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Pawns, Patrons, and Patsies
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that psychopathy combines some of the features of narcissism
and Machiavellianism with aggressive and antisocial tendencies.
We might refer to psychopathy as the mean side of the dark
triad.
SUPPORTING ROLES—THE PAWNS AND PATRONS
If psychopaths are the writers, directors, and stars in the psychopathic
fiction, then it is important that those around them be cast in
supportive roles. The first goal in creating the psychopathic fiction is
to convince others of their honesty, integrity, and sincerity. Concurrently,
they focus on the identification and manipulation of potential
“pawns,” or those individuals who have something the fraudster
wants. There can be many pawns in an organization, all being identified
for the specific resources they can potentially provide, such as information,
money, expertise, staffing, influence, contacts, and so
forth.
Later down the road, when psychopaths need a resource, they
will manipulate the pawns to get it or simply ask directly. Asking
for favors of “friends” and never actually repaying is a surprisingly
common technique used. Many pawns are so enamored by the
persona of the psychopathic fraudster that they give him or her
whatever is needed, however inappropriate or outrageous the
request.
Eventually, psychopaths are able to convince a large number of
people that they are their best friends, trusted confidants, loyal
coworkers, and all-around good people with whom to associate.
They are able to create a fiction and maintain it in day-to-day interaction.
Competence and loyalty, two important organizational traits,
go unquestioned. With the kind of “evidence” they provide (through
charm, charisma, and dissimulation), it is no surprise when they
blame any concerns or negative perceptions raised by others on envy