Is your Leader a Sociopath?
Never take leaders for granted. God allows people to be in
leadership positions but it should not be taken for granted that such leaders are
emotionally healthy. Some are sociopaths with leadership positions in business,
government and religion.
When I was a young soldier in the Canadian Armed Forces,
I worked at a hospital in Kingston, Ontario. It was my
responsibility to provide care to inmates from the surrounding Federal Penitentiaries.
I was amazed by their skills and how they functioned as criminals, some of
these inmates were sociopaths. I assumed that all sociopaths were criminals. I
have since discovered the truth. Sociopaths can find their way to leadership
positions in today’s society in all walks of life including the pulpit.Spiritual healthy and emotional well churches are
discerning churches that doesn’t take leaders for granted.
The June issue of Psychology Today has an article in it
called, “Inside the mind of a Manipulator” it contains the confessions of a sociopath.
This article is very enlightening. After reading it I decided to write this
article, “Is Your Leader a Sociopath?"
I encountered a
leader who exhibited personality traits of a sociopath. When I expressed this
concern to certain leaders under his leadership, the response was as if I was
crazy. They may have assumed as I once did that only criminals can be
sociopaths. I witnessed similar characteristics as confessed in the story of,
“Confessions of a Sociopath.”
Her story is prefaced by saying, “……people are attracted
to my exceptionalism like moths to a flame.”
In what sounded to me as a boasting tone, she states, “Remorse is alien to me. I have a
penchant for deceit. I am generally
free of entangling and irrational emotions. I am strategic and canny, intelligent and confident, but I also struggle to react appropriately to
other people’s confusing and emotion driven social cues.”
The article claims the silent majority of sociopaths live
freely and anonymously, holding down jobs, getting married, having children. The
writer also claims, “Sociopaths are highly
immune to depression, and the
ability to tell ourselves wonderful stories about ourselves helps.” It
further says, “Aggression, risk taking,
and a lack for one’s own health, or that of others, are hallmarks of sociopathy.”
Don’t be fooled into thinking only criminals can be sociopaths. Look for the signs. (I have highlighted them in bold print in this article). If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, swims like a duck and sounds like a duck, it probably is a “sociopath”, ducking behind an appointed leadership role, manipulating with false authority. Churches that lack spiritual discernment are easy prey for such leadership assuming they are appointed by God and they become victims of spiritual abuse. Is your Leader a Sociopath?
Reference: Psychology Today June 2013.
Until next time
Blessings!
Pastor Harold
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