Sep 7, 2026 · 1h 49m
Psychologist debunks deception myths and reveals how to spot toxic personalities
Human Lie Detector: The #1 Sign They’re Lying To You, Catch Liars Instantly! | Dr Leanne Ten Brinke
Understanding the true science of deception and dark personalities protects individuals from toxic relationships in both their personal lives and the workplace.
- 1High-stakes deception is best detected by asking open-ended questions that trigger cognitive strain rather than watching eye contact.
- 2Individuals with dark personality traits often rise quickly in leadership but ultimately damage team performance and financial success.
- 3Warm and responsive parenting can actively reduce the likelihood of children developing psychopathic personality traits.
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The brief
Psychologist Dr. Leanne Ten Brinke joins Steven Bartlett to dismantle the myths surrounding deception and explain how to spot the toxic behaviors associated with the dark tetrad of psychopathy, narcissism, Machiavellianism, and sadism.
Contrary to popular belief, avoiding eye contact is not a reliable sign of lying. Instead, spotting high-stakes deception requires looking for genuine emotional expressions and asking open-ended questions that trigger cognitive strain in a liar.
The conversation shifts to the workplace, where research shows that while individuals with dark traits make strong first impressions and rise quickly, they ultimately damage team performance and do not achieve greater long-term financial success.
Ultimately, Dr. Ten Brinke debunks the great lie of success, proving that ruthlessness is not a requirement to win. Ninety percent of the population is fundamentally good, and setting firm boundaries is the best defense against toxic people.
Featuring
Machiavellianism (psychology)
Cognitive strainListen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.