Understanding the Nuances of Dark Personalities with Christie Tetreault

RESOLVing Violence

Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions around topics relating to dark personalities, personality disorders, and their portrayal in popular culture. This includes discussions around psychopathy, narcissism, sadism, and Machiavellianism. Additionally, we explore sensitive subjects such as cyberbullying, genocides, military massacres, and trauma. Listener discretion is advised, as these topics can be triggering or distressing for some individuals.
In part one of a special two-part series, we explore the intricate world of dark personalities with our special guest, Christie Tetreault, a postdoctoral fellow in forensic psychology. Christie provides an enlightening discussion on the social construction of dark personalities and emphasizes the need for nuanced understanding and individualized interventions. She breaks down the traits associated with the dark triad and the dark tetrad, highlighting how these characteristics manifest and overlap yet do not necessarily meet the clinical threshold for personality disorders. She also underscores the importance of bridging the gap between researchers and practitioners to foster a more accurate and effective approach to intervention.

A significant portion of the conversation centers around the misconceptions perpetuated by popular culture, where characters like Hannibal Lecter and Norman Bates shape our understanding of psychopathy in misleading ways. Christie elaborates on how these portrayals are often based on real individuals, like Ed Gein, who was found not criminally responsible based on insanity rather than being diagnosed as a psychopath. These distortions lead to widespread misconceptions that contribute to issues in interventions and treatment programs.

Throughout this special two-part series, Christie also delves into fascinating research findings, such as the link between sadistic tendencies and cyberbullying. She explains how individuals high in sadism derive pleasure from the suffering of others, making them more likely to engage in such harmful behaviors. Her exploration extends to the concept of "sleeper personalities," which are traits held in check by societal norms but can emerge aggressively in toxic situations like genocides and military massacres.

To learn more about dark personalities, visit the following website: https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2021/1020/1254859-narcissist-psychopath-sadist-psychology/

To learn more about IPV, visit the following website:
https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2020/0123/1110351-7-myths-about-domestic-violence/

About Our Guest:

Dr. Christie Tetreault is a distinguished postdoctoral fellow specializing in forensic psychology, with extensive research expertise in resilience, susceptibility to extremism, and interpersonal violence. A passionate investigator of dark personalities, Dr. Tetreault delves into the intricacies of the dark triad and tetrad, exploring traits such as Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, and sadism. Her work has significantly advanced our understanding of how trauma and neurological factors influence antisocial personality disorders and psychopathy.

To learn more about Resolve SK, head to research-groups.usask.ca/resolve/