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The Dark Side of Work

When bad behavior has good results, and other paradoxes

Leadership
What Would Optimus Prime Do?

Seth M. Spain Ph.D. on April 26, 2015

Leaders of the Autobots and Decepticons are used to illustrate how schemas about leadership concepts are influenced by popular media. Understanding these schemas can help educate people about leadership and followership. Knowing the answer to "What would Optimus Prime Do?" could help leaders be more selfless and effective.

Leaders of the Autobots and Decepticons are used to illustrate how schemas about leadership concepts are influenced by popular media. Understanding these schemas can help educate people about leadership and followership. Knowing the answer to "What would Optimus Prime Do?" could help leaders be more selfless and effective.

Narcissism
How Narcissists Fail

Seth M. Spain Ph.D. on September 14, 2014

Narcissists tend to self-enhance and capture other people's attention, which can help them succeed, usually in the short term. Over time, their behaviors are off-putting to acquaintances, and usually lead them to be perceived negatively.

Narcissists tend to self-enhance and capture other people's attention, which can help them succeed, usually in the short term. Over time, their behaviors are off-putting to acquaintances, and usually lead them to be perceived negatively.

Narcissism
Healthy Self-Esteem versus Healthy Narcissism

Seth M. Spain Ph.D. on September 10, 2014

Response to a comment about yesterday's post, which tries to clear the air about where the "sub-clinical" version of narcissism I discussed fits into a conception of healthy self-esteem versus pathological narcissism.

Response to a comment about yesterday's post, which tries to clear the air about where the "sub-clinical" version of narcissism I discussed fits into a conception of healthy self-esteem versus pathological narcissism.

Narcissism
Why You May End Up Working for a Narcissist

Seth M. Spain Ph.D. on September 9, 2014

Narcissists can get ahead at work, maybe even beyond their actual contributions. How do they do it? What behavior strategies contribute to it? I describe some of the mechanisms we believe contribute to narcissists' corporate climbing effectiveness.

Narcissists can get ahead at work, maybe even beyond their actual contributions. How do they do it? What behavior strategies contribute to it? I describe some of the mechanisms we believe contribute to narcissists' corporate climbing effectiveness.