Leadership and the rise of the corporate psychopath: What can business schools do about the ‘snakes inside’? (2011).

“… business school students value empathy least, are more self-interested, (and) demonstrate 50% more cheating behaviour than any other major.”

Dr Amanda Gudmundsson and Gregory Southey, Queensland University of Technology, Australia.
E-Journal of Social & Behavioural Research in Business, 2(2), 18-27, 2011.

“The global leader of 21st century business is forecast … to require a clear vision (to deal with increased uncertainty), empathy (to interact with a wide variety of stakeholders), and humility (to admit mistakes and deviate from damaging consequences of arrogance).

“….Disturbingly, recent leadership research with business school students continues to demonstrate that these future leaders value empathy least, are more self-interested, demonstrate more cheating behaviour (50% greater than any other major), are less co-operative, more likely to conceal instructor’s mistakes, and are less willing to yield and more likely to defect in bargaining games.

“So what can business schools do with the ‘snakes inside’?

“Whilst it can be argued that ethical and moral reasoning and empathy develop naturally through maturity, (some) authors are calling for business educators to focus more on building the capacity of business students in leadership and soft skills such as empathy to minimise the likelihood of poor and immoral decision in business.

“…Perhaps some insight can be gained from immersive leadership training programs. Evidence recently published from a large, longitudinal, multi-source, multi-wave leadership development program with young military school cadets demonstrates that developmental interventions that include substantial self-awareness training are effective in mitigating the negative effects of sub-clinical personality traits

“…The opportunity clearly exists for further scholarly research to ensure that tomorrows leaders are able to overcome the previously discussed well exhibited negative behaviours, so that the benefits of the positive and important traits are not lost but enhanced thus creating truly effective and inspirational 21st century leaders.”

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