From Psychopaths to Responsible Corporations: Waking up the Inner Sleeping Beauty of Companies

The purpose of this book is to show how companies can derive responsible actions from the inner values shared by all people - including the personnel of these companies, whether small or multinational enterprises - and from non-defensive communication with all stakeholders in any part of the world. Companies do not have to behave like psychopathic, borderline or neurotic personalities. Such unhealthy organisational behaviour derives from psychological defences companies use to deny, excuse or justify their irresponsible actions. Continuous defending makes life for corporations and their members very stressful. It is a great relief to them, when they are allowed to act responsibly, admit irresponsible episodes, repair the wrong done, and reorient towards future challenges. Responsible behaviour requires that corporate (1) values, (2) words, and (3) actions should be in line. This book shows different ways of matching these three levels, and suggests that the most natural corporate responsibility is achieved through matching (1) virtue ethical values shared by people all over the world, (2) concessive discourses leading to sublimations, and (3) actions that simultaneously take account of ecological, socio-cultural and economic responsibilities. Psychologists, philosophers and religious leaders can counsel companies striving for responsibility, and Carl Gustav Jung bridges their attempts with his ideas.