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5 Soc. & Soc. Work Rev. 6 (2021)

handle is hein.journals/socwkv5 and id is 1 raw text is: Sociology and Social Work Review 1/2021

Linking leadership and psychopathy: Looking for evidence in
tertiary institutions
Ayotunde Adebayo*a
a University of Lagos,Department of Arts and Social Sciences Education, Akoka, Yaba, Nigeria
Abstract
The paper examined the established view of leadership styles with the emerging profile of
psychopathic leaders by looking for pieces of evidence in the tertiary institutions. A modicum review
of the literature demonstrated the shape of psychopathic leadership traits for future research within the
context of the study. The implications and accurate and deep understanding drawn from this limited
literature revealed the plausibility of psychopathic leadership traits within the context of tertiary
institutions.
Keywords: Leadership, psychopathy, tertiary institutions, models
1. Introduction
The concept of leadership has emerged as one of the most researched aspects of
organisational behaviour. The ever-growing interests in the field of governance have led to the
conduction of various studies that aim to understand the impacts of leadership on the behaviour of
subordinates, and the achievement of performance within the organisation. The interests of the
concept of leadership have extended to tertiary institutions around the world. The drivers of such
concerns are the influence of institutions in the development of students who eventually become
leaders within the economic system and the constant changes in the sphere of institutional leadership
itself - especially in light of the challenges facing the educational sector.
In recent times, several circumstantial shifts have emerged within the educational sector,
particularly the advent of globalisation, the commercialisation of higher institutions, cuts in
government funding and increased academic movement across borders. Over the years, researchers
have queried the approach to leadership encountered in higher institutions due to the need to increase
student enrolment whilst enhancing the overall teaching-learning experience within the institution.
This situation has changed the expectations of universities such that they now adopt a student-focused
approach which somewhat negates the traditional inward approach once taken in institutions globally
(Scott 2011). These changes have also triggered a shift in most tertiary institutions from
administration to the infusion of management in its organisational culture (Brown 2001, Black 2015)
There is a need for leaders in tertiary institutions to examine how to lead their organisations
better and determine best management approaches that align with the context of higher education. The
primary role of leaders is to ensure the achievement of goals through the harmonised efforts of
subordinates - and so, one can assume that the adoption of productive leadership styles would
positively influence the performance of teachers within higher institutions. As described by Chestnut
(2017), the concept of leadership reflects the extent to which an organisation can attain success - only
due to the influence leaders possess on the behaviour of subordinates. Therefore, leadership maintains
a direct impact on the overall effectiveness of an institutions performance. According to Bevoc
(2016), the demand for real leadership increases in alignment with the nature and growth of
an organisation - and as such, multiplying the performance expectation of subordinates.
The leadership process in organisations works such that the leader influences subordinates
and seeks their participation in the achievement of goals. This influential process is witnessed in

6

Ayotunde Adebayo, Professor, PhD.

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