Narcissists are divorced from the consequences of their judgements and actions, whenever these do not affect them directly. Other people (or the whole groups of other people) are seen not as others, like oneself, but as objects to be used.
For instance, when markets are seen as anonymous ‘virtual’ structures, employees may be seen and treated as exploitable commodities. And, separating risk from responsibility in the financial sector disengaged policy makers from the all too predictable consequences of such policies.
Professor Marianna Fotaki looks at the impact and role of narcissism in public policy, work, management and organisational settings.