SNAKES IN SUITS:

1
SNAKES IN SUITS

• WHEN PSYCHOPATHS GO TO WORK

By Paul Babiak and Robert D. Hare
A book review by Group K Erin, Katherine,
Kittima, Michelle, Danny, Henry and Eric
2
Snakes In Suits When Psychopaths Go To Work
This review summarizes the content from this
novel and our response to it.
3
Overview

• Who is a psychopath?
• How to recognize a psychopath?
• Why theyre bad for business?
• How to avoid hiring psychopaths?
• What to do if they are already in?
• Ethical Issues?
• Conclusion

4
PSYCHOPATH

• A PERSON WITHOUT CONSCIENCE AND INCAPABLE OF
  EMPATHY, GUILT, OR LOYALTY TO ANYONE BUT
  THEMSELVES.
• A personality disorder rooted in lying,
  manipulation, deceit, egocentricity, callousness,
  and other potentially destructive traits.

(Babiak Hare, 2006, p. 19)
5
HOW TO RECOGNIZE A PSYCHOPATH

• THIS IS NOT EASYpsychopaths are social
  chameleons and adjust their personality
  depending on the person they are interacting
  with.
• The Psychopathy Checklist Revised could be
  used as it showcases a list of twenty
  interpersonal, emotional, and lifestyle traits
  and behaviours (Babiak Hare, 2006, p. 24) of
  Psychopaths.
• Check into the persons history using tools like
  social media to see if they showcase antisocial
  behaviours.
• Note how the performance of the division they are
  assigned within has changed. Since they often
  manipulate themselves for managements point of
  view but are deceitful, their rash ways can be
  revealed through their co-workers lack of
  motivation.

6
PSYCHOPATHS AS MANAGERS
(3 in companies, compared to 1 in US)

• Often psychopathic tendencies can be mistaken for
  leadership qualities
• The changing nature of business During the
  1990s change became a matter of business
  necessity and economic survival. Competing
  successfully now required the quick generation
  and movement of new informationwith the need to
  embrace change came a switch from hiring
  organization men and women who would maintain
  the status quo to hiring individuals who could
  shake the trees, rattle cages, and get things
  done quickly. This hiring switch inadvertently
  led to the selection of some individuals with
  psychopathic traits.
• Unfortunately, the general state of confusion
  that change brings to any situation can make
  psychopathic personality traits--- the appearance
  of confidence, strength, and calm.
• Psychopathic individuals found the new more
  flexible organization structures inviting.so
  psychopaths are more attracted to work for
  businesses that offer fast- paced, high- risk,
  high profit environments (snakes in suits).
• (Babiak Hare, 2006, Preface)

7
WHY THEY ARE BAD FOR BUSINESS

• Main Problem
• Psychopaths bring financial harm to the company
• Underlying problems
• Psychopath may cause emotional distress among
  coworkers wasting valuable time that could be
  spent on defensive manoeuvres and also lowers
  surrounding employees morale.
• Psychopaths behaviours can affect the reputation
  of the company in the eyes of their employees and
  customers

8
HOW TO AVOID HIRING THEM

• Target the lack of knowledge of hiring officials
  on psychopathic traits and teach about the red
  flags that this disorder provides.
• Build a team of interviewers to tackle hiring
  procedures the different perspectives of the
  team can help ensure the decision to be unbiased.
  
• Check references thoroughly
• It is important to get your company to
  acknowledge that manipulation occurs within the
  interview processes so even after a hiring there
  should be a sufficient probation period to
  evaluate performance to prevent any further
  destruction.

9
RECOMMENDATIONS

• Indirect
• Avoid confrontation with the individual
• Have multiple people in the room when in a
  meeting with them. Try not to be left alone with
  them.
• In some severe cases, one should be prepared to
  leave the workplace.

10
ALTERNATIVES

• Direct
• Put it in writingany threats your boss makes
  should be noted either in your date book or a
  memo to file, which you should keep.
• Communication Report any psychopathic behaviour
  to human resource department or management

(Babiak Hare, 2006, p. 305)
11
ETHICAL ISSUES

• Most likely end in a defamation law suit

(Lyon Ogloff, 2000, p. )
12
OPINIONS AND CONCLUSION

• This book has a combination of business,
  psychology and criminology all rolled into one.
• Snakes and Suits has a refreshing viewpoint on
  psychopaths within business environments rather
  than the majority of research on psychopaths
  within prison environments.
• This book easily communicates the material to
  everyone through its scenario story telling while
  keeping the reader interested
• The main concern is how companies should tackle
  the problem of psychopathic individuals within
  their business when these kinds of individuals
  display inappropriate work behaviours. Also, it
  provides methods of prevention of hiring
  psychopaths.
• Furthermore, Snakes and Suits shows just how
  much of an affect the people you work with can
  have on you, and how important it is to avoid
  having a psychopath in the mix, as they are
  poisonous for both the people and the business.

13
QUESTIONS?
14

• References
• Babiak, P. Hare, R.D. (2006). Snakes in suits
  when psychopaths go to work. New York Regan
  Books.
• Lyon, D.R. Ogloff, J.R. (2000). Legal and
  ethical issues in psychopathy assessment. In C.B.
  Gacono (Ed.), ?The clinical and forensic
  assessment of psychopathy A practitioner's guide
  (p.139-174). Mahwah, New Jersey Lawrence Erlbaum
  Associates Publishers.