Law and the corporate psychopath: approaches, challenges and resolutions

This chapter examines the relationship between law and corporate psychopathy across historical and contemporary contexts. It argues that corporate psychopathy in some form—though often described differently—is present in all large organizations, including commercial, governmental, military, and religious ones. Law, rather than deterring such behavior, may at times enable or reward it. This chapter explores how legal frameworks, including human rights, criminal and tort law, and internal organizational laws, interact with corporate psychopaths and their enablers—the deceived, coerced and collaborators. It draws on broader analyses in the book to suggest how law could more effectively respond to the processes, structures and dynamics they use and exploit to their own advantage.