My brother used to work on the killing floor of a meat processing plant. I always wondered about him.

      Report this comment

      dnewton  
  • dublinthewagons
    Posted on January 6, 2013 at 12:06pm

    Where is Islamic radical, Muslim claret and 1967 palistinian paratrooper on the list.
    Opps wrong list.’I see

    Report this comment

    dublinthewagons  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on January 6, 2013 at 12:05pm

    Off the subject, but I cannot get THE BLAZE to accept hints for stories, so I want you all to look this up for yourselves.

    Have you seen the Official TEXAS GUN OWNERS’ MAP????

    Get on it and somebody post that link for us, please.

    Thank you.

    The map might give you an idea of why there aren’t quite so many psychopaths in TEXAS.

    Report this comment

    kickagrandma  
  • TIMEBOMB
    Posted on January 6, 2013 at 12:05pm

    I’m checkin my list checkin it twice checkin to see who’s naughty who’s nice santa Obama is comin to town. Yes folks it’s me your magnificent ruler and as you can see at the top of the list is the CEO,the most likely position to have a psychopath,guess that’s why all my friends are CEO’s,like to like.
    Praise be to me BHO.

    Report this comment

    TIMEBOMB  
  • environmentalandawake
    Posted on January 6, 2013 at 12:03pm

    So let me get this straight; Everyone under the title “Civil Servant” may be a narcissistic sociopath? Well there’s half your tax dollars going to work for you….Can someone explain to me how a Cop is not a civil servant???? Should people on welfare become our civil servants? When is the last time you considered your President and Congress person a civil servant? SO Many Questions, and SO Little Time! We need to Organize a new party and do it Post Haste!!

    Report this comment

    environmentalandawake  
    • WildschweinJager
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 12:24pm

      @ENVIRONMENTALLYAWAKE

      That is where the term “POSTAL” comes from. US Post Office employees blasting up the other Post Office employees. Been going on for a long time. Der Fine-Fur-Stein has forgotten das.

      Report this comment

      WildschweinJager  
    • Blitz
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 2:16pm

      All cop are civil servants but not all civil servants are cops. follow?

      Report this comment

      Blitz  
  • soybomb315_II
    Posted on January 6, 2013 at 12:02pm

    Interesting that media (TV/radio) and clergy attract the most crazies – those are the two areas we get our information from…..

    Report this comment

    soybomb315_II  
    • WildschweinJager
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 12:32pm

      Louis Farrakan
      All the Ayatollahs
      CAIR lawyers
      ACLU lawyers
      SPLC lawyers
      Union lawyers
      Most Senators are lawyers
      Most Congressmen are lawyers
      Chris Matthews
      all of MSNBC
      Most of CNN

      Report this comment

      WildschweinJager  
    • MrObvious
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 1:54pm

      Also most or even possibly all of NBC news, the editors at CBS news, all of LAT, most of NYT, all of Huff Po. As are as CEOs: Spooky dude GS comes to mind.

      Report this comment

      MrObvious  
  • AINT_SKEERT
    Posted on January 6, 2013 at 12:00pm

    The #1 job for mental illness should be psychologist, many go into that field seeking to cure themselves. But they are the ones making up the list.

    Report this comment

    AINT_SKEERT  
    • dublinthewagons
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 12:10pm

      Truer words not spoken. Just watch one. They are truly nuts.
      Just like polititions trying to cure us from their guilt.

      Report this comment

      dublinthewagons  
    • Old Ogre
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 12:39pm

      That was my first thought! they should be number two, politicians number one!

      Report this comment

      Old Ogre  
    • Priscilla King
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 2:55pm

      True. The study wasn’t about which professions attract most people with any kind of mental illness–they all do. Creative artists (introverts) are much more likely to be depressive and/or addictive, but public speakers (extroverts) are more likely to be conscience-impaired.

      Report this comment

      Priscilla King  
  • banjarmon
    Posted on January 6, 2013 at 11:58am

    Postal workers???

    Report this comment

    banjarmon  
  • Jim Jensen
    Posted on January 6, 2013 at 11:56am

    I was fairly confident “democrat” would have been listed….. although not a job, it is symptom.

    Report this comment

    Jim Jensen  
  • stopprintn
    Posted on January 6, 2013 at 11:56am

    I would bet money Kevin Dutton will apear on a democrap donor list. The list was compiled just to put CEO on the top. ………Thats my bet !

    Report this comment

    stopprintn  
  • MrButcher
    Posted on January 6, 2013 at 11:55am

    “Creative Artist” is on the non-psychopathic list?

    Is that a joke?

    Report this comment

    MrButcher  
  • Mike Benton
    Posted on January 6, 2013 at 11:52am

    The people in group two “feel”. Sadly they turn into liberal voters, because they “feel” and want income distribution to make things fair.

    The people in group one are thinkers, planners, self driven. You can’t have a free enterprise system without enterprising people. Sadly we have too few of these type building America now.

    The “feel” types are taking over and giving away money to the purely lazy ( a new group not listed above)…they will keep it up until they run out of other people’s money. Then things will get tough .

    Report this comment

    Mike Benton  
    • woodyee
      Posted on January 7, 2013 at 6:49am

      Not so, Mike. I retired a civil servant; work/enjoy THREE of the categories in the lower set, and am Conservative in the true sense.
      ;-)

      Report this comment

      woodyee  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on January 6, 2013 at 11:52am

    OK, this makes a lot of sense….

    The #1 group of people with the highest rates of psychopathy are CEO’s.

    And if I submit a resume and references for a job who are they going to call?

    The CEO where I used to work. Way to go AOL JOBS !!!

    Report this comment

    The-Monk  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on January 6, 2013 at 11:50am

    So, “dictator” is not #1. Why’s that?

    Report this comment

    kickagrandma  
    • raderby
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 12:01pm

      not really a “job” – more of a calling….

      however, I see our own dear leader psychopath appears in 3 of the top 10, maybe 4.

      CEO (of USA)
      Lawyer
      Civil servant

      and really,
      “Media” since he is always acting (lying)
      and”salesperson” since he is always in campaign mode

      so 5 of the top ten ::::::::::: no wonder king zero is a psychopath.

      Report this comment

      raderby  
  • civilwarcometh
    Posted on January 6, 2013 at 11:48am

    You forgot to add all government job’s and president and vice president should be at the top of the list.

    Report this comment

    civilwarcometh  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on January 6, 2013 at 11:47am

    I don’t think that I’ll trust a psychologist who caught the eye of AOL jobs…..

    That’s like a virus flagging a bacterium on what groups are more likely to get sick.

    Neither cares and both just infect….

    Report this comment

    The-Monk  
  • banjarmon
    Posted on January 6, 2013 at 11:45am

    What about the POTUS, Senators and Congressmen. There are over 500 in office NOW!!!

    Report this comment

    banjarmon  
    • Polarized America
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 12:03pm

      .
      Those have to be labeled in a number of “Personality disorders” but if you had to pick one
      i’ll go with —> ” Passive-aggressive (negativistic) personality disorder “

      Report this comment

      Polarized America  
  • OlefromMN
    Posted on January 6, 2013 at 11:44am

    Why is politician not #1?

    Report this comment

    OlefromMN  
    • Minnaloushe
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 11:54am

      Why aren’t politicians on the list? Because they’re the *most* successful psychopaths of all.

      Report this comment

      Minnaloushe  
    • dissentnow
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 11:54am

      If it was a list of jobs that attracted sociopaths, i’m sure “politician” would be right up there.

      Report this comment

      dissentnow  
  • Advection
    Posted on January 6, 2013 at 11:43am

    OMG! I’m on the list! I’m on the list! Run for your lives!

    Report this comment

    Advection  
    • gyro
      Posted on January 6, 2013 at 12:01pm

      your on the top list 3 times !!!
      Runnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnning

      Report this comment

      gyro  
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