PSYCHOPATHY IN MANAGEMENT BEHAVIOUR AND BULLYING AT WORK: HEARING SOME UNHEARD VOICES FROM PAKISTAN

Abstract

Theoretically, psychopathy is defined as a disorder of personality that is characterized by lack or severe underdevelopment of super-ego, any attachment and any inhibiting mechanisms that would deter a normal person from rendering any antisocial, immoral or wrong behavior. Modern corporate leaders go far beyond their mandate and adopt coercive leadership style in accomplishment of organizational goals. Leaders more often act like psychopaths and bully their subordinates. Existing research, mainly investigated specific characteristics, behaviors or traits of psychopathy in North America, Europe and other advanced countries by ignoring the case of developing countries especially Pakistan. Hence there is urgent need to undertake such research in Pakistani corporate sector for fine-tuning the existing theory. Furthermore, previous research focused on a particular population, such as violent individuals, or incarcerated criminals, lacking universality of their applications which requires replication of such research in modern corporate workplaces. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with variety of management and non-management employees in public and private sector organisations in Pakistan. This investigation reveals that corporate leaders possess elite and bureaucratic mind-set and retain unquestionable authority. This article reveals that the perpetrator and victim of bullying both need medical and counseling facility. Lastly, it is suggested that government and organisations should have and enforceable laws and explicit policies to prevent health-endangering bullying behaviors at work.