Alas, an explination. In talking to someone with expertise, we narrowed down his root cause. Its called Narsisstic Personality Disorder. Here's an adapted criteria for those in upper management. Its him spot on for 11 of the 12 points:
Reacts to any criticism with rage in case of subordinates and fake shame and humiliation is case of peers. Arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes coupled with rage when contradicted, or confronted. *Arguments are always difficult as narcissism assume that he/she is* always right. This trait is the most helpful in diagnosing the disorder.* Among typical manifestations:
Frequent tantrums directed on subordinates or selected low status "targets". *Tantrums are used as a way of keeping her uncomfortable feelings from being experienced by attacking those who cannot fight back.
Short-fuse: anticipates attack and takes offense easily, reacting with tantrums. Engages in revenge fantasies; in family life narcissist transforms life with him into a constant battle.
Extreme sensitivity to reactions of others and highly vulnerable to criticism and adverse judgment;
Ridicules the achievements of others. *
Overly aggressive responses to criticism - ("How dare he criticize me?* That lying bastard, I swear I'll get even, if it takes years").* This essay notes that they see the criticism as a threat to their self, making them great fun during job performance reviews:
"Since the narcissist is incapable of asserting his or her own sense of adequacy, the narcissist seeks to be admired by others. However, the narcissist’s extremely fragile sense of self worth does not allow him or her to risk any criticism."
Oblivious to the discrepancy between how they like to be seen and how they are seen by others. While demonstrating an overwhelming, arrogant, unhealthy attention-seeking at the same time tries portray himself as a wonderful, kind, caring and compassionate person; sees nothing wrong with their behavior and chooses to remain oblivious to the discrepancy between how they like to be seen and how they are seen by others. Sometimes attention seeking is demonstrates itself in being confrontational or negative* just for the sake of getting into a fight. Some narcissists liked to argue and would instigate arguments with others quite often.
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Systematic pathological lying, especially about past achievements, contacts etc (waving false reality); the ability to takes advantage of others to achieve own goals. Typically anytime a narcissist has a problem he tend to escalates it to crisis and is furious if others aren't there immediately to help him (especially typical in personal relationships).* Attempts to create an artificial positive image to compensate for his own low self-worth; demands to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements; careful hiding of personal incompetence under the mask, for example, the mask of demanding but fair manager. Masters of creating "artificial reality". Narcissists are adept at manipulating and are excellent imitators (Zelig-like types, chameleons). They like to project work ethic and emphasize team work, while destroying the team and converting it into a pack of frightened animals. *The narcissist is willing to accept the employee as an "under-humans", whose very position as such serves to support his grandiose fantasies. Narcissists are pathological compulsive liars. They think nothing of it because their very self is fake, an invention.
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Unreasonable expectations of favorable treatment (sense of entitlement). Expects unreasonable or special and favorable priority treatment. Demands automatic and full compliance with his or her expectations.** Requires and expects constant attention and/or admiration. Sensitive to praise and can take gross over-exaggerations at face value.* Often tries to create a personality cult as a part of the despotic rule.
*Shamelessly exploits others to achieve his need for approval; that means hiding other achievements and/or presenting them as own.
Constantly envious of others or believes that they feel the same about him or her
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Napoleonic complex: they are* convinced of their superiority and has an overbearing belief in their qualities of leadership, feelings of self-importance.*
Exaggerates achievements and talents but cannot distinguish between:
leadership (maturity, decisiveness, assertiveness, co-operation, trust, integrity)
bullying (immaturity, impulsiveness, aggression, manipulation, distrust, deceitfulness)
Status freak. Constantly aspires for status, is compulsive "ladder climber" including obsessive attraction to various status symbols.
Typically disguises sense of inadequacy by arrogance;* Exaggerates and boasts; Engaged in systematic and arrogant exaggeration of own achievements and talents (see also pathological lying)
Cannot be wrong - The narcissist is never, ever wrong, and they like to present "proofs" that they are correct.* The narcissist cannot accept responsibility for making a mistake and they are expert at diverting the blame to others - ("It's not my fault.* I lost that promotion because my team let me down").
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Complete lacks of empathy (which is typical for all psychopaths). Often misses the semantic meaning of language, misinterprets what is said, sometimes wrongly thinking that comments of a satirical, ironic or general negative nature apply to him or herself .* Easy to provoke for attack. Narcissists are arrogant, self-aggrandizing, and manipulative. All contacts are pure instruments in achieving the goals. For narcissistic managers staff is actually "stuff": they cares little for others other than as a source of affirmation. Their co-workers as mere instruments, objects, tools.
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Kiss-up behavior as narcissists depends on peers for a sense of self-worth; pays a lot of attention to association with people of status and achievement; envious of others and expects others to be envious of him or her."
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Often attempts to overcome feeling of inadequacy by overcontrol; they are often controls freaks and micromanagers although of different flavor then paranoid incompetent micromanagers (PIMM).
Often sadistic and disguise their sadism under "mentoring" label.
they "educate" their nearest and dearest to death. This "education" is compulsive, obsessive, incessantly, harshly and unduly critical. Its effect is to erode the subject, to humiliate, to create dependence, to intimidate, to restrain, to control, to paralyze.
Usually blocks all communication to/from above -- gatekeeper.
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Needs immediate gratification, resulting in poorly performing in situations requiring staying power in which accomplishing difficult objectives which take considerable time;
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Rigid, inflexible thinking - Anyone with a different approach is seen as personally attacking the narcissist.* Rules rule, and some narcissists get inappropriately angry when they see little things, like grammar errors.* I knew a narcissistic computer programmer who would refuse to answer any e-mail that used non-accepted word abbreviations! - ("My way is the ONLY RIGHT way and any other way is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG").
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Arrogant, boastful and pretentious; often fakes competence. - These are people with stupid/fake certificates and awards on their walls, the kind of people who exaggerate their accomplishments or use inflated job titles like "Engineer, Physicist" in their resume job histories. - (i.e. "I'm a Sanitation Engineer").* This narcissistic trait is especially prevalent in computer work where people elevate themselves to "expert" status, and then treat people in a demeaning way when they get questions ("Boy, now that's a really stupid question.* Where did you go to college?)".
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May have alcohol or drag dependence. Cocaine addicts typically demonstrate strong narcissistic traits
