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

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Oct 14, 2025

Guest

Julia Shaw

Julia Shaw, a criminal psychologist and author, dives into the dark aspects of human nature. She dissects psychopathy, addressing the controversial nature versus nurture debate using baby Hitler as a lens. Julia reveals how dehumanization fuels violence and underscores the importance of empathy. They explore the psychology behind serial killers, focusing on loneliness and impulsivity. Julia also discusses false memories, how AI could craft deceitful narratives, and the urgent need for restorative justice in crime. Her insights on relationship dynamics, kinks, and environmental crime provide a thought-provoking window into human behavior.

02:48:50

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ANECDOTE

From Art To Memory Research

Julia intended to study art but switched to psychology after her grandfather's advice.
Her father's paranoid schizophrenia steered her fascination toward reality and memory research.

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INSIGHT

Memory Is Socially Malleable

False memories are normal features of memory and can be implanted via leading, suggestive interviews.
Social interaction shapes memory; interviewing methods can distort witness reports rapidly.

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ADVICE

Record Important Memories Immediately

To preserve evidence, write down or record memories immediately; don't trust later recall.
Treat contemporaneous notes as higher-quality memories and capture details before social contamination.

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Dark Tetrad: Psychopathy, Narcissism, Machiavellianism, Sadism

08:17 • 2min

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Are People Born Evil? The Baby Hitler Question

10:24 • 3min

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Dehumanization, De‑individuation, and Empathy for 'Monsters'

13:03 • 3min

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Interviewing People Considered Evil: Approach and Ethics

16:05 • 5min

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Creepiness, Trustworthiness, and Deception Detection

20:49 • 2min

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Psychopathy and Faking Empathy in Institutions

23:18 • 2min

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Studying Evil: Emotional Cost and the Scientist's Perspective

25:17 • 4min

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Serial Killers: Loneliness, Reality Monitoring, and Motivations

29:38 • 8min

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Murder Motivations and Recidivism Myths

37:10 • 11min

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Criminal Justice, Restorative Justice, and Public Perceptions

48:07 • 2min

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Online Radicalization, Incels, and Entitlement

49:54 • 2min

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Fraud, Love Scams, and Vulnerability

52:00 • 4min

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Jealousy, Coercive Control, and Relationship Dynamics

56:00 • 2min

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Monogamy, Polyamory, and Relationship Options

58:21 • 7min

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Bisexuality: History, Misconceptions, and the Kinsey Scale

01:05:21 • 15min

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Kinks and Fetishes: Destigmatizing Sexual Fantasies

01:20:31 • 15min

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False Memories: Nature, Mechanisms, and Legal Implications

01:36:01 • 3min

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Experiment: Implanting False Memories of a Crime

01:39:28 • 18min

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AI, Generative Models, and the 'Ultimate False Memory Machine'

01:57:50 • 3min

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Defenses Against Memory Distortion: Contemporaneous Recording

02:00:33 • 1min

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Collective Memory, Social Reinforcement, and Version Histories

02:01:57 • 10min

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Therapy, Memory Work, and 'Cognitive Restructuring' for Well‑Being

02:12:00 • 8min

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Aphantasia and Individual Differences in Mental Imagery

02:19:42 • 6min

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Green Crime: Environmental Offenders and How to Stop Them

02:25:16 • 4min

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Corporate Crime, Conformity, and Whistleblowers

02:29:18 • 11min

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Hope: Science, Tech, and Social Psychology for Change

02:40:36 • 2min

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Spot: Using Cognitive Interviewing to Preserve Contemporaneous Evidence

• Mentioned in 6 episodes

Evil

Inside Human Violence and Cruelty

Roy Baumeister

In this book, Roy F. Baumeister explores the concept of evil by considering the perspectives of perpetrators rather than victims. He delves into the gap between the victim's and perpetrator's viewpoints and analyzes the roots of evil behavior, including egotism, revenge, idealism, and sadism. The book discusses how ordinary people can engage in violent and cruel acts, the mechanisms that lead individuals to commit evil deeds, and the ways in which society can restrain or facilitate such behavior. Baumeister also examines the role of factors like material gain, threatened egotism, idealism, and sadistic pleasure in the perpetration of evil.

#29234

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

Julia Shaw

In *Bi: The Hidden Culture, History, and Science of Bisexuality*, Julia Shaw explores the world of bisexuality, covering its history, science, and cultural impact. The book discusses how bisexuality has been defined and measured, examines its presence in the animal kingdom, and addresses the challenges faced by bisexual individuals globally. Shaw also shares personal insights and advocates for greater understanding and acceptance of bisexuality.

#16548

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

The Memory Illusion

Julia Shaw

#927

• Mentioned in 39 episodes

Ordinary Men

Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland

Christopher R. Browning

This book by Christopher R. Browning examines the actions of Reserve Police Battalion 101, a unit of the German Order Police, during World War II. The battalion was responsible for mass shootings and round-ups of Jewish people for deportation to Nazi death camps in Poland in 1942. Browning argues that the men of this unit were not fanatical Nazis but ordinary middle-aged, working-class men who committed these atrocities due to group dynamics of conformity, deference to authority, role adaptation, and the altering of moral norms. The book is based on postwar interrogations of former members of the battalion and provides a detailed and chilling glimpse into how ordinary men were transformed into active participants in the Holocaust.

#17554

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

Making Evil

Julia Shaw

In 'Making Evil', Dr. Julia Shaw delves into the science behind humanity's capacity for evil, using a mix of psychology, neuroscience, and real-life examples to explore why humans engage in harmful behaviors. The book encourages readers to rethink their understanding of evil and its manifestations in society. Shaw discusses topics such as murder fantasies, the psychology of serial killers, and how technology can amplify harmful behaviors.

#780

• Mentioned in 44 episodes

The Idiot

Fyodor Dostoevsky

Written by Fyodor Dostoyevsky between 1867 and 1869, 'The Idiot' follows the story of Prince Lev Nikolayevich Myshkin, a young man with a pure and innocent heart, often mistaken for an 'idiot' due to his simplicity and goodness. The novel examines how this 'positively beautiful man' navigates a world filled with corruption, moral decay, and complex human relationships. Myshkin's interactions with characters like Nastasya Filippovna and Aglaia Epanchina highlight themes of love, suffering, sacrifice, and the clash between idealistic values and the harsh realities of society. The novel ultimately leads to Myshkin's mental breakdown and his inability to cope with the world around him.

#9482

• Mentioned in 5 episodes

Sexual Behavior in the Human Female

Alfred Charles Kinsey

Wardell Pomeroy

Paul Gebhard

Clyde Martin

Sexual Behavior in the Human Female, published in 1953, is a seminal work by Alfred Kinsey and his team. The book presents data on the incidence and frequency of various sexual activities among women, exploring factors like age, birth decade, and religious adherence. It also compares female and male sexual behaviors, highlighting social and cultural influences.

#82951

Green Crime

Inside the Minds of the People Destroying the Planet and How to Stop Them

Julia Shaw

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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.
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Transcript:
https://lexfridman.com/julia-shaw-transcript

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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

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OUTLINE:
(00:00) – Introduction
(01:00) – Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections
(08:16) – Dark Tetrad – Psychopathy, Narcissism, Machiavellianism, Sadism
(29:23) – Serial killers
(43:59) – Murder
(51:51) – Lies and scams
(56:38) – Jealousy
(1:00:07) – Monogamy
(1:05:20) – Sexuality
(1:20:21) – Sexual fetishes
(1:35:56) – Criminal psychology
(1:39:04) – False memories
(2:25:01) – Criminals destroying the planet
(2:40:24) – Hope

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