Company posts job advert for sales executive with psychopathic qualities

Research conducted by Bond University found around one in five corporate bosses are psychopaths - a proportion similar to that among prisoners

Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho (Rex Features)

A broadcast and media agency is looking for a sales executive with psychopathic tendencies.

Existing studies on psychopaths have made the startling claim that many top corporate executives exhibit psychopathic behaviours such as narcissism, superficial charm, lack of concern for others, and selfishness.

But this has not prevented Radio Relations to advertise for a “Psychopathic new business media sales executive” with “some of the positive qualities” that psychopaths have.

The advert reads: “You didn't expect to see a job ad for a psychopath did you but this is no ordinary role. We're not looking for a psycho but for someone with some of the positive qualities that psychopaths have.”

“About 25 per cent of the highest performing sales professionals also have psychopathic tendencies. By this I mean that they have a high sense of self-worth, are incredibly ambitious and a do-whatever-it-takes mentality.”

The candidate should be “money motivated” with drive and ambition, the company added.

Adam Cox, founder and MD of Relations Group, said people think of psychopatic tendencies as exclusively negative based on the media and films such as American Psycho.

He told the Independent: "I’m certainly not looking for the negative qualities such as compulsive lying or overly risky behaviour and make it clear that criminal tendencies are not welcome.We still have a robust recruitment process but I’ve been impressed with the high calibre of candidates applying and most have said how refreshing they have found the job advert as it’s unconventional and is clear on the type of person we are looking for."

"I would definitely hire a person with psychopathic tendencies so long as they have the positive qualities rather than the negative or criminal."

Around one in five corporate bosses are psychopaths - a proportion similar to that among prisoners - according to a new study conducted by forensic psychologist Nathan Brooks from Bond University.

But you may be more likely to encounter a true psychopath in some workplaces than others.

Journalists, police officers and even clergymen are all among the most popular professions "that attract psychopaths".

According to the Hare psychopath checklist, which was developed in the seventies, psychopaths tend to feel a lack of remorse for destructive acts and are unable to feel empathy.