By: A.J. Sutter

A.J. Sutter — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 05:02:08 +0000

For those who read French, there is an uncannily prescient novel that appeared during the seasonal literary tidal wave last autumn: “Cendrillon” by Éric Reinhardt (Stock 2007), which was one of the most talked-about of the 600-plus books released that season. All of the characters are “avatars” of the author and, like Kerviel, are similarly insecure about their educational and social background; but one of them aspires to be rich, and after a chance meeting with a college classmate, becomes co-founder of a hedge-fund during the 1990s dot-com boom. Much of the second half of the book is set in the world of finance. Ultimately the character is driven to fraud, though in that case on account of his partner’s dogmatically contrarian bets. All of the avatars are psychological examinations of the impact of middle-class childhood, unsuccessful father, and mediocre university in French society (the premise being that the author would have turned out like one of them but for the help of the woman he married; he is the “Cendrillon” (Cinderella) of the title). The book also includes big chunks of entertaining humor and annoying self-indulgence, and is occasionally a bit of a slog. But the relevance to current events grows stronger the more we learn about Kerviel.

By: dave hoffman

dave hoffman — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 05:34:00 +0000

It might! I imagine it would depend on the situation, the target of the insecurity, etc. I don’t think there is terrific experimental work out there on corporate managers responses to psychological stimuli (for obvious, sample-finding, reasons).

By: Stereotype Threat for Credentials

Stereotype Threat for Credentials — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 04:36:55 +0000

Perhaps this is a silly question, but why wouldn’t insecurity lead to overperformance?

Comments on: Insecurity and White Collar Fraud

By: A.J. Sutter

By: dave hoffman

By: Stereotype Threat for Credentials