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#483 – Julia Shaw: Criminal Psychology of Murder, Serial Killers, Memory & Sex

In this insightful conversation, criminal psychologist Julia Shaw delves into the complexities of human behavior, exploring the psychological underpinnings of dark personality traits, crime, memory, and relationships. Drawing from her expertise in forensic psychology and personal experiences, she challenges common assumptions about evil, morality, and identity, offering a nuanced perspective on what drives human actions.
Shaw discusses the Dark Tetrad—psychopathy, narcissism, Machiavellianism, and sadism—not as fixed pathologies but as spectrums influenced by environment and socialization. She emphasizes that most violent crimes stem from escalated conflicts rather than premeditated evil, and highlights how loneliness and entitlement can lead to extreme behaviors. The unreliability of lie detection and the dangers of false memories are examined, particularly in legal contexts where memory distortion can have serious consequences. On relationships, Shaw critiques monogamy as a rigid norm, advocating for honest, communicative structures including polyamory. She normalizes diverse sexualities and kinks, stressing the importance of reducing shame through openness. Her work on false memories reveals how easily recollections can be manipulated, even with good intentions. Finally, she explores environmental crime, showing how corporate actors commit large-scale harm through conformity and rationalization, while ending on a hopeful note with technology designed to preserve truthful narratives and promote ethical accountability.
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22:53
Empathizing with 'monsters' helps make better legal and societal decisions.
32:22
32:22
Loneliness impairs reality monitoring and can lead to violent detachment
49:39
49:39
No one is entitled to a good life; believing otherwise can lead to anger and violence when expectations aren't met
55:00
55:00
Victims are not dumb—scammers use psychological tactics that appeal to universal desires.
56:38
56:38
Jealousy is a red flag indicating relationship or self-insecurity and a precursor to intimate partner violence.
1:02:36
1:02:36
Bisexual people may see loving more widely as a superpower despite societal challenges.
1:19:29
1:19:29
Bisexual individuals face higher risks of self-harm and isolation due to lack of community inclusion.
1:35:18
1:35:18
Coming out as bisexual brought allies against hypersexualization
1:36:01
1:36:01
Studying psychology due to her father's paranoid schizophrenia
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1:55:29
70% of people can be led to confess to a crime they didn’t commit using suggestive interviews.
2:34:18
2:34:18
Normal people can commit serious environmental harms under social pressure and corporate conformity.
2:46:23
2:46:23
Proper cognitive interviews can prevent false memories and improve justice outcomes