The Passive-Parasitic Psychopath and Myths about Evil

A New MindMatters episode with David Abramowitz

Earlier this fall Elan and I had the opportunity to interview a subscriber of this Substack on MindMatters: David Abramowitz. After working through some technical issues, the video is now available. Check it out below. (Audio available on BuzzSprout and other podcast platforms.)

Are all psychopaths serial killers? Is authoritarianism only found on the political right? Are we all equally capable of evil? Does power really corrupt absolutely? And is evil really “banal”?

Join us today as we discuss the biggest myths about evil with David Abramowitz, the nature of psychopaths and ponerology, and how McGilchrist’s brain-hemisphere research fits into the picture.

David Abramowitz has a background in finance and accounting, but an experience with a psychopath set him on a path to research the topic for the next decade. He has read nearly everything there is to read on the subject, and describes a type which he calls the “passive-parasitic” psychopath (a term coined by Ben Karpman). These are the so-called successful psychopaths, the ones you’ll find on Wall Street and in Washington. And they’re the reason for much of today’s pathological political climate.