Hubris Syndrome: An Acquired Personality Disorder? A Study of US Presidents and UK Prime Ministers over the Last 100 Years

Owen and Davidson's article proposes hubris syndrome as an acquired personality disorder — specific patterns of behaviour that emerge in people who have held substantial power for substantial time, with a consistent set of symptoms (contempt for advice, restlessness, messianic identification with the institution). The piece is serious clinical work, not commentary. For product direction the transfer is useful: power warps judgement in predictable ways, and senior product leaders who have held authority for a long time should know the specific warning signs. Short, well-argued, chilling. Pair with Grove's High Output Management for the operational counterweight.