--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As institutional psychopaths…" description: "\"As institutional psychopaths, corporations are wont to remove obstacles that get into their way.\" — Joel Bakan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f1/joel-bakan-28438_corporations_as-institutional-psychopaths-corporation_2856912.jpg" --- # As institutional psychopaths, corporations are wont to… ![“As institutional psychopaths, corporations are wont to remove obstacles that get into their way.” quote by Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f1/joel-bakan-28438_corporations_as-institutional-psychopaths-corporation_2856912.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f1/joel-bakan-28438_corporations_as-institutional-psychopaths-corporation_2856912.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f1/joel-bakan-28438_corporations_as-institutional-psychopaths-corporation_2856912.jpg) > “As institutional psychopaths, corporations are wont to remove obstacles that get into their way.” [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Corporations act like institutional psychopaths, removing obstacles that impede their goals. **In simple terms:** Corporations behave like psychopaths, clearing obstacles. Key Takeaway Question corporate power and ethical impact. Themes economics ethics power Mood critical serious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - business strategy - policy advocacy - consumer activism - academic study Key Concepts Corporate psychopathy institutional behavior Questions to Reflect On - How can we hold corporations accountable? - What reforms reduce harmful corporate behavior? A Different Perspective Not all corporations act uniformly; some pursue social good. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Corporations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporations/) [Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles/) [Psychopath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychopath/) [Psychopaths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychopaths/) ## Related quotes > [“We’re used to the film versions of psychopaths. The clearly crazies. But most psychopaths are clever. They have to be. They know how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/we-re-used-to-the-film-versions-of-psychopaths-the-clearly-crazies/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [No matter how much lip service those committed to power (psychopaths) may pay to the principle of equality (empaths), they can never approach their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arno-gruen/no-matter-how-much-lip-service-those-committed-to-power-psychopaths/) [Arno Gruen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arno-gruen/) > [“I think it is more helpful to characterize criminal psychopaths as “unsuccessful psychopaths”.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-lobaczewski/i-think-it-is-more-helpful-to-characterize-criminal-psychopaths-as/) [Andrzej Lobaczewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-lobaczewski/) > [Psychopaths don't have that charming skill set. They definitely manipulate, but they do it through focused, unskilled means. They're more obsessive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-heusinger/psychopaths-don-t-have-that-charming-skill-set-they-definitely/) [Patrick Heusinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-heusinger/) > [Even psychopaths have emotions. Then again, maybe not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ramirez/even-psychopaths-have-emotions-then-again-maybe-not/) [Richard Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ramirez/) > [We are all born with an innate understanding of interpersonal equity - the idea that if you lend me your rake today, I'll respond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-kluger/we-are-all-born-with-an-innate-understanding-of-interpersonal-equity/) [Jeffrey Kluger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-kluger/) > [One of the problems with studies that examine the effects of violent imagery is that they typically use mentally healthy psychology students. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-dietz/one-of-the-problems-with-studies-that-examine-the-effects-of-violent/) [Park Dietz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-dietz/) > [Too many people hold the idea that psychopaths are essentially killers or convicts. The general public hasn't been educated to see beyond the social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hare/too-many-people-hold-the-idea-that-psychopaths-are-essentially/) [Robert D. Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hare/) > [“To be sure, if psychopaths do recognize that actions that are harmful are proscribed, this raises a question about why psychopaths and control criminals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-nichols/to-be-sure-if-psychopaths-do-recognize-that-actions-that-are-harmful/) Shaun Nichols > [If I have a mission in life, it is to convince people that everyone is morally motivated - everyone except for psychopaths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/if-i-have-a-mission-in-life-it-is-to-convince-people-that-everyone-is/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) > [“Justice departments and parole boards all over the world have accepted his contention that psychopaths are quite simply incurable and everyone should concentrate their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ronson/justice-departments-and-parole-boards-all-over-the-world-have/) [Jon Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ronson/) > [“Prisons are full of sociopaths and psychopaths, but when questioned, the imprisoned sociopath will honestly admit that they will commit any number of crimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-thompson/prisons-are-full-of-sociopaths-and-psychopaths-but-when-questioned/) [Tanya Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-thompson/) > [It is the cult of self that is killing the United States. This cult has within it the classic traits of psychopaths: superficial charm,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/it-is-the-cult-of-self-that-is-killing-the-united-states-this-cult/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [Language and words for psychopaths are only word deep; there is no emotional colouring behind it. A psychopath can use a word like, ‘I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hare/language-and-words-for-psychopaths-are-only-word-deep-there-is-no/) [Robert D. Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hare/) > [“The main thing is to teach students psychology without making them psychos.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamerlan-kuzgov/the-main-thing-is-to-teach-students-psychology-without-making-them/) [Tamerlan Kuzgov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamerlan-kuzgov/) ## More by Joel Bakan > [The corporation is not an independent "person" with its own rights, needs, and desires that regulators must respect. It is a state created tool…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/the-corporation-is-not-an-independent-person-with-its-own-rights/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [The corporation, like the psychopathic personality it resembles, is programmed to exploit others for profit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/the-corporation-like-the-psychopathic-personality-it-resembles-is/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [As a psychopathic creature, the corporation can neither recognize nor act upon moral reasons to refrain from harming others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/as-a-psychopathic-creature-the-corporation-can-neither-recognize-nor/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [“The problem with capitalism is that "we have a global theology without morality, without a Bible." And that's dangerous, he warns - "we're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/the-problem-with-capitalism-is-that-we-have-a-global-theology-without/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [Corporations now govern society, perhaps more than governments themselves do; yet ironically, it is their very power, much of which they have gained through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/corporations-now-govern-society-perhaps-more-than-governments/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [The notion that business and government are and should be partners is ubiquitous, unremarkable, and repeated like a mantra by leaders in both domains.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/the-notion-that-business-and-government-are-and-should-be-partners-is/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [By leveraging their freedom from the bonds of location, corporations could now dictate the economic policy of governments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/by-leveraging-their-freedom-from-the-bonds-of-location-corporations/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [Dodge v. Ford still stands for the legal principal that managers and directors have a legal duty to put the shareholders' interests above all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/dodge-v-ford-still-stands-for-the-legal-principal-that-managers-and/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [These are the elements of an emerging order that may prove to be as dangerous as any fundamentalism that history has produced. For in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/these-are-the-elements-of-an-emerging-order-that-may-prove-to-be-as/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [Governments can can send inspectors to companies. Governments can put legal requirements in place to disclose information that consumers and workers and other interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/governments-can-can-send-inspectors-to-companies-governments-can-put/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [The whole difficulty I think that that we're facing now is the question of who is going to ensure that corporations are accountable. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/the-whole-difficulty-i-think-that-that-we-re-facing-now-is-the/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [As the corporation's size and power grew, so did the need to assuage people's fears of it. The corporation suffered its first full-blown legitimacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/as-the-corporation-s-size-and-power-grew-so-did-the-need-to-assuage/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [The corporation was originally conceived as a public institution whose purpose was to serve national interests and advance the public good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/the-corporation-was-originally-conceived-as-a-public-institution/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [I think Google's founders are both a couple of guys with some high ideals which have been to some degree reflected in the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/i-think-google-s-founders-are-both-a-couple-of-guys-with-some-high/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [Quotes from the Underground is a remarkable resource and must-read for writers, researchers, activists and indeed anyone who embraces progressive values and hopes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/quotes-from-the-underground-is-a-remarkable-resource-and-must-read/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) [Explore all 19 Joel Bakan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) ## More Corporations quotes > [It makes no sense to talk of the social obligations of the corporation without reference to its economic obligations. The two are intertwined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-r-raymond/it-makes-no-sense-to-talk-of-the-social-obligations-of-the/) [Lee R. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-r-raymond/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Everything affects hip-hop. The question is, how does it affect the money that corporations are going to invest to put out different kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/everything-affects-hip-hop-the-question-is-how-does-it-affect-the/) [will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/) > [Corporations have nothing to do with values, and they know it, and sometimes say it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kierans/corporations-have-nothing-to-do-with-values-and-they-know-it-and/) [Eric Kierans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kierans/) > [Corporations invest in sophisticated CRM, or Customer Relationship Management, programs to effectively oversee their relationship with their customers at every point during the buying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-ostrofsky/corporations-invest-in-sophisticated-crm-or-customer-relationship/) [Marc Ostrofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-ostrofsky/) > [“Whatever happened in those more than one hundred years, from the time my great-great-great grandfather studied law to the time when my own father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwenn-wright/whatever-happened-in-those-more-than-one-hundred-years-from-the-time/) [Gwenn Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwenn-wright/) > [I am somewhat influenced by the years that I've spent trying to actually get things done, whether it was reforming education in Arkansas or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-somewhat-influenced-by-the-years-that-i-ve-spent-trying-to/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [There are questions as to whether it should even exist. Who should corporations be responsive to, the management of a corporation? Theoretically they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-questions-as-to-whether-it-should-even-exist-who-should/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“Subsequently there ensues an epoch of complex, proliferating intrigues and conspiracies among the ranks of double agents, whose agendas become so densely intertwined that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ligotti/subsequently-there-ensues-an-epoch-of-complex-proliferating-intrigues/) [Thomas Ligotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ligotti/) > [I'm not only a fan of Apple products, I have stock in the company. I think Steve Jobs has started one of the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-rock/i-m-not-only-a-fan-of-apple-products-i-have-stock-in-the-company-i/) [Kid Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-rock/) > [At Epcot Center the Disney corporation has focused its attention on two things greatly in need of Disneyfication: the tedious future and the annoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/at-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-focused-its-attention-on/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Since FDR's New Deal, corporations and wealthy families have been non-stop finding new ways to get tax breaks, deregulation and entitlements from the government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-mckay/since-fdr-s-new-deal-corporations-and-wealthy-families-have-been-non/) [Adam McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-mckay/) > [There's a whole journalistic-industrial complex dedicated to keeping newsprint, TV screens and radio waves clean of destabilizing scoops damaging to corporations or the state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-cockburn/there-s-a-whole-journalistic-industrial-complex-dedicated-to-keeping/) [Alexander Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-cockburn/) > [They're counting on your patriotism to distract you from their plunder. They're counting on you to be standing at attention with your hand over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/they-re-counting-on-your-patriotism-to-distract-you-from-their/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) [Browse all 1,673 Corporations quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporations/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As institutional psychopaths, corporations are wont to remove obstacles that get into their way.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joel Bakan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/as-institutional-psychopaths-corporations-are-wont-to-remove/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Corporations" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/as-institutional-psychopaths-corporations-are-wont-to-remove/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f1/joel-bakan-28438_corporations_as-institutional-psychopaths-corporation_2856912.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f1/joel-bakan-28438_corporations_as-institutional-psychopaths-corporation_2856912.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f1/joel-bakan-28438_corporations_as-institutional-psychopaths-corporation_2856912.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As institutional psychopaths, corporations are wont to remove obstacles that get into their way.” — Joel Bakan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Joel Bakan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As institutional psychopaths, corporations are wont...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/as-institutional-psychopaths-corporations-are-wont-to-remove/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/as-institutional-psychopaths-corporations-are-wont-to-remove/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```