I recently joined a book club, which was a new experience for me. Normally, I read books solo, but this time, I ventured into the world of art history as we explored the life of Pablo Picasso in Francoise Gilot's book "Life with Picasso." It was a refreshing change from my usual reads, which mostly include fiction, business, and world history genres. The connectedness you get from discussing the book, underlining parts that strike you, and knowing there is a community reading the book with you was unmatched.
One thing that struck me while reading about Picasso's life was the revelation of his less-than-stellar character. He wasn't just a little difficult to get along with; he was downright mean to his family, his romantic partners, his friends - basically, anyone who crossed his path. This discovery was a bit of a shock, as I hadn't expected to find such a dark side to the man behind the iconic art. So, I did what any curious reader would do - I turned to my friends for their thoughts.
To my surprise, many of my friends weren't at all taken aback by Picasso's behavior. In fact, they seemed to expect it. Their rationale? The age-old belief that geniuses are often jerks. It got me thinking: do exceptional talents get a free pass when it comes to their behavior?
This ethical dilemma evoked memories of a book I stumbled upon not long ago - "The Asshole Survival Guide: How to Deal with People Who Treat You Like Dirt" by Stanford University professor, Robert Sutton. In his book, Sutton delves into the realm of jerks, particularly in the workplace, and delves deep into the debate of whether genius excuses bad behavior.
Consider the likes of Steve Jobs, the late co-founder of Apple Inc., renowned not just for groundbreaking innovations but also for his notorious temperament. His brusque and demanding nature earned him a reputation as a challenging person to collaborate with. Yet, his genius remained indisputable, with many arguing that his unwavering attitude was the driving force behind his success.
Another contemporary genius, Elon Musk, is also known for his outspoken and occasionally abrasive behavior. From Twitter feuds to dismissive comments, Musk's antics have frequently graced headlines. Nonetheless, his groundbreaking contributions to space travel and electric cars are celebrated worldwide.
So the question remains: What is it about these geniuses that often propels them down the path of jerkiness? Could it be that they simply lack the time or patience to be kind, weighed down by the burdens of their responsibilities? Or is it an excuse society extends to them because of their extraordinary talents?
The Asshole Genius Definition:
Let's clarify what we mean by genius behaving asshole-ishly:
High IQ & creative genius individuals can sometimes act like jerks due to having a grandiose self-view. This can show up as:
Refusing to adapt to others and expecting everyone else to adjust to them.
Being snobbish and dismissive toward people with less knowledge or skill.
Showing off their intelligence and trying to intimidate others, sometimes by using tricky tactics like using complex language or throwing around obscure facts.
Only making an effort when they receive special attention or perks they think they deserve.
Acting aggressively toward most people they consider "inferior" and even being mean to those who are genuinely more accomplished.
The Psychology of Asshole Behavior:
Status Anxiety: One prominent psychological aspect contributing to asshole behavior is status anxiety. This term, popularized by philosopher Alain de Botton, describes the unease we feel when comparing our social and economic status to others. Assholes often engage in behavior aimed at boosting their own perceived status while diminishing others'. This can manifest as condescension, belittling comments, and a constant need to one-up those around them.
Inferiority Complex: Paradoxically, assholes may harbor deep-seated feelings of inadequacy. Their abrasive demeanor and belittling of others could be a defense mechanism to mask their own insecurities. By putting others down, they temporarily alleviate their own feelings of inferiority, albeit at the expense of those they interact with.
Narcissism: Narcissistic personality traits often play a significant role in asshole behavior. Narcissists exhibit an inflated sense of self-importance, a lack of empathy, and a constant need for admiration. They view themselves as superior and may treat others with disdain, especially when they perceive that their egos are being threatened.
The Asshole - Genius Connection... Or rather the lack thereof?
While researching his book, Sutton found that many Silicon Valley leaders thought Steve Jobs proved that being a terrible boss was necessary to build a successful company. But it's important to be careful when connecting genius to asshole-ish behavior. While exceptionally talented people may have unique characteristics, these shouldn't be excuses for harmful actions. Picasso, Jobs, Musk, and many others have certainly achieved great things in their fields. But it's crucial to remember that their exceptional abilities shouldn't mean they can ignore basic principles of being decent and respectful.
People have various qualities that don't necessarily affect their ability to do well in the world. Some aspects of personality don't really impact how a person performs, and some people succeed despite having negative traits. You can be a genius and behave poorly, but the two things aren't always connected. In fact, there's plenty of evidence showing that there are many people who behave poorly without being geniuses in anything except for.... well, behaving asshole-ishly.Many highly successful companies, such as Mastercard, Google, Procter & Gamble, Microsoft, and Patagonia, are not led by jerks. Conversely, numerous jerks lead unsuccessful companies, partly because of their own bad behavior.
Are there instances where such abrasive behavior might yield certain advantages?
Certainly, asshole conduct can confer benefits upon the individual, as it can be misconstrued as a sign of high status. Picasso, for example, seemed to benefit from this image, along with his undeniable creative genius. But it's crucial to understand that this bad behavior ultimately harms the overall environment and hurts both people and organizations in the long run. Jerks often target those lower in the hierarchy while trying to impress those higher up. Some companies might reluctantly put up with this behavior because of an individual's talents, but Sutton firmly argues that, over time, this tolerance damages the organization. Sutton asserts that jerks, defined as those who deliberately make co-workers feel bad and direct their hostility at the less powerful, poison the workplace and drive away talented employees. This is bad for business, regardless of the jerk's individual talent or effectiveness.
So what?
In conclusion, my voyage into art history through our book club not only provided insights into Picasso's life but also raised profound questions about the interplay between genius and jerkiness. While it may be tempting to excuse bad behavior in the name of talent, it is a treacherous path that we should avoid.
Sutton promotes a company culture that values treating all employees fairly and respectfully. Acting like a jerk might bring some short-term benefits, but it rarely helps the whole organization. Moreover, jerks often push away the best employees, creating a toxic workplace with low morale, disengagement, and even theft. Companies and individuals should surely celebrate genius, but also hold everyone, regardless of their talents, accountable for treating others with respect and kindness. After all, the world could benefit from a little more civility, both within our workplaces and beyond.
Oh and one more thing...
In all my research and reading for this post, I noticed that people often referred to famous jerk geniuses who were men. It doesn't necessarily mean there aren't any women like that, but I haven't come accross many examples. I'm not sure if this means anything significant because I don't have enough data to make a statistical conclusion. Still, I thought it was an interesting observation worth mentioning without saying much more...