Can you recognize psychopathic traits simply by talking to someone, or are the supposed warning signs more complicated than popular psychology suggests? This episode examines superficial charm, emotional detachment, manipulation, and the limits of judging personality through conversation. Discover why even trained professionals cannot reliably identify psychopathy from a brief encounter.

Can You Spot a Psychopath in a Conversation? The Psychology of Hidden Traits

Mindhunter's second episode stages a conversation between a young FBI agent and a dramatized version of Ed Kemper, whose calm, detailed self-analysis complicates the line between insight and performance. This piece uses research on psychopathic communication and impression management to explain why articulate self-explanation can feel like honesty without being remorse. It ends by asking what we are actually measuring when we call someone's account of their own violence convincing.

The Difference Between Explaining and Feeling

INSIDE THE MIND OF THE PSYCHOPATH

ARE PSYCHOPATHS PORTRAYED ACCURATELY IN THE MOVIES

WE DISCUSS PSYCHOPATHY WITH DR. FRICK

NEW STUDY ON FEMALE PSYCHOPATHS

NEW STUDIES ON THE PSYCHOPATHS BRAIN

WE LOOK AT THE SEATTLE JUNGLE KILLER WITH RETIRED HOMICIDE DETECTIVE CIESYNSKI

ONLINE CATFISHING AND PSYCHOPATHY

NEW STUDY ON PSYCHOPATHY SHOWS HETEROGENEITY AMONG CAPITAL MURDERERS

HOW PSYCHOPATHS MAY NOT REMEMBER EMOTIONALLY NEGATIVE EVENTS

PSYCHOPATHS BRAINS DONT RESPOND TO DRUG CUES THE SAME AS NON-PSYCHPATHSO3

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The Psychopath Podcast

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The Psychopath Podcast

The Psychopath Podcast episodes