Are you dealing with a master manipulator? Learn how to identify the hidden red flags of liars, psychopaths and narcissists before they cause lasting damage. Dr. Leanne ten Brinke, Ph.D., an Associate Professor of Psychology and director of the Truth and Trust Lab at the University of British Columbia, breaks down the science of deception and toxic behavior. Drawing from her extensive peer reviewed research and her eye opening book, Poisonous People, she shares practical, evidence based strategies to help you recognize dark personality traits to protect your mental well being. In this episode, she explains: ■ The Warning Signs: How to spot the early behavioral red flags of the "Dark Tetrad" (psychopathy, narcissism, Machiavellianism, and sadism) before you get hurt. ■ The Manipulation Playbook: The exact psychological tactics toxic individuals use to control and deceive others, including what gaslighting actually means. ■ The Lie-Detector Myth: Why relying on eye contact, fidgeting, and body language is actually a terrible way to catch a liar. ■ The Two Faces of Narcissism: How to identify the different types (including why one completely crumbles at the slightest criticism), and the devastating toll of working for a psychopathic boss. ■ Defense Strategies: Proven techniques to outsmart dangerous personalities, set ironclad boundaries, and dramatically improve your life. 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:41 Why This Research Into Psychopathy Matters 00:03:18 Why Psychopathy Is Getting More Attention 00:04:26 Can You Spot a Psychopath in 5 Seconds? 00:05:50 How Facial Expressions Reveal What People Really Feel 00:09:17 Can You Predict If Someone Is Guilty? 00:10:19 Three Signs Someone Might Be Lying 00:14:06 Can Anyone Learn to Spot a Liar? 00:20:49 Why the Eye Contact Myth Gets Body Language Wrong 00:22:13 Psychopathy, Narcissism, Machiavellianism and Sadism Explained 00:35:10 The Biggest Myths About Psychopaths Debunked 00:36:48 How Common Are Dark Personality Traits? 00:38:25 Are Dark Traits Caused by Genetics or Childhood? 00:41:33 How to Increase Your Chances of Becoming a Good Parent 00:44:44 What Happens Inside a Psychopath's Brain? 00:46:26 Can Dark Personality Traits Be Cured? 00:49:50 Ads 00:51:52 Why Being Lied to Makes You Feel Distant 00:57:34 Can You Be Warm and Competent at the Same Time? 01:00:17 Why Dark Personality Traits Don't Get You Ahead 01:05:55 How to Spot Red Flags in Dating Profiles and Relationships 01:13:58 Ads 01:15:24 Why Setting Boundaries Matters More Than You Think 01:18:37 7 Rules for Dealing With Dark Personalities 01:20:39 How to Spot Gaslighting and Coercive Control 01:25:01 7 Rules for Dealing With Dark Personalities Continued 01:32:09 How to Communicate With Dark Personalities 01:35:00 How to Become a Better Detective of People's Cues 01:35:32 Why You Should Avoid Face to Face Negotiations 01:39:24 Three Mistakes People Make With Dark Personalities 01:41:08 How the 10% Do the Damage and the Biggest Lie About Success 01:42:42 What Is the Greatest Lie We've All Been Told? Independent Fact Check: https://stevenbartlett.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/DOAC-Leanne-ten-Brinke-Independent-Research-Further-Reading_final.pdf Follow Leanne: YouTube - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/EkuzZ3K Instagram - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/2MRcXEs TikTok - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/EL537g7 You can purchase Leanne’s book, ‘Poisonous People: Psychopathy, Narcissism, Manipulation, Sadism: How to Resist Them and Improve Your Life’, here: https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/3lYxLjb Learn more from the online resources, here: Assess your own levels of (light and) dark traits - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/1OsGuG0 Get support - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/4F2i8Oj The Diary Of A CEO: ◼ Join DOAC circle here - https://doaccircle.com/ ◼ Buy The Diary Of A CEO book here - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/BWjLTZK ◼ Shop The Diary Of A CEO collection: https://thediary.com/collections/shop ◼ Get email updates - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/5IB1H6E ◼ Follow Steven - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/AGU9QP4 Sponsors: Fiverr - https://fiverr.com/diary and get 10% off your first order when you use code DIARY Wispr - Get 14 days of Wispr Flow for free at https://wisprflow.ai/steven