Ep. 335 - The Doctor Is In Series - Is That Person Really a Psychopath?

Jan 5, 2026

In this engaging discussion, Dr. Abbie Maroño, a forensic and clinical psychologist, delves into the complexities of psychopathy. She clarifies common misconceptions, explaining how the term is often misused and highlighting its roots in empathy and fear. Abbie shares insights on the emotional traits of psychopathy, its prevalence, and the societal myth that associates evil with psychopathic behavior. She also explores the role of upbringing and brain differences, dispelling the myth of the 'triad' and emphasizing the need for better understanding and intervention.

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INSIGHT

Psychopathy Is A Specific Clinical Profile

Psychopathy is a clinical and forensic construct assessed with Hare's Psychopathy Checklist, not a casual insult.
It groups emotional traits (shallow affect, lack of empathy/fear) and behavioral traits (impulsivity, rule-breaking) that persist across life.

INSIGHT

Fear Deficit Distinguishes Psychopathy

Psychopaths often retain cognitive empathy but lack affective empathy and have reduced fear responses.
A core feature is low fear, which distinguishes psychopathy from conditions like narcissism.

INSIGHT

Label Overuse Distorts Reality

Casual use of labels like 'psychopath' or 'narcissist' inflates perceived prevalence and stigmatizes people.
Social media and culture blur bad behavior and clinical disorders, reducing nuanced understanding.

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Welcome to the Social-Engineer Podcast: The Doctor Is In Series – where we will discuss understandings and developments in the field of psychology.

In today's episode, Chris and Dr. Abbie explore psychopathy, focusing on its clinical definition and common misconceptions. They discuss how the term is often misapplied to various behaviors, stressing the importance of understanding its roots in empathy and fear. By highlighting the need for accurate knowledge, they aim to prevent stigmatization and promote a deeper understanding of mental health. [Jan 5, 2026]

00:00 - Intro

00:24 - Dr. Abbie Maroño Intro

00:42 - Intro Links

- Social-Engineer.com - http://www.social-engineer.com/

- Offensive Security Vishing Services - https://www.social-engineer.com/offensive-security/vishing/

- Offensive Security SMiShing Services - https://www.social-engineer.com/offensive-security/smishing/

- Offensive Security Phishing Services - https://www.social-engineer.com/offensive-security/smishing/

- Call Back Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/offensive-security/call-back-phishing/

- Adversarial Simulation Services - https://www.social-engineer.com/offensive-security/adversarial-simulation/

- Social Engineering Risk Assessments - https://www.social-engineer.com/offensive-security/social-engineering-risk-assessment/

- Social-Engineer channel on SLACK - https://social-engineering-hq.slack.com/ssb

- CLUTCH - http://www.pro-rock.com/

- innocentlivesfoundation.org - http://www.innocentlivesfoundation.org/

03:47 - The Topic of the Day: Psychopathy

04:28 - A Proper Definition

06:13 - Key Indicators

07:46 - Lack of Empathy

09:36 - The Influence of Social Media

11:51 - Evil ≠ Psychopathy

12:40 - Environment Matters

14:17 - Size Matters

16:02 - MasterClass Ad

17:28 - Work Advantage

18:46 - Gender Differences

20:54 - Big Red Flag!

26:00 - Teaching Emotional Regulation

27:27 - Label Hoarding

32:33 - It's Not Exclusive

36:04 - Wrap Up

36:58 - Next Month's Topic: Imposter Syndrome

37:23 - Outro

- www.social-engineer.com

- www.innocentlivesfoundation.org

Find us online:

- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-abbie-maroño-phd

- Instagram: @DoctorAbbieofficial

- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christopherhadnagy

References:

Blair, R. J. R. (2007). The amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex in morality and psychopathy. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 11(9), 387–392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2007.07.003

Blair, R. J. R. (2013). The neurobiology of psychopathic traits in youths. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 14(11), 786–799. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3577

Frick, P. J., & White, S. F. (2008). Research review: The importance of callous-unemotional traits for developmental models of aggressive and antisocial behavior. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 49(4), 359–375. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2007.01862.x

Glenn, A. L., & Raine, A. (2014). Neurocriminology: Implications for the punishment, prediction and prevention of criminal behaviour. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 15(1), 54–63. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3640

Hare, R. D. (2003). Manual for the Hare Psychopathy Checklist–Revised (2nd ed.). Toronto, ON: Multi-Health Systems.

Hare, R. D., & Neumann, C. S. (2008). Psychopathy as a clinical and empirical construct. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 4, 217–246. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.3.022806.091452

Patrick, C. J. (Ed.). (2018). Handbook of psychopathy (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press.

Pemment, J. (2013). Psychopathy versus sociopathy: Why the distinction has become crucial. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 18(5), 458–461. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2013.07.001

Severson, H., & Lynam, D. R. (2020). Psychopathy and antisocial personality disorder: Distinctions and implications for treatment. Current Opinion in Psychology, 37, 27–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2020.07.006

Skeem, J. L., Polaschek, D. L. L., Patrick, C. J., & Lilienfeld, S. O. (2011). Psychopathic personality: Bridging the gap between scientific evidence and public policy. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 12(3), 95–162. https://doi.org/10.1177/1529100611426706

Viding, E., Blair, R. J. R., Moffitt, T. E., & Plomin, R. (2005). Evidence for substantial genetic risk for psychopathy in 7-year-olds. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 46(6), 592–597. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2004.00393.x

Walsh, Z., & Kosson, D. S. (2008). Psychopathy and violent crime: A prospective study of the influence of psychopathic traits on violence among offenders. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 15(2), 181–194. https://doi.org/10.1080/13218710802014489