You are just as likely to come up against a psychopathic boss in your office as you are in the prison population.

New research has found psychopaths are as prevalent in the upper echelons of the corporate world as they are in prisons.

The prevalence of people with psychopathic tendencies in the corporate world is as high as that found in the prison population. Credit:Nic Walker

The research shows that one in five prisoners is considered psychopathic. The prevalence of people with the same tendencies in the executive ranks of the corporate business sector is the same, up to 21 per cent.

In the general community, the prevalence of people with psychopathic tendencies is one in 100.