How Psychopathy, Narcissism, and Machiavellianism Impact Our Cultures & Social Systems | RR 19

Video Description

(Conversation recorded on July 22nd, 2025) Psychopathy is often portrayed as a rare and distant phenomenon – something confined to movie villains or prison cells. Yet when psychopathy is combined with narcissism and Machiavellianism to form what psychologists call the Dark Triad, its impact becomes far more immediate. Individuals with these traits can wield disproportionate influence over our culture, institutions, and daily lives. What goes on inside their minds, and how do they shape the world around us? In this episode, Nate is joined by Dr. Reid Meloy and Dr. Nancy McWilliams to explore the inner workings of the Dark Triad personality traits and their manifestation in modern culture. Together, they trace the evolutionary roots of these traits, examine the predatory ways Dark Triad individuals engage with others, and consider the profound implications for leadership, power, and governance. Ultimately, they emphasize the importance of truth and community when navigating the complexities of human behavior. Why are Dark Triad individuals more likely to occupy positions of power? How do current cultural norms and expectations actually incentivize Dark Triad tendencies, including in governance? Most importantly, how can reorienting towards collective communication and cooperation help create guardrails against these ‘darker angels’ of humanity? About Nancy McWilliams: Dr. Nancy McWilliams, Ph.D., ABPP, is a distinguished psychoanalyst, author, and educator internationally recognized for her contributions to the field of personality theory and psychodynamic diagnosis. She is Professor Emerita at the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers. Her published work addresses the clinical and cultural relevance of language in diagnosing complex personality patterns, including narcissistic and psychopathic structures, and she has written on the psychology of altruism, moral development, and the enduring role of psychoanalytic thinking in understanding human nature. About Reid Meloy: Dr. J. Reid Meloy, Ph.D., ABPP, is a board-certified forensic psychologist, former clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, and a widely cited authority on psychopathy, personality disorders, and targeted violence. Dr. Meloy has served as a consultant, researcher, and trainer for numerous law enforcement, intelligence, and corporate security agencies around the world. He is the author or editor of more than 200 peer-reviewed publications and several seminal books, including The Psychopathic Mind, International Handbook of Threat Assessment, and Violent Attachments. Show Notes and More: https://www.thegreatsimplification.com/episode/reality-roundtable-19 Want to learn the broad overview of The Great Simplification in 30 minutes? Watch our Animated Movie: https://youtu.be/-xr9rIQxwj4?feature=shared --- Support The Institute for the Study of Energy and Our Future: https://www.thegreatsimplification.com/support Join our Substack newsletter: https://natehagens.substack.com/ Join our Hylo group and connect with other listeners: https://www.hylo.com/groups/the-great-simplification/join/i9jLqPmbGI --- 00:00 - Introduction 04:20 - Why is the Dark Triad Important? 06:47 - Diagnostics 09:49 - The Dark Triad 19:42 - Adaptiveness 21:31 - Psychopathy 31:46 - Dark Triad Individuals 36:44 - Two Modes of Aggression 39:44 - Nature and Nurture 44:44 - Dark Triad Healing 50:18 - Psychopaths in Groups 59:46 - Working with Psychopaths 01:03:05 - Psychopathic Entities 01:06:10 - Addressing Psychopathy 01:14:55 - What Can We Do? 01:18:30 - What is Your Biggest Hope? 01:20:49 - Closing Thoughts