Psychopathic women are more common than we imagine: research

Female psychopaths are more common than previously thought, according to research presented at the Cambridge Festival by Dr Clive Boddy, an expert in corporate psychopathy at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU). Contrary to the widespread belief that psychopaths are predominantly male, Dr. Boddy challenges this notion by revealing that female psychopaths may be up to five times more common than previously believed.

Dr. Boddy’s research suggests that the true ratio of psychopathy between men and women may be closer to 1.2:1, compared to the conventional ratio of 6:1. This discovery signals a significant shift in the understanding of psychopathy and highlights the need to review identification and assessment methods.

One of the reasons behind this underestimation lies in the gender bias in the identification of psychopathy. Traditional measures have focused on male criminal behavior, leading to a lack of recognition of the more subtle and manipulative tactics employed by female psychopaths. Dr. Boddy argues that society tends to overlook psychopathic traits when exhibited by women, as these traits are often considered more acceptable in men.

Dr. Boddy also highlights how female psychopaths tend to operate differently than men. They use manipulation and seduction techniques instead of violence to achieve their goals. This distinction is crucial, as measures designed to identify male criminal psychopaths may be inadequate to detect noncriminal female psychopaths.

In addition to challenging conventional perceptions about psychopathy, this finding has important implications for society and the business world. In the criminal justice arena, underestimation of female psychopaths can lead to flawed risk management decisions, especially in cases involving partners and children. In the business world, organizational leadership selection decisions need to be reviewed, as it cannot automatically be assumed that female leaders lack psychopathic behaviors.

Dr Boddy, who has been researching the effects of having psychopaths in the workplace since 2005, has highlighted the importance of understanding the impact of corporate psychopaths on employees, organizations and society at large. His research has shed light on toxic leadership and highlighted the need to address this issue effectively.

In summary, Dr. Boddy’s work challenges long-held conceptions of psychopathy and underscores the importance of recognizing the presence and tactics of female psychopaths. This shift in understanding not only has implications for the field of criminal justice and business leadership, but also raises the need for a more equitable and comprehensive assessment of psychopathy across genders.

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