Hidden Crisis
The American Psychiatric Association estimates that four percent of the U.S. population can be diagnosed with Anti-Social Personality Disorder, better known as sociopaths. In real numbers this means that over 12 million Americans fulfill the Association's identified traits of sociopathy defined as:
"…a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of, the rights of others that begins in childhood or early adolescence and continues into adulthood." (American Psychiatric Assn. pp 645-650,)
This does not mean mass murderers wait on every street corner. It does mean that there are many who would happily drive off with a free tank of gas or bilk a waitress if she accidentally makes change for a $20 instead of a $10. It also means that there are those who can and will commit serious violations such as murder, domestic abuse, assault and fraud without even a hint of conscience. In many cases, they are functional members of society, largely because society includes a system based not only on moral values but also on legal enforcement. Basically, sociopaths are frequently held in check because there are consequences for their actions. While they may be without regard for others, they are reluctant to inflict discomfort on themselves.
The Vulnerability of Charitable Organizations
For over 20 years, I have served as a consultant in the nonprofit sector, including being called in to advise and guide troubled organizations. After many cases in which the problem could be traced to a single individual or small group, I began to research and apply principals addressing dysfunction in families and small-groups, including acknowledging the role of the sociopath.
The nonprofit sector can be especially vulnerable to sociopaths because of the assumption of benevolence on anyone drawn to charitable missions. Especially among smaller nonprofits, it is not unheard of for a treasurer to serve an organization for decades, never filing financial reports and skimming just enough off the top so no one is likely to notice. Luckily, organizations serving children and youth have become increasingly savvy concerning the hazards of sociopaths and the norm is now to conduct background investigations to protect children from volunteer mentors that prey on the very children they are there to serve.
The sociopath may be drawn to a nonprofit organization for a number of reasons. It may be for financial gain or for the simple pleasure of preying on people who are easily deceived and manipulated. They may seek the power of leadership or, in the very worst cases, the nonprofit becomes a smoke screen behind which they can victimize the vulnerable.
Spotting the Hidden Wolf
Nonprofit leadership can use a few pointers in identifying the sociopath among them. Those pointers include:
- If someone is charming and convincing but consistently what they do does not match what they say.
- If there are frequent conflicts and an individual "fans the flames" without being directly involved in the conflict.
- If one observes an individual targeted for public criticism of some flaw, yet close analysis shows that the flaw is actually minor or non-existent, it may be a sociopath discrediting someone whom they fear.
- If someone volunteers to oversee money or resources but is secretive and protective.
- If there is a revolving door of good volunteers and, over time, it is apparent that the dissatisfaction is rooted in poor treatment by a single individual.
The symptoms described above may not always be tied to a sociopath. Even so, these are situations that should be addressed by organizational leaders.
Dealing with the Problem
By far, the best solution in protecting a charitable organization from a sociopath is to be watchful before they ever volunteer. Leaders should feel free, even obligated, to not accept a volunteer if that individual is likely to be a threat to the organization and its mission. Many times, the very nature of the nonprofit sector makes this impractical. If a suspected sociopath does become involved in the organization, it is critical for others to communicate, checking out rumors and criticism of staff and other volunteers before believing or taking action on such criticism. After a time, if the sociopath is unsuccessful in manipulating others, they will simply go away. Maintaining a healthy and fair organization is not an appealing environment for the garden variety sociopath.
It is especially important for leaders to remember that treating people equally is not the same as treating people fairly. A sociopath relies on the desire of others to be fair and will frequently make a good, if deceptive, case for their side. One should think objectively when there are conflicts within the organization always remembering to keep the organizational mission first.
Sources:
- American Psychiatric Association, Antisocial personality disocrder -- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth edition Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) 2000
- Brown, Sandra, M.A., "60 Million People in the U.S. Affected by Someone Else’s Pathology," Psychology Today, August 28, 2010.
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