One in 25 Executives May Be Psychos

While researching his book, Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work, psychologist Paul Babiak uncovered a statistic that may disturb some business owners: Nearly four percent of executives are considered psychopaths.

Babiak’s study included more than 200 executives who were ranked on the Psychopathy Checklist, a tool used to assess the personality disorder.

This may not sound like a very high percentage, but according to the book’s co-author, Professor Bob Hare of the University of British Columbia, only about one percent of the general US population can be described as psychopaths.