I've heard about this before and that these people make very successful business managers because they do not have any real feeling that the actions they take can impinge on the lives of their workforce. The MD of the company I work for, when told that staff morale was poor responded with "It doesn't matter, they're only people".

There is a difference between these types and the bullying boss. In general the latter is aware of the effect their behaviour is having on the victim and they derive some pleasure from that reaction. I work for one of these types and have had to take formal action to stop his bullying. The psychopath does not understand that what they are doing is hurting others. One of our managers, who I think falls into that group was mystified when two members of staff refused to uproot their families and move halfway across the country to another office. This guy wouldn't do it himself but could not understand that others might have the same reluctance. This man is very genial, takes part in the social life of the office but would have no compunction about getting rid of staff if he deemed it necessary. To me that atitude is totaly alien but it seems that they are good in a business sense.