Do you believe BP's CEO Tony Hayward is a SOCIOPATH?

[AnArmyVeteran]

Poll question: Do you believe BP's CEO Tony Hayward is a SOCIOPATH?

Everything Tony Hayward has said and done has led me to believe he doesn't have the ability to feel or understand other people's suffering. He seems to have all the signs of a sociopath. No, I'm not a psychiatrist or trained in that field, but from what he and his company does without regard to human beings or the environment it leaves me believing he is a sociopath. And I also wondered if a person has to be a sociopath to be a CEO of companies like his.

Definition of sociopathic behavior: Having the characteristics of a sociopath; Unconcerned about the adverse consequences for others of one's actions.

[sarge43]

1. Don't think so. Sociopaths seethe with hostility toward others and

they more often than not act upon it. He's like so many others in a powerful position; he's a narcissist, indifferent to others. "I want my life back."

[Juche]

11. That is a different disorder

Sociopaths are incapable of emotions like fear or empathy. Usually they end up too fucked up, alienated or incarcerated to become CEOs because they do not have the 'brakes' that normal people do to stop them from doing bad things (fear of the consequences, empathy for victims).

You are right, he is more likely a narcissist.

[Donnachaidh]

2. nah -- he's an *entitled ignoramus*

in short terms - a really stupid snob.

[metapunditedgy]

4. I don't think it's as passive as that. He actively pursues his destructive goals.

And he has driven the culture of greed and negligence that made BP what it is today.

[Donnachaidh]

12. how has he *actively pursued* his destructive goals?

Serious question too. Are you saying he PLANNED to let the rig blow up? Did he physically do that?

I'm not trying to argue -- but the guy is a f*cking CEO. I don't know if he has EVER really worked on a rig himself. He's a numbers cruncher, most likely. Oxford education, etc. He sits back and lets everyone else bounce information around, and then approves whatever everyone else wants. To claim he's actively sat back and planned out the largest ecological disaster in history is totally jumping the shark.

I'm not making excuses for him either. But a dunce with a sense of entitlement is more apropos for this guy. He can't shut his mouth to save his own ass -- that is a sure sign of inbred stupidity, IMO. YMMV... :shrug:

[wingnut40]

3. nope. he is just scared shitless about what happened and he has no idea what to do about it.

[rrneck]

5. No, but

corporations are, by definition, psycopathic.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379225/


Filmmakers Mark Achbar and Jennifer Abbott explore the genesis of the American corporation, its global economic supremacy and its psychopathic leanings, with social critics like Noam Chomsky and Milton Friedman lending insight in this documentary. With their merciless quest for profit and insatiable aim to sway every aspect of culture, conglomerates' inner workings are scrutinized to draw conclusions about "business as usual."

[MrScorpio]

7. Thank you

That's exactly the reference that I was going to use

[Duer 157099]

6. I don't have enough data to make a call

Now GWB, that one I know for certainty is.

[provis99]

8. sociopathy is common among ceo's

many studies have confirmed this. One example is the link below, that estimates 10% of IT execs are corporate psychopaths.
http://www.softpanorama.org/Social/Toxic_managers/psychopath_in_the_corner_office.shtml

[AnArmyVeteran]

17. Thanks for that link. Very interesting. The book "Work Abuse" is a great one...

The book, Work Abuse is a great book to validate your feelings you have if you work for a corporation or in other industries, even teaching, etc... I highly recommend it.

[The Old Creak]

9. YES!!

He doesn't give a shit about what he's done, except what its doing to his bottom line, and "He wants his life back" Well, there are at least 11 people who won't. BASTARD!!!

[marmar]

10. Just a garden-variety, aloof, disconnected asshole CEO

nt

[Hempathy]

13. Not at all.

He's just isolated from a lot of things that everyday people have to face in life.

[New Dawn]

14. No, he is just a capitalist.

[Quantess]

15. Probably.

[stray cat]

16. Sounds like a lot of people with really strong opinions that can only see one view point

[Ardent15]

18. probably, but so are most people with that kind of wealth and power

The sociopaths being empowered is a symptom, not a cause.