Studies show Psychopaths Rule USA and World

Multiple studies show that politicians are more likely than the general population to be psychopaths.

Ponerology is a branch of science based in psychology, biology and the social sciences. Born in the very setting which it studies, Political Ponerology, A Science of Evil Adjusted for Political Purposes was named by the brilliant psychologist, Andrej Lobaczewski. Secretly networking with colleagues in several Nazi and Soviet occupied countries during and after the Second World War, their research bore tremendously valuable fruit that both re-conceptualises and reinforces our understanding of the 'causal factors and processes of the genesis of moral and psycho-biological evil. Though Lobaczewski's research may be the most memorable and groundbreaking, there have been many other studies. For example, the researchers at Emory University in Atlanta recently found that politicians are more likely than people in the general population to be sociopaths and/or psychopaths. In fact, the fearless dominance associated with psychopathy may predict presidential and overall leadership performance. 

The following study was published in the September 2012 issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 

Lack of guilt, fearlessness and interpersonal dominance may sound like a description of a high-powered CEO, banker or politician, but is actually a list of traits commonly found in psychopaths. According to the research, this similarity may not be a coincidence. 

Some psychopathic traits may be a double-edged sword, however. For example, fearless dominance could contribute to reckless criminality and violence, or could bring about skillful leadership in the face of a crisis. 

The researchers compiled personality assessments of the 42 previous U.S. presidents - up to and including George W. Bush (unfortunately this study was before Obama's presidency) - using data from about 100 historical experts, such as biographers, journalists, and political historians and scholars. Those personalities were compared with each president's performance, and links began to emerge. 

Out of all the former presidents tested in the Emory study, Theodore Roosevelt ranked the highest for fearless dominance, according to the researchers. He was followed by John F. Kennedy, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, Rutherford Hayes, Zachary Taylor, Bill Clinton, Martin Van Buren, Andrew Jackson and George W. Bush. 

Psychopaths have other traits than fearlessness, interpersonal dominance and lack of guilt however, and some of them are not beneficial to the people he or she may govern in any way, shape or form. Psychopaths, like their similarly classified sociopaths and narcissits lack empathy, compassion, morals, etc. 

In summary, this small minority of human beings, which often manage to climb our latters of political power have no conscience and do not care about our welfare or even our lives. This may be a bitter pill for many of you to swallow, but it does explain a lot; like the egotistical, criminal, political behavior we are witnessing in Washington. 

By Tom Retterbush

tomretterbush@gmail.com

Originally Published: 10/22/13, 7:33 PM

Updated:10/5/16, 7:33 PM

*Note: The terms sociopath and psychopath is often used interchangeably by mental health professionals. 

Sources & Resources

Articles

The Startling Accuracy of Referring to Politicians as 'Psychopaths'
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/07/the-startling-accuracy-of-referring-to-politicians-as-psychopaths/260517/

Study: Politicians and Psychopaths Aren't So Different
http://reason.com/blog/2012/08/01/breaking-news-politicians-and-psychopath

Psychopathic Personality Traits Linked With U.S. Presidential Success, Psychologists Suggest
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/13/psychopathic-personality-traits-president_n_1874567.html


Videos

Psychopathy in Politics and Finance - Stefan Verstappen on GRTV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKqs7GJ0jdY&feature=player_embedded

Must Watch! It sounds as if it is describing Obama!!! Defense Against the Psychopath (Full length)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd6P1Ue2aGg