New York — Maybe the secret to success on Wall Street is being nice. In the world of high finance, it has been an article of faith among some that the only way to succeed — or even survive — is to be ruthless. But a new study in the latest issue of the Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin suggests those money makers at the top of the food chain, hedge fund managers, could benefit from being a little less mean. It turns out that people who exhibit what health professionals consider psychopathic traits actually perform worse than their peers over time. Psychologists define a "psychopath" as someone who, among other things, lacks a conscience — an individual who often acts in a manipulative fashion for personal gain. While such traits are not the best way to win friends and influence people outside of work, they are seen by the more mercenary as advantageous when it comes to climbing the career ladder or making money. This may not be the case. Psychology Prof Leanne ten Brinke, of ...
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