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Julia Shaw: Criminal Psychology of Murder, Serial Killers, Memory & Sex | Lex Fridman Podcast #483

2025-10-14 Science & Technology
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Lex Fridman
Lex Fridman
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Deconstructing Evil: Dark Traits, Memory Illusions, and the Psychology of Environmental Protection

Understand why ordinary people commit terrible acts by exploring the continuum of dark personality traits and dissecting the malleability of human memory.

Short Summary

  • Determine if human cruelty stems from innate nature or environmental conditioning through the lens of the Dark Tetrad.
  • Learn practical defenses against sophisticated manipulation, including recognizing false memories and digital gaslighting vectors.
  • Challenge societal assumptions about sexuality, monogamy, and why common crimes like murder are rarely driven by psychopathy.

This conversation with criminal psychologist Julia Shaw unpacks the psychological underpinnings of extreme behaviors, from serial killing to corporate environmental fraud. Shaw emphasizes viewing dark traits as a continuum rather than a binary, advocating for "evil empathy" to foster understanding and societal safety. The discussion pivots to the fragility of autobiographical memory, demonstrating how easily memories—even confessions—can be engineered, and concludes with optimism rooted in scientific understanding and technological application for human betterment.

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Description

Julia Shaw is a criminal psychologist and author who in her books explores human nature, including psychopathy, violent crime, the psychology of evil, police interrogation, false memory manipulation, deception detection, and human sexuality. Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep483-sb See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc. *Transcript:* https://lexfridman.com/julia-shaw-transcript *CONTACT LEX:* *Feedback* - give feedback to Lex: https://lexfridman.com/survey *AMA* - submit questions, videos or call-in: https://lexfridman.com/ama *Hiring* - join our team: https://lexfridman.com/hiring *Other* - other ways to get in touch: https://lexfridman.com/contact *EPISODE LINKS:* Julia's Instagram: https://instagram.com/drjuliashaw Julia's Website: https://www.drjuliashaw.com/ Julia's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/drjuliashaw Julia's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjuliashaw/ Julia's Books: https://amzn.to/4mQBnTV Green Crime (US Book): https://amzn.to/4nLfSVE Green Crime (Canadian Book): https://amzn.to/47lBAdc *SPONSORS:* To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts: *Shopify:* Sell stuff online. Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/shopify-ep483-sb *BetterHelp:* Online therapy and counseling. Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/betterhelp-ep483-sb *LMNT:* Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix. Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/lmnt-ep483-sb *AG1:* All-in-one daily nutrition drink. Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/ag1-ep483-sb *OUTLINE:* 0:00 - Episode highlight 0:23 - Introduction 1:38 - Dark Tetrad - Psychopathy, Narcissism, Machiavellianism, Sadism 22:45 - Serial killers 37:21 - Murder 45:13 - Lies and scams 50:00 - Jealousy 53:29 - Monogamy 58:42 - Sexuality 1:13:43 - Sexual fetishes 1:29:18 - Criminal psychology 1:32:26 - False memories 2:18:22 - Criminals destroying the planet 2:33:46 - Hope *PODCAST LINKS:* - Podcast Website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast - Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 - RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ - Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4 - Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/lexclips *SOCIAL LINKS:* - X: https://x.com/lexfridman - Instagram: https://instagram.com/lexfridman - TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@lexfridman - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/lexfridman - Facebook: https://facebook.com/lexfridman - Patreon: https://patreon.com/lexfridman - Telegram: https://t.me/lexfridman - Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/lexfridman

Top Comments (10)

@jmw9191 2025-10-14

Working in corrections has taught me some people have fallen on rough circumstance and some are straight up EVIL.

347 55 replies
@disconnected22 2025-10-15

Don’t know how he did it, but I want to thank Lex for hosting this podcast inside of a *black hole*

338 12 replies
@ferko6 2025-10-15

In a monogamous relationship you do have a "choice" and choosing to be faithful is a testament to the love you feel for each other.

238 35 replies
@GrenadesAndHamm 2025-10-15

As a retired cop, I can say that it has nothing to do with "knowing" someone is lying and everything to do with finding inconsistencies in the suspects (or victims) account of events. I also wouldn't put much stock in a closed, safe experiment about lying. Spotting behavior consistent with lying requires the fear of being caught. If I'm participating in a study and I'm telling someone three "facts," one of which is untrue, if there is no consequence, you're not going to be fearful of lying.

232 23 replies
@Broken_dish 2025-10-14

idk man every person ive ever met that has done poly has always had a ton of issues waaaay more stress involved and what not.

226 26 replies
@imm0rtalitypassi0n 2025-10-14

Monogamy doesn't set monogamous people up to fail. It only sets non-monogamous people up to fail when paired with monogamous people. Simple math.

220 15 replies
@craigrussell3062 2025-10-18

When someone you’re dating starts talking about how jealousy is a red flag and monogamy isn’t natural THAT’S A RED FLAG

176 21 replies
@paulm1262 2025-10-14

I would love to see Jordan Peterson debate her

104 10 replies
@GrenadesAndHamm 2025-11-13

Her statistics about sexuality are astonishingly unbelievable and ridiculously formulated. The poll was done from the people that attended a lecture. I did the same thing, and I concluded that 95 percent of people in this world are baseball fans. I did it right outside a baseball game as the game let out.

86 2 replies
@lexfridman 2025-10-14

Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep483-sa See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc. 0:00 - Episode highlight 0:23 - Introduction 1:38 - Dark Tetrad - Psychopathy, Narcissism, Machiavellianism, Sadism 22:45 - Serial killers 37:21 - Murder 45:13 - Lies and scams 50:00 - Jealousy 53:29 - Monogamy 58:42 - Sexuality 1:13:43 - Sexual fetishes 1:29:18 - Criminal psychology 1:32:26 - False memories 2:18:22 - Criminals destroying the planet 2:33:46 - Hope *Transcript:* https://lexfridman.com/julia-shaw-transcript *CONTACT LEX:* *Feedback* - give feedback to Lex: https://lexfridman.com/survey *AMA* - submit questions, videos or call-in: https://lexfridman.com/ama *Hiring* - join our team: https://lexfridman.com/hiring *Other* - other ways to get in touch: https://lexfridman.com/contact *EPISODE LINKS:* Julia's Instagram: https://instagram.com/drjuliashaw Julia's Website: https://www.drjuliashaw.com/ Julia's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/drjuliashaw Julia's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjuliashaw/ Julia's Books: https://amzn.to/4mQBnTV Green Crime (US Book): https://amzn.to/4nLfSVE Green Crime (Canadian Book): https://amzn.to/47lBAdc *SPONSORS:* To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts: *Shopify:* Sell stuff online. Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/shopify-ep483-sa *BetterHelp:* Online therapy and counseling. Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/betterhelp-ep483-sa *LMNT:* Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix. Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/lmnt-ep483-sa *AG1:* All-in-one daily nutrition drink. Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/ag1-ep483-sa

72 20 replies

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