Psychopathy and Society

            In James Fallon’s book, “The Psychopath Inside: A Neuroscientist's Personal Journey into the Dark Side of the Brain” ,neuroscientist James Fallon discovers while working in the lab that a scan of his brain showed many shared characteristics with the brain scans of psychopaths. In his book, Fallon discusses what it means to be a psychopath and whether or not a psychopath can be changed.

            Interestingly, Fallon says that psychopaths not only exist in a society, but are also an irremovable pillar. Fallon argues that the skill of leadership (and the risk taking requirements of leadership) is seen more commonly in psychopaths than in non-psychopaths. Fallon suggests that because psychopaths have the potential to become good leaders, they can also achieve great success in the worlds of business, finance, and even diplomacy. In an article on Time: “Learning from Psychopaths: Q&A With Psychologist Kevin Dutton” this view is also shared by Kevin Dutton, a psychologist at Oxford University. When asked about his opinion about the correlation between psychopathy and leadership, Dutton expressed the view that a psychopathy that comes from charisma, ruthlessness, and emotional impartiality can indeed be beneficial in making a leader or hero.

            Overall, I think it is a novel and very interesting idea that psychopathy and leadership traits and characteristics are not only related, but also very deeply intertwined.