UNVEILING THE GENDERED FACE OF CORPORATE PSYCHOPATHY: A CONSTRUCTIVIST GROUNDED THEORY STUDY IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Corporate psychopathy has long been recognized as a disruptive force in organizational life, but its gendered dimensions remain underexplored. Drawing from constructivist grounded theory, this study investigates how psychopathic traits in male and female supervisors are experienced differently by their subordinates in the culturally rich and patriarchal context of Pakistan. By comparing the lived experiences of employees who worked under male and female psychopathic supervisors, this research reveals how gender shapes both the expression of psychopathic behaviour and the victim’s interpretation and coping mechanisms. Seventeen in-depth interviews unearthed two central themes: Gender-Based Differences and Gender Bias in Treatment and Expectations, with subthemes like Condescension, Oppression, Self-Serving Nature, Incompetence, Harassment and Discrimination, and Workplace Inequalities. Findings reveal that male and female corporate psychopaths exhibit distinct behaviours shaped by societal norms and cultural expectations, influencing employee wellbeing and workplace dynamics. This paper contributes to the limited literature on female psychopathy in organizational settings, highlighting the need for gender-sensitive leadership frameworks and workplace reforms.

Keywords: Corporate Psychopathy, Gender Dynamics, Constructivist Grounded Theory, Pakistani Organizations, Female Psychopaths, Psychopathic Leadership, Cultural Context