Thread: Stockbrokers worse than psychopaths according to new research :-)

It is not cold, dispassionate rationalism that dictates the rise and fall of the Dow.

"Various studies have suggested that a certain kind of psychological profile gravitates toward the fast-paced, high-pressure environment of the trading floor -- and that this profile probably has more than a little in common with psychopathic personality.

A recent study from the University of St. Gallen, in Switzerland, goes one step further. The research, led by forensics expert Pascal Scherrer and prison administrator Thomas Noll, finds that Professional stock traders actually outperform diagnosed psychopaths when it comes to competitive and risk-taking behavior.

They found that the traders showed a higher degree of competitiveness than the psychopaths -- and that the traders were surprisingly willing to cause harm to their competitors if they thought it would bring them an advantage."

Stockbrokers More Competitive, Willing To Take Risks Than Psychopaths: Study



And a bit more -

Research Contends Stock Traders More Reckless than Psychopaths

"Noll said the study's most startling finding was that traders weren't even aiming for greater winnings than the psychos they were being compared to. Instead they were expending a lot of energy not only trying to earn more than their opponents, but to also damage them."

Research Contends Stock Traders More Reckless than Psychopaths - Advanced Trading

Explains a lot about a few posters on TD.
Fly like a ...... etc.

Psychopath's abound in the financial markets- but at least they aren't slashing Grannie's.
The OP refers to both traders and dealers- they are quite different really, although both are assisted by pyschopathic tendencies.
The highest realisation of your 'capitalist ethos' is expressed by natural Murderers, those who strike from instinct.
It is much more fun doing this in the ultimate game, than playing with defenceless Grannie's.
That is what differentiate's the Penthouse, and the Shithouse.

^ yes leave the grannies alone

Just grab their pensions

Money grabbibg bastsards, they all want lining up against a wall, bummed, and shot.

I think the majority of those traders are more schizophrenic than psychopaths, they always think that the government is after them and their game

Originally Posted by LooseBowels

Just grab their pensions

Money grabbibg bastsards, they all want lining up against a wall, bummed, and shot.

Most traders lose money.

There is a big diffrence between speculators or investors and traders. Traders are the doucheist of them all.

Originally Posted by sabang

...The highest realisation of your 'capitalist ethos' is expressed by natural Murderers, those who strike from instinct. It is much more fun doing this in the ultimate game.....

Arr!....a kindred spirit...

[quote=baby maker;1889994]

Originally Posted by Butterfly

majority of those traders are more schizophrenic than psychopaths

Now B.F. you know you are going to have to explain to the Teakdoorians exactly what schizophrenic means....

very funny..by the way....

Originally Posted by socal

There is a big diffrence between speculators or investors and traders. Traders are the doucheist of them all.

Well that's enlightening....then, by your standard....everybody is a douchbag....

Now why is that not surpriseing....

That aint what I meant. What I am saying is that, of the three, traders tend to be douchey. I am an investor/speculator and a reluctant trader. I hate it when I am forced to trade because fellow market participants are such schitzo retards.

Originally Posted by socal

....schitzo retards......

Oxymoron....

so a interlectual sub group...who hear voices...

sell orders or buy orders...
I wonder.....

who gives a flying fuck...anyway..
.it makes for volume...and affords you and me entry and exit levels...

and be the way...we are only forced to trade...
when we are useing O.P. money....

Now if all these "schitzo retards" would just get religion...become fanitics..
become horders....

what a better world it would be to excert our superitory....

I thought being a psychopath was a necessary qualification for being a broker >

Originally Posted by Phoenix

I thought being a psychopath was a necessary qualification for being a broker >

Now we are getting with the game...

Originally Posted by Phoenix

I thought being a psychopath was a necessary qualification for being a broker >

actually it is, that is if you want to be successful

...it the job...Betty...it brings out the best....

^ hate the bastards, meself... Spent some time at BZW in Docklands, what an utter bunch of wankers... extremely rich wankers...

hate to admit, but I met a fair share of psycho in that industry,

the good news is they tend to be lower level, and the higher you get, the less psycho they are

actually the scariest psycho are not in the Financial industry, but the IT industry, and it's the other way around. The higher you go, the more psycho they get (see Bill Gates, Steve Balmer, and Oracle CEO as perfect examples). Even in mid size IT companies, the level of delusional psycho characters at the top makes high speed traders look like normal and decent people.

Many of the best traders have some kind of Autistic spectrum disorder such as aspegers syndrome.
I doubt many are psychotic in the real sense, but with recreational drugs like cocaine playing in a big part in the lives of traders, many could be considered basket cases.

Originally Posted by Butterfly

hate to admit, but I met a fair share of psycho in that industry,

the good news is they tend to be lower level, and the higher you get, the less psycho they are

actually the scariest psycho are not in the Financial industry, but the IT industry, and it's the other way around. The higher you go, the more psycho they get (see Bill Gates, Steve Balmer, and Oracle CEO as perfect examples). Even in mid size IT companies, the level of delusional psycho characters at the top makes high speed traders look like normal and decent people.

Steve Jobs.