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Psychiatrist Debunks The Biggest Psychopath Myths on Reddit

Are psychopaths always dangerous? Can an online test tell you if you are one? Is your boss secretly a psychopath? Dr. Eric Bender dives into Reddit to separate psychopathy fact from fiction, covering the brain science, the difference between psychopaths and sociopaths, the myths that won’t die, and which movie psychopaths Hollywood actually got right.…

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Are psychopaths always dangerous? Can an online test tell you if you are one? Is your boss secretly a psychopath? Dr. Eric Bender dives into Reddit to separate psychopathy fact from fiction, covering the brain science, the difference between psychopaths and sociopaths, the myths that won’t die, and which movie psychopaths Hollywood actually got right.

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0:00 Rabbit Hole: Psychopathy
0:21 What is psychopathy?
1:18 Are psychopaths always dangerous?
1:41 The most realistic movie psychopaths
3:37 “Psycho” vs. psychotic
4:45 Signs someone might be a psychopath
5:11 The MacDonald triad myth
6:15 Inside the psychopathic brain
7:36 Are all psychopaths sadists?
7:58 Do serial killers without psychopathy exist?
9:29 Are most CEOs really psychopaths?
10:17 Is there a psychopath test?
11:44 Sociopath vs. psychopath
13:30 Do psychopaths know they’re psychopaths?

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26 Comments

  1. @8kayplays

    September 23, 2026 at 6:41 pm

    What a bunch of bunk.

  2. @zacharycollinss-w7d

    September 23, 2026 at 6:42 pm

    I’m doctor and The Secrets of Natural Healing by James Stone reminded me most of this video. It’s one I suggest all my patients to read.

  3. @srcastic333

    September 23, 2026 at 6:46 pm

    Many people are hardy and insensitive, and enjoy the schadenfreude of those with whom they feel competitive, and these people are often uncategorized by psychology, or at least not far enough into ASPD to be diagnosed

  4. @lowbudgetmic

    September 23, 2026 at 6:47 pm

    Psycho crusher 😮😮😮

  5. @ArxxWyvnClaw

    September 23, 2026 at 7:08 pm

    Im waiting for a Psychopath Debunks video

  6. @squirlmy

    September 23, 2026 at 7:12 pm

    2:42 bold choice to call out Anton Shagor for his haircut. Glass houses Eric, glass houses.

  7. @FirstNameLastName-m8m

    September 23, 2026 at 7:15 pm

    Sociopathies of vest, side part, thick tie, tortoise shell, watch on wrist. Flagellatory grasping towards the charred remains of “clinical authority”

  8. @michaelcalibri3620

    September 23, 2026 at 7:19 pm

    I’m not worried about discerning who’s a psychopath or not, I’m paying attention to the people and cui bono aspects of those who are meant to make one anti-psychopathy fully knowing the world is dominated by psychopaths and sociopaths. Its absolutely programming, scaring others into rule structures so others can exploit and derive greater yield by less competition in violation.

  9. @DaveE99

    September 23, 2026 at 7:20 pm

    The problem with the idea that CEOs are psychopathic is that share holder governance incentives are them selves not relations nd not compatiable with the populations long term needs and goals. We always made the case that capitalism wins because it process information better than a centralized industrial non compute model of central governance that just would have overwhelm and long latency for reacting. But the problem is what we chose instead doesn’t have the incentives to process information in away that prioritizes our long term needs. If a governance system can’t do that it inevitably destroys meaning too

  10. @morgane1484

    September 23, 2026 at 7:21 pm

    Wired, please dont use ai summaries

  11. @ddawg1440

    September 23, 2026 at 7:51 pm

    trump is a psychopath

  12. @ssfourvegeta

    September 23, 2026 at 8:00 pm

    Best depiction of psychopathy in TV I have ever seen is House MD. The only thing missing is to make it the most realistic would be if he wasn’t super smart and actually worked at walmart or something

  13. @LoMdeP

    September 23, 2026 at 8:06 pm

    Is a creature like a xenomorph psychopathic? They’re not bred with emotions similar to ours….

  14. @JohnnyPeachPit

    September 23, 2026 at 8:08 pm

    I wish psychiatrists were more courageous about pointing to Trump as an example. I realize the ethics of their profession has settled on the rule that they don’t “out” people, but at what point is staying silent the greater evil?

  15. @solaireofastora295

    September 23, 2026 at 8:09 pm

    5:10 such a weird thing to include 👎 trying to learn not hear political stuff.

    • @maxtowfighi4181

      September 23, 2026 at 8:22 pm

      And you didn’t he didn’t touch that one 😂

  16. @SinisterElephant

    September 23, 2026 at 8:15 pm

    Disappointingly Dr. Eric Bender didn’t even address: Fa-fa-fa-fa, fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa, better
    Run, run, run, run, run, run, run away, oh-oh-oh

  17. @Rembrant65

    September 23, 2026 at 8:28 pm

    TLDR. It’s complicated and you have to do the reading.

  18. @cowboymaxwell

    September 23, 2026 at 8:43 pm

    yay debunking

  19. @fatblond79

    September 23, 2026 at 8:54 pm

    Haven’t watched the video, but I bet its the dead bodies.

  20. @T1-팬들은-정신병자다

    September 23, 2026 at 9:02 pm

    “I’m not touching that one” 😂 I wouldn’t too. You’ll get jumped by that cult

  21. @GizmoaGames

    September 23, 2026 at 9:03 pm

    They exist because they benefit as long as not too many others exist. Eventually they’ll become too numerous of the population and they will be very very strong incentives for them to stop existing. Evolution doesn’t care about the long-term, it’s just what’s beneficial in the short run, so they can actually cause the extinction of an entire species hypothetically speaking. You get equivalent types of behaviors in all social animals.

  22. @ObservantWasi

    September 23, 2026 at 9:17 pm

    I think lack of remorse and lack of responsibility is definitely dangerous when it comes to family dynamics.

  23. @cobrah1068

    September 23, 2026 at 9:23 pm

    If someone tells you that Psychopathy isn’t in the DSM-5, then they haven’t read the DSM-5

  24. @gacchan

    September 23, 2026 at 9:24 pm

    Dr. Bender is amazing

  25. @annehersey9895

    September 23, 2026 at 9:25 pm

    I’ve found that non-violent Psychopaths make great sales people. Many are charming and personable and great Lakers because they c@n tailor their conversation to mirror what the prospective buyer is saying. Ted Bundy was intelligent, charming and witty and when studying the personality of Hitler, the most repeated word used by people who knew or met him was charming.

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