I think you are correct in identifying the fact that Sociopaths are mostly not the be found with academia itself. Instead, I think you need to look outside of the university structure to identify the people who profit from what universities do. The main social function of the university today is to generate “expertise” and Science™, which in turn are used to legitimise political and economic power; consequently, the Sociopaths of academia are those outside the universities who take academic output and use it to turn a personal profit. So basically (a certain subset of) politicians, businessmen, and activists.
I think sociopaths are likely underrepresented in the physical sciences. Sociopaths’ defining method is the creation of social realities for others to inhabit, and it’s very hard to use that when you’re in the lab mucking with vacuum systems or running rats through mazes or whatever. Sociopaths are much more likely to be attracted to business or politics, with a few in the humanities. What sociopaths there are in science probably gravitate toward positions where they have control over tangible resources (e.g. grants).
OTOH, Aspergians like myself seem to be overrepresented in the physical sciences, partly because the relative distance from social constructs appeals to us.
I think you are correct in identifying the fact that Sociopaths are mostly not the be found with academia itself. Instead, I think you need to look outside of the university structure to identify the people who profit from what universities do. The main social function of the university today is to generate “expertise” and Science™, which in turn are used to legitimise political and economic power; consequently, the Sociopaths of academia are those outside the universities who take academic output and use it to turn a personal profit. So basically (a certain subset of) politicians, businessmen, and activists.
I would say that sociopaths are everywhere. They make up around 1% of the general population but 4-12% in the C-suite. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackmccullough/2019/12/09/the-psychopathic-ceo/?sh=788d5ba4791e
I… think you are conflating the term “sociopath” as used by Rao and the clinical term, which is a very different thing.
I think sociopaths are likely underrepresented in the physical sciences. Sociopaths’ defining method is the creation of social realities for others to inhabit, and it’s very hard to use that when you’re in the lab mucking with vacuum systems or running rats through mazes or whatever. Sociopaths are much more likely to be attracted to business or politics, with a few in the humanities. What sociopaths there are in science probably gravitate toward positions where they have control over tangible resources (e.g. grants).
OTOH, Aspergians like myself seem to be overrepresented in the physical sciences, partly because the relative distance from social constructs appeals to us.
I agree the base rate is probably lower in the physical sciences.