If you’ve ever had a particularly demanding, aggressive or callous boss, you might have referred to them once or twice as a “psychopath”. The p-word is bandied around a lot, often without seriously considering its true meaning. While many individuals may display some psychopathic traits – such as antisocial behaviour, deviousness and a lack of empathy and remorse – relatively few people are true psychopaths.

Yet the idea that many company bosses have psychopathic tendencies is a pervasive one. (Google “my boss is a psychopath” and you’ll be presented with almost 6 million results.) Over the last 15 years, and particularly after the 2008 financial crisis, several academics have explored the concept of corporate psychopathy: the idea that psychopaths may be more likely to ascend the professional ladder than the general population, thanks in part to their innate ruthlessness, desire for control and ability to manipulate others.

According to a fascinating new study, people with psychopathic traits are slightly more likely to be bosses – although concerns about the prevalence of the issue are probably overblown.

But while male bosses are generally allowed to get away with displaying psychopathic tendencies in the workplace, women are punished – suggesting that beliefs about ‘appropriate’ behaviour for men and women can disguise workplace psychopathy.

Why your male boss is more likely to get away with being a psychopath