Doesn’t every company want to hire “ambitious” people who “think outside the box”? “Think strategically”? “Communicate persuasively”? It may be tempting for recruiters to fill their job postings with keywords that seem to describe the ideal employee, but new research suggests that such “rule-breaking” language tends to attract narcissistic candidates.
Moreover, this type of language attracts narcissists who are more likely to engage in fraudulent or unethical behavior, especially when it comes to accounting positions. Maryland, Mississippiand South Carolina. Their findings are as follows: Accepted for publication By the journal Management Science.
“Before a single job seeker has even clicked ‘Apply,’ the language included in a job posting can be too enticing for a narcissist to ignore, increasing the likelihood that unethical candidates will be lured into the position.” Dr. Nick SeibertHe is an associate professor of accounting at UMD’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. press release.
Narcissists are no strangers to the workplace. Previous research has shown that they hinder team performance But they are also good at taking on leadership roles. The researchers point out that this latest study may help explain why overconfident candidates are hired in the first place. Recruiters may be using rhetoric that unintentionally breaks the rules.
In a series of experiments, Seibert and his colleagues measured people’s levels of narcissism and assessed their attractiveness to rule-breaking language. They used the following rule-breaking versus rule-compliant language in their studies:
- Ambitious and independent vs. grounded and collaborative
- Think outside the box vs. think systematically
- Results oriented, sets goals and works towards them. vs. process-oriented, establish and reinforce procedures.
- Develop creative and innovative solutions to problems. vs. Rely on proven solutions to your problems.
- Flexible and strategic thinking vs. concrete and practical thinking
- Communicate in a tactical and persuasive manner. vs. Communicate in a direct and precise manner.
“We show that narcissists are more attracted to rule-breaking language in job postings for both general and accounting positions,” Seibert said. “We then show that professional recruiters are more likely to include rule-breaking language in job postings for companies that are more innovative and faster growing and that will help them manipulate revenue.”
Seibert added that his team focused on accounting because that’s where “narcissists and rule-breakers can have the most immediate negative impact.”
What is narcissistic personality disorder?
Some people use the term “narcissist” to define a selfish, charismatic, and successful person, but narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a mental illness. Self-esteem is a major component of the disorder, but so is the way the person treats others. cleveland clinic It highlights these NPD traits:
- arrogance
- act in an arrogant or contemptuous manner
- Supporting Actions
- To look down on or act arrogantly
- Belief in superiority
- I believe that I should only associate with people I deem worthy.
- think of yourself as special or unique
- qualifications
- Anger when people don’t care for you or comfort you
- Expect (unreasonably) favorable treatment
- exaggerated self-esteem
- Frequent jealousy
- belittling or disparaging another person’s achievements
- Anticipate the envy of others
- Envy others, especially when they are successful
- Frequent illusions about what one possesses or deserves:
- beauty
- Intelligence
- love
- strength
- Self-actualization
- success
- exaggerated sense of self-importance
- boast or exaggerate one’s accomplishments
- Overestimating one’s abilities or setting unreasonably high standards
- lack of empathy
- Not returning the kindness or attention shown by others
- Saying things that could hurt others
- Seeing other people’s feelings, needs, and desires as a sign of weakness
- The need for respect
- Fishing for compliments
- vulnerable self-esteem
- Frequent self-doubt, self-criticism, or feelings of emptiness
- Concern about knowing what other people think of you
- Willingness to exploit others
- To take advantage of another person, whether consciously or unconsciously
- To deliberately take advantage of another person for selfish reasons
- Form friendships or relationships with people who boost your self-esteem or status.
roughly 1-2% of people It is believed that there is NPD in the United States. American Psychiatric Association. NPD also often co-occurs with other mental illnesses, such as depression or substance abuse disorders.
People with NPD Less likely to seek treatment on their ownBecause they often think there is nothing wrong with them. According to the Cleveland Clinic, there are no medications that directly treat NPD, but a combination of psychotherapy and adjacent medications, such as antidepressants, can help.
If you need immediate mental health support, please contact: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
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