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Pawns, Patrons, and Patsies
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board, and the pawns (those the psychopath will manipulate) and
the patrons (those who will unwittingly protect the psychopath)
are identified. This is the time for gathering information and for
initial positioning. The personal relationships established during
this phase provide the psychopath with tools that will prove useful
in later phases.
It should be noted that many talented and well-motivated employees
attempt to make positive impressions on those around them.
Only a small proportion deceive and manipulate to such an extent
that the integrity of the organization is in danger of being compromised.
At this point in the process, however, it is exceedingly difficult,
if not impossible, to tell the difference between normal
impression management and predatory deception.
Although we have labeled this a distinct phase, assessment is in
fact an ongoing process, occurring whenever psychopaths meet someone
new. Many modern organizations experience continual change
among staff members, and new relationship networks and business issues
emerge. This provides psychopaths with the continual opportunity
to assess the pawn-patron potential of new players as they join
the company or take on new roles. This constant change (often frustrating
to the rest of us) adds interest, challenge, and new opportunities
for psychopaths to perpetrate their fiction—a motivating factor
not unlike that experienced by con men and women when dealing
with people in open society.
LOW-UTILITY OBSERVERS
Not everyone that psychopaths meet interests them. There are plenty
of coworkers and managers who have little to offer in the way of influence,
assets, or potential support. Being ignored, these individuals
are in a good position to see what is actually going on. They may realize
that the psychopath is not who he or she pretends to be, and
may even witness the manipulation of others. This, however, takes
time and extensive interaction; and most people mind their own