Do SWEs display sociopathic tendencies?

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CmXn55

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CmXn55
Feb 22 27 Comments

Edit: most comments here are right that I'm conflating narcissism/self-obsessiveness with sociopathy

After working in the industry for about 10 years, I'm wondering if most SWEs (especially the men) tend to have a lot of sociopathic tendencies.

There seems to be a lack of empathy towards users, towards people who are not straight men, a streak of selfishness, etc. They also often think they are the smartest beings on the planet and God's gift to humanity.

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 TOP 27 Comments
  • Apple
    No peanut🚯

    Go to company page Apple

    No peanut🚯
    Just look at the political or COVID posts - the superiority complex is unreal. Heck some folks would rather see Ukraine burn instead of their stocks fall
    Feb 22 1
  • Narcissism != sociopathy, but yes, I agree that there are a disproportionate share of self-absorbed assholes in SWE
    Feb 22 0
  • sociopath no. entitled, tone deaf and constantly turning everything into some insufferable tech dick measuring contest yes.
    Feb 22 0
  • No. I don’t think so

    A lot of engineers I’ve interacted with are pretty miserable and unfulfilled. I think that’s the root cause of a lot of the issues you outlined. We also live in a bubble and are ignorant on how the real world is operating

    A lot act like they’re the smartest but few believe it. Go ahead and question a companies hiring bar and you’ll have like 10 corporate drones defending it. Secure people with healthy egos don’t care about shit like that

    All in all. Tech has shit culture. But Banking has worse culture and med school is too long so here I am
    Feb 22 1
  • Amazon
    avzuevj13

    Go to company page Amazon

    avzuevj13
    Yes but its not a SWE thing specific.
    As you enter fields that are more esoteric ego gets worse.

    Just look at PhD physicist from top Unis. Some of the most narcissistic people I’ve ever met
    Feb 22 0