Spotting Psychopaths based on Language? | Do Disfluencies point to Psychopathy?

[@NotSoCrazyNinja]

The problem with psychopathy research is that the psychopaths who are relatively well-behaved are not included in the studies since they're so good at blending in with society. The medical world seems to only have a small piece of the picture when it comes to psychopathy.

[@Luculencia]

Yeah most of this research seems to be conducted on violent psychopaths, what about the non violent ones?

[@MadMax22]

YES! ITS LIKE PEOPLE WHO DONT HAVE ADHD TRUING TO FIGURE OUT WHATS GOING ON IN AN ADHD HEAD. And I see problems with both. Because I'm not a psychopath or sociopath because I spent a lot of time making sure not to turn into a cold machine. But I have pretty much all of the same thought processes. Infact I even make it a point to stay straight because I can see easy ways to manipulate people.

[@captainron4924]

They actually are included in the studies. They have a 1-40 scale. The higher on the list, the more likely to commit murder. The funny thing is you can be a psychopath and not kill anyone. The UK, if I'm not mistaken, has one of the world's largest psychopath populations and most of them never harmed anyone.

[@palesazozi793]

Mid spectrum and lower on the spectrum are often ignored. The Zuckerberg's of this world

[@missique1324]

Psychos r always narcs ..so they always wear a mask...not real EZ 2 spot at first

[@WitchRain]

I love how it cuts after he says, "If you kind of run out of ideas in the middle of a sentence...." lol

[@JelloFluoride]

His subtle use of humor is quite good.

[@reelgangstazskip]

Based.

[@crispykornflakes5990]

Nice profile picture

[@nicholascroixet8089]

Ur not using based right bro

[@aliensoko]

@@nicholascroixet8089 how would you use it

[@attackhelicoptercat]

ive noticed that narcissism seems to be prevalent in society, even promoted in different ways.

[@tahsina.c]

were all narcissistic to a degree

[@jerrymarshall2095]

I me mine for sure,identity politics has fueled some of this,in my opionion.

[@MrKillswitch88]

Narcissism in society today is not only tolerated but encouraged as it became a socially desirable trait especially in business and politics though very sadly the cancer is spreading though out the populations in general.

[@sonofhibbs4425]

It’s encouraged. That hit tv show “survivor” glorifies narcissism. There’s plenty more examples. The rotten morals of a population are from what they idolize. The rotten morals come from their idolatry.

[@t-man5196]

Yes a lot of it has to do with consumerism and corporatism in my opinion

[@Drunk3nMonk3y72]

I'm ADHD I use disfluencies all the time when I'm trying to explain something. Usually because I'm trying to get a lot of information out but my brain can't get it out in the right way.

[@discomfort5760]

If slumdog is very creative it's not asperger's. ADHD is all about dealing with cognitive chaos and non-linear thinkning, which is liberating in it's own way, and the linear structure of natural languages require some level of translation between thought and words.

[@pookietheking8425]

occams99 Lmfaoooooooo

[@dannydazzler1549]

ADHD rhymes with psychopathy.

[@KINGKROSBYSKINGDOM]

@occams99 your comment is too much

[@ten10strips85]

@occams99 Why did you refer to him as "this clown"? You could have called him this man or this guy or this chap or this fellow or dude/dude here or even this *creator* but instead you went full clown immediately. How come? Also, assuming that you're correct and that he, Grande, really is a clown, how is it that he would yet still be likely to point the OP in the right direction?

[@alexblaze8878]

You left out a significant reason people might use disfluencies: being nervous/anxious/fearful.

[@ebh7821]

Yes absolutely agree

[@pauladuarte781]

Right on. I was going to say that.

[@katcallender6699]

He didn't need to. When he says that it's being used to think or used as a filler, that basically covers nerves or anxiety, since both of those cause us to pause out of fear or anxiousness etc...

[@pauladuarte781]

@@katcallender6699 I disagree. I think he was referring to stalling to think up a story/lie/excuse. I'm talking about just being nervous. I have been interrogated, had a deposition. I didn't lie even when I wasn't under oath. But I was involved, was a witness to certain events that were anxiety provoking to recall and being grilled for an hour and a half, or sitting in a room with a several lawyers (mostly not yours) asking you questions under oath is extremely stressful.

[@pauladuarte781]

@@lilo4399 IDK? Maybe he's just calm, professional. Maybe you're projecting? Either way, there's enough room on the internet. If I don't like the vibe I just wander to another conversation. Have a great life!

[@vihaze6725]

In my experience, psychopaths rarely worry about being a psychopath. They're not anxious enough to be concerned about the possibility of fitting a particular diagnosis.

[@aurora8749]

@@Analysis_Paralysis Your thinking of a narcissist. Psychopaths don't really care what other people think about them unless it's a direct threat to their needs being met.

[@joshuawayneyork]

This was exactly what I was thinking.

[@insaniacproductions5775]

@@aurora8749 Thats both True and not True. There is a difference between care and care. They dont really care about anything thrown at them such as shame, but they do care about how People percieve them since they have a certain persona to different People for whatever Goal they have. Usually steps are taken to deflect things before they happen.

[@aurora8749]

@@insaniacproductions5775 I sincerely do believe that's the only difference between psychopaths and narcissists. I've known both. I've known two sociopaths that admit that's what they are and really do not care how they are perceived as long as they still get what they want. The narcissists however fly into a rage if you call them out for something bad they did.

[@insaniacproductions5775]

@@aurora8749 That is not what i said. I said There is a difference between care and care. They dont care about anything really or how they are percieve, but they care about how they are percieved in certain areas based on what they need or have Goals for. I do that all the time. For example, a couple of years ago when i at the time was still criminally Active, i did not of course care what People said or thought of me, i did also not care if they found out about anything. At the time i used to have a dealer that pushed things for free of me because to her, i was misunderstood, intelligent and the only one to understand her. She usually heard about me, usually from New People coming in. Stores of this and that. Those things i did not care about. What i cared about at the time was The Maintenance of the world i created for her and I cared very much about how i was seen by her in this World. That was of course until i did not need her anymore. So There is a difference.

[@freshoutofcrabs]

I feel like I use a lot of disfluencies, and for a few different reasons. First, I lose my train of thought very often, even mid sentence. Second, it's not uncommon for me to forget a word, even if I still have the train of thought - this is especially common with nouns. And third, I have a strong urge to use exactly the right word - not to make me look better, but to accurately convey my meaning. In all of these cases, both intentional and unintentional disfluencies buy me the time to figure out what I was trying to say. All that being said, from the descriptions you have given of psychopathy in this and other videos confirm without a doubt that I am not a psychopath. In my case, I think the disfluencies are more of an ADHD thing than anything.

[@shanestrickland5006]

Their could be alot of reason's someone say's those word's. I use them time to time when i have a brain fart in a conversation which happen's time to time. Plus i like to be specific with what i say.

[@Teadon86]

There are several mental problems that can cause what you describe, ADHD is just one of them. Also, have you ever hit your head seriously? I have, I've also suffered a stress-related breakdown, which did alter my language performance to mirror what you're describing.

[@joanbaczek2575]

freshoutofcrabs yup I have language issues due to also brain injury. And a lot of people don’t think in words so it’s harder to speak your thoughts. I’m sure there are plenty of good people who also disfluency I think the whole theory is hog wash

[@reneesoli5345]

I do the same thing that you just described and I'm dyslexic.

[@mackaylacook148]

@@reneesoli5345 same here I was diagnosed as Severely Dyslexic

[@williamrusso3130]

12:33 Absolutely. I have a stutter and I've always had a problem with people interrupting me. Not only does a simple "uh..." signal that I'm not done talking, it also helps me not stutter on my next word. For some reason, it's hard for me to start a word after a pause; the "uh..." keeps the flow going.

Yeah I know someone who has a stutter and he uses a huge amount of disfluencies for this exact reason, especially "like". I've noticed he has trouble with certain consonants (I gather this is common?) and uses the disfluencies to launch off to get his mouth around the difficult consonants. It's very effective, he's basically a completely fluent speaker due to this technique, it's just a little disconcerting when you meet him first but after a short while you stop noticing.

[@BunnyEars357]

I have a stutter and I use disfluencies a lot too.

[@hammerheadofhorror6589]

I use it the exact same way 😂 although funny enough I can actually speak without stuttering if I focus lol

[@a_diamond]

@@hammerheadofhorror6589 odd that usually makes stutters worse, generally..

[@a_diamond]

@@hammerheadofhorror6589 what do you focus on to make yours better?

[@melissaqualls5774]

Thank you for pointing out the need for careful interpretation of studies. I find it concerning that someone would think he is a psychopath because of one behavior.

[@aarondavis8943]

If you're worried about being a psychopath, you're not a psychopath. It's about empathy and sympathy. If you care about the wellbeing of others, you ain't a psychopath. If you feel nothing when you witness suffering, then yeah...you might want to see someone about that. But you probably won't because you won't care! 😁

[@Smartbeautifulawesome]

I just wonder why this bully stuff is so bad. How much of this is self defense?

[@irismentus1978]

OMG......where were you when I was majoring in Psychology in 1993, LOL!. Your videos are amazing!. You take complex research and break it down in such fluent language.

[@kagey03]

He is brilliant!!

[@aliensoko]

opinions on columbine 1999?

[@novelas3536]

@@aliensoko ?

[@aliensoko]

@@novelas3536 ?

[@satoshinakamoto7253]

@@kagey03 most psychology is BS. except evolutionary psychology (related to science)

[@SophieBird07]

Great video, but what seems to be attributed to psychopaths could apply to Aspergers individuals or others on that spectrum. I know I get brain freeze quite often.

[@jasonaus3551]

Also Adult AdHD

[@shanestrickland5006]

Everyone does at times. This guy does not give good signs to spot a psychopath. All the things he mentions if applied to predict psychopaths would mix up psychopaths with good people. When I came to this video to watch it I was expecting something useful and was disappointed big time.

[@cerimite7674]

As a savant, I sometimes search my thoughts for a complex description of a prototype solution to a system, when explaining it without rehearsal.

[@aratneerg1375]

@@shanestrickland5006 i think you missed his point. He agrees with you. He made the video to express his profesional opinion that as this theory currently stands it doesn't really add up.

[@NebulusVoid]

Both lack empathy so there's a lot of overlap... My first thought was that it was because of Psychosis because of all the anger acting as stress causing the Psychosis because of hypofrontality. Psychosis is the Extreme Female Brain and looks very similar to Autism and can apparently give people Autism (according to a Psychiatrist). Psychopaths also have ADHD

[@kellibabb6141]

I sometimes mildly dissociate and I use disfluencies to fill the gap while I'm getting my brain back on track. I'm not a psychopath, but I do have PTSD.

[@hardfought1842]

It’s like a rapper saying “yo” or “check it out” when freestylin

[@apeyb5606]

Both are forms of a trauma response, so that makes sense.

[@GuidetteExpert]

Sometimes people that are introvert have the need to recharge their social energy to be able to be around people again, doesn't have to do with being psychopathy.

[@elanahammer1076]

@@apeyb5606 thank you

[@elanahammer1076]

@@GuidetteExpert good to know

[@samantha5600]

I had a psychopath in my life and he was the worst at answering a question when he had to lie. He would use alot of deflection or gaslighting tactics to distract until he could come up with a story. He had zero empathy, he did what he thought was the right thing for society, but could not put himself in others shoes. He once told me he never felt panic, or his heart race unless he was exercising. I watched him stand by as I helped a person in a serious accident, he literally stood on the side of the road like he was waiting for a bus the whole time, couldn't be bothered to help and the most disturbing part is he didn't know why I helped, he was genuinely annoyed. Glad he's out of my life now.

[@ThomasG.-hh9gg]

You wanted a bad boy and you got bad results. FU

[@Wheelabarraback]

People who over use the word “Like” in every sentence drive me to psychopathic thoughts .

[@SadieMage]

I'm like, really sorry :(

[@Wheelabarraback]

@@SadieMage I want you to be completely sorry .Not just like your sorry 😂

[@fungling7982]

@@Wheelabarraback I'm like, completely sorry :(

[@ziadnajm9941]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@Wheelabarraback]

@@fungling7982 😂 yes that’s it !!

[@pearlyq3560]

That's what I like about you -- you are logical and not afraid to point out the flaws in psychology, which, in turn, makes most of your analyses realistic and reliable. You are a deep thinker, thank you for your insights.

[@AFAskygoddess]

When you're over 60 years old you say "um" a lot because we can't remember crap.

[@shanestrickland5006]

I say um when I have a brain fart in a conversation or my brain freezes.

[@John-gq7vt]

Can't remember crap? Um...I forgot... Oh yeah. My experience is different. I can remember ONLY crap!

[@grannysweet]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣yep😎👍🐶🙄😶

[@kellyteacherforlife7165]

@AFAskygoddess...Amen to that one.

[@cherylschumaker1366]

Oh good so I m nor alone rhan.....also my sister told me 60 os the new 40 o told her oh i wished i would have heard ..i have a long way to go a is what I told her ..hahahahaahahu!

[@theemutsenfabriek]

The thing about disfluencies is really interesting to me as a classics student. In ancient greek texts, many and multitudinous 'particles' are used. A very recent theory, however, suggests that all these words aren't particles but rather disfluencies. So the possible connection of the use of these to different personality types is pretty interesting if it could say something about the ancient greeks. But maybe it also says something about what they were taught in school (which was then mostly focussed on training public speaking skills), maybe the disfluencies were seen as desirable, as opposed to now when we see them as undesirable... Thanks for the great vid!

[@ShaareiZoharDaas]

or it's just certain professors not focusing on teaching the use of particles or hexameter and breathings just grammar.

[@iunnyrhalldorsdottir8248]

Just because you can show that psychopaths are more likely to use disfluencies does not mean that disfluencies are an indicator at all. I know that I use slightly more disfluencies than my peers, and studying linguistics and psychology of bilingualism I've found out that it is very likely a product of me speaking so many languages. I'm fluent in 4 languages and conversational in a couple more. At any given time, my brain is suppressing my other languages, that takes a bit of energy, resulting in more disfluencies. There is literature to support this. It would be terrifying if someone would start assuming that I was a psychopath just because of this.

[@jerrymarshall2095]

Makes sense to me ms. halldorsdottir,I cant help but using disfluencies just ordering lunch at a chinese restaurant.

[@jamesmaloy8394]

Iðunn Ýr Halldorsdottir my good friend speaks many languages but he also is really nuts

[@yewwowduck]

Would this not be disproved by deep learning algorithms? Collections of secondary indicators => primary indicator set

[@Daviebhoy25cfc]

Haha. You took this video as a personal insult.

[@kazhausler3430]

He didn't say disfluencies were a true indicator at all!! Listen again! I am guilty of the same.. It usually happens when I have a lot on my mind in my life!! ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@marybachmann]

I agree about the use of disfluemcies. I tend to think they are an artful way of using language, and maybe psychopaths use them, but they are not an indicator of psychopathy. It was a little funny when I watched a PhD researcher describing how the psychopathy/disfluency theory applied to his analysis, because he was using disfluencies liberally while giving the description. Amused audience comments ensued. I'm pretty sure he didn't realize how much he was using them, but he was clearly not a psychopath.

[@christopherlyman1486]

Yes, Dr. Grande. You're right. People who only think they're right aren't. Thank-you.

[@anouksurmenian4257]

In a College class in France, we had a presentation once and the teacher wanted to teach us to avoid disfluencies... and they would interrupt us every-single-time we used one... it was extremely difficult to even remember what we were talking about O_o

[@christinesbetterknitting4533]

The French are very demanding. Congratulations on being an Armenian, Anouk. May the LORD bless your family and community.

[@inahandbasket288]

I had a very good friend who did the same with me every time I said, “you know.” Alice, wherever you are, I still thank you!

[@pinchebruha405]

but did they hit you in the haed with a book and call you a stupid americanie ...yes it happened to my daughter

[@vacheriedevacherie1959]

Du coup, du coup…j’ai hâte que ça finisse celui-là…

[@shotarodeniet3301]

@@pinchebruha405 do you have cyber Munchausen by proxy?

[@ivdddoxiemama7275]

My father definitely was one. He scared me so bad. He was highly abusive to my mother and myself. My mother and I had to run from him. He passed several years ago from complications of diabetes. When you meet one you know. I am learning a lot since my phyc class in HS and college. Thank you Dr Grande for all your videos and info.

[@Brannny88]

Good

[@Driftwoodgeorge]

I think it's the reverse, because to speak well means the person is in control of their emotions while talking they don't care what the person at the receiving end thinks of them. When I meet someone who is articulate and appears to be confident, a warning signal gos off in my head because people like that are usually trying to sell me something or trying to miss lead me

[@johnnianne1177]

I really like how you say that there’s too much focus on being perfect. And basically just focus on telling the story the way you want to tell it. I have memory loss and it does make story telling difficult. It can be embarrassing...but what you said is empowering. I love it :)

[@kathrynturnbull990]

I am also so glad that Dr. Grande mentioned how this can be related to trying to be perfect and how dangerous (and common!) this is becoming! (Sorry this comment is so long afterwards, I only found this channel recently.) 🙂

[@katieejeann2139]

Thank you for taking time to teach us Dr. Grande. You are such a brilliant man. I love your videos and appreciate all your hard work. 🤍

[@jessicamai7783]

As some one that uses umm etc, it is totally unconscious. I’m 110% empath! I notice I do it when being recorded & trying to verbalize. It’s no worry of being interrupted because it’s on things where I’m the center is attention. I also have high anxiety so I think I can’t process or process when anxious.

[@markstahl1464]

Yeah, "Ummmm" definitely means "Please don't start talking, I haven't finished my idea yet." A lot of people interpret silence as an invitation to start talking.

[@aratneerg1375]

Great video. Nice to see u a bit worried where people might think they are psychopathic because they do it and totally agree that the last thing we want is too much perfectionism in our speech. The emotions behind it are everything! More joy and much less cold heated narcissism is where we need to go.

[@rdickinsondickinson]

On my daily walks I try to avoid the psycho. paths.😃✌️

[@kerilyndesiree6188]

Lmao

[@MonaLisa-rm3iv]

Thanx

[@kerilyndesiree6188]

@@MonaLisa-rm3iv 😂

[@gigiarmany]

🤣😂🤣👍🏽😜😜

[@margareth1504]

Ah ha ha thanks for the joke. Everyone could take a tip like that.

[@joanbaczek2575]

Yeah like watts kills his fam, then during a text to a friend he says “I’m just trying to remember to eat.” Now that’s an example of psychopath language. No empathy, no remorse and only thinking of primary need .-food.

[@a007girl]

In the interviews with him he was very liberal with the word "like".

[@deadlysquirrel5560]

@@a007girl He was imitating NK, some people with personality disorders mimic people they admire, because they have no personality of their own. My ex-boyfriend would even imitate their voices. Hearing his Uncles voice coming out of his mouth was bad. Hearing his deceased grandmothers voice coming out of his mouth, was terrifying. He would only use these voices when we had a disagreement. I learned to walk on eggshells really quick, until I could safely get out.

[@lillani4527]

Deadly Squirrel woah wtf

[@mackofalltrades3155]

Your channel is seriously addicting haha thank you for creating your content! I find it all very fascinating

[@SophieBird07]

ADD, and perhaps autism, causes thought delays, at least with me. I don’t think I am a narcissist either, but I can recall even as a child, I would hear “just spit it out”. I think it just gave me permanent brain freeze knowing I would usually lose the listeners interest.

[@johannas.l.brushane2518]

I am a very introvert person, within the family it's occasionally halfjoked that I'm the autist in the family. My maternal language is not english but english has a richer vocabulary and offer more nuances. My maternal language has just one word for "emotion", "feeling" and "sense". So I can occasionally think in english when reflecting internally but be stuck in a state of mental constipation when verbally crap it out.

[@hicknopunk]

I have a good deal of memory problems and if you ask me to recall something from the past, I will ummm, unnn, erm, ummm as I spend real time on recalling the event as clearly as I can, then speak. If you make me answer on the spot, my answer will have a high chance of being incorrect, not because I am trying to lie, but I just didn't have time to actually use memories to recall something.

[@blairg8171]

I had people tell me to get to the point all the time

[@wendynoto1923]

maybe the person wasn't really interested and you're actually picking that up

[@SophieBird07]

@@hicknopunk yes, I would much rather communicate by text ANY day than actually talk, if I have some point I really need to get across.

[@MrKaypet]

That was a sound rational presentation on this topic.Glad you identified the limitations of potential inferences based on studies of personality disorders like psychopathy made on prisoners .Especially if based on a subset of murders, particularly if having been incarcerated over a decade. Being incarcerated for a decade in that setting would alter anyone.

[@dennisrobbins7857]

The Dr. has an obvious ability to articulate relatively complex facts, theories etc. in a manner that a layman can understand. I would appreciate examples of language commonly used by psychopaths. An actual interview with a psychopath with the Dr.s' commentary would be very helpful. Great presentation!

[@OnsceneDC]

Excellent insight as always! I appreciate how much you've been adding to the body of knowledge of psychopathy. I find the matter of disfluencies or in communications parlance as "filler words" to be very interesting. Any trained or self-aware speaker can easily purge them from their lexicon - they can be replaced simply with a pause. Removing them doesn't take away from expressing oneself, and they are often seen as distracting and can reduce a speaker's credibility. (I've worked in public speaking and media training, so I'm VERY aware of them). A smart and motivated psychopath I would likely think would want to have that "polish" and not perpetuate using language filled with disfluencies. I can see how they as expressions can provide insight into the speaker's thinking/reasoning, but like many behaviors, they can easily be masked. So focusing on disfluencies could be a red herring. Question: I know there is a lot of attention on the "psychopathic stare" and various changes in the eyes (e.g. "psychopathic rage" and eyes turning "black"). I've also heard indications of eye movements might be associated with psychopathy, that may indicate lying, congnative dissonance, etc. I have my own personal ideas and observations, but don't know what has been studied. There's a lot of unscientific content on psychopaths and eyes. If you have any insight on eye movement and attributes indicative of psychopathy I think it would be very valuable.

[@DrGrande]

Thank you! Let me look into the research and see what I can locate on eye movements and psychopathy. If I can find something substantive, I will record a video on it.

[@OnsceneDC]

@@DrGrande thanks! I watch your videos almost daily so I will be sure to see it. Thank you in advance for any research you do. Being immersed in communications, I'm always fascinated about the relationship between psychology and communication. Psychopathology and communication is even more interesting- and arguably extremely relevant to people like me here in Washington, DC! I'm also interested in an reading recommendations you may have more generally on the subject.

[@janbalcar4006]

POLISH USED

[@gigigirl2229]

I have seen the eyes turn black and this is a Very fascinating topic for me as there is not much written about it. It’s not the stare that penetrates you or the psycho wide eye stare it’s the whole eyes turning black when in a rage. I would love further information about it

[@pauline_f328]

12:40 OMG YES That's definitely why I started using them in the first place. I use them much more prominently when I feel like I'm about to get interrupted, they practically disappear in therapy for instance because I don't expect the therapist to interrupt me. I don't know if it's the case for everyone but I hate getting interrupted and that definitely influences this Edit: I happen to have ADHD. Not sure if it plays a part, but I tend to need long pauses when I get distracted, and silence is something people often interpret as you running out of ideas, which I tend to signal by staring at the other person instead of looking away while I think

[@TJ-cr8id]

Yes. I hate getting interrupted also and my reaction is always obvious. My thoughts are who the hell are you to think what you have to say is more important than what I’m saying.

[@aaronloewen8718]

This is really fascinating stuff, excellently curated topics and extremely well-discussed!!!!

[@buttercatpaws9674]

Excellent discussion, the idea of controlled conversation, using delays often unconsciously, but for the psychopathic personality, a clever weapon and tool... thanks for the presentation

[@annettepiff9759]

Greetings, Dr. Grande. I have been enjoying your videos and am learning a great deal from them. I appreciate your scientific approach to these various topics. You are precise and concise. It is obvious to me that you are well-informed and very willing to research anything in order to produce insightful videos. Thank you for your dedication to the scientific approach. You have a pleasant voice and speech pattern. I will continue to view your interesting videos. I appreciate you!

[@runwiththewind3281]

Dr Grande, thank you for helping me understand.

[@christopherhiller1035]

I share those concerns over perfectionism in others' speech. When I was a teenager, I'd be talking with my Mom, but that was made exceedingly difficult because she'd either interrupt me each time I uttered a filler word, or she'd give me a huge scolding lecture after the conversation. Kinda didn't want to talk to her after that.

[@tbranch74]

I've studied communication sciences and disorders for 16 years. I appreciate your video. Reminds me of some Chomsky. Saving for more views and processes. Much respect.

[@t-man5196]

Brilliantly illustrated lecture, Dr. Todd. Very interesting stuff.

[@jimcronin2043]

I used to use 'disfluencies' all the time when giving presentations, particularly in Q&A. It took me a long time to understand this and I really wanted to improve because I believe that these interruptions significantly decrease the quality of my presentations. I finally figured out that it was because in my mind I was trying to process several things at once: what I had just said, what I was about to say and trying to absorb visual feedback from the audience or trying to rephrase in accordance with the listeners' expectations. I finally figured it out when I was trying to function in a second language in a work environment and then it became very clear and helped me a lot.

[@itswhatyoumakeit6950]

I love it, you are so balanced and even, seemingly, which I believe is so!

[@FrancesShear]

I agree Dr. Grande. I wish to have been able to watch this video a lot sooner. It may have saved me a lot of trouble instead when taking the advice of a volunteer client who happened to be related to me who said that I should avoid disfluencies when being taped for any school assignment. What I have learned from it all the hard way is that I need to work on when I am chosing to be influnced by advice after being given clear directions on how to do things who knows what they are doing better than me.

[@elizabethfrederick2434]

I feel there is so much information here that I will need to re watch these lectures. Thank you for interesting information.

[@shanestrickland5006]

How is their alot of info in this? The video was about signs of a psychopath and he even said the very info he is giving is not an indicator of psychopathy.

[@pulaski1]

@14:21. It seems like a fundamental misunderstanding of the proposed correlation - just because most psychopaths (might) have certain linguistic traits does not mean that everyone who has those linguistic traits is a psychopath.

[@draconariusking8328]

Recently I’ve been trying to get into the habit of thinking before I speak because I noticed that when I stumbled over a word many people are quick to interject criticism even if I correct myself mid sentence… Sometimes it feels like people are actively looking for passive aggressive ways to insult one another but I’m not sure if this is a recent phenomenon. Interestingly enough I also realized that it’s usually the idiots who are quick to call you stupid if they fail to understand you. Generally I try not to call out faux pas but it pisses me off to no end when these people don’t treat me with the same respect.

[@ginali9034]

Thank you, I found your videos helpful and informative as always. This one resonates closer to home, the narc near me uses uh & uhmm & well all the time on a daily basis not only to buy time but also to make up lies as they go. 100% true! A very good indicator in addition to their sociopathic/psychopathic behaviors. Well done doctor.

[@TheArchiv-Ist]

My psychopathic narcissist ex was a magician of language, he was an accomplished juggler with words, quite articulate, a good rhetorician yet he lacked emotion, and his talk was almost in a rhymed fashion, and sometimes he was theatrical, seemed to admire his own dramatic ways. They cover their calculative stories with fake “fillers,” it is only to “appear“ emotional or thoughtful, all are act or a game.

[@huslainemaxwell9866]

i like how literally everybody in these comments always thinks their ex was either a psychopath or narcissist lol 😂 you know these terms have actual clinical definitions, they're not just synonyms for "person I dont like"

[@SirenaSpades]

@@huslainemaxwell9866 Exactly

[@amandastein6247]

I’ve watched hundreds of your videos, and this is one of the best.

[@sofiar.g.3211]

Good quality work!!. There are little psicologists talking seriously about these damaging beings!!. For spanish speaking people there are even less good information!. Best regards from Spain!!.

[@angelahamon6730]

At 7:20 is Dr Grande using a language disfluency? What about people who start questions with the word, "so". So, how do you feel about that? Well, have you made a plan for safety? Are they buying time for themselves in this conversation, or for the people they are helping?

[@Continental123-i2n]

Giving specific examples of the various ideas and theories would be highly helpful.

[@bernhardk7720]

Hey Dr. I like your cautiousness with this topic. It’s an interesting topic maybe a correlation study is better than one with pvalues. I would like to add some thoughts: 1.literacy levels of offenders so they can’t use more detail or sophisticated words to express themselves? 2. Narcissist and control the space behaviour you mention, so fillers keep them in control of the discussion; 3. General nervousness and so we reach for simple words to utter in heightened cognitive load moment-letting someone break your thought process while you’re talking is a defence simple mechanism we use to stop interruptions?; 3. Guilt factor of those who did something wanting to slow investigation by trying to distance themselves with past/3rd person words; confuse thought process of those asking questions (delay so can get off topic?) so they want to move on out of frustration? I enjoy your work. All the best.

[@hayleysmith5077]

Association between linguism and psychiatry is very interesting, your academic videos are truly enriching my knowledge and everybody’s knowledge, Thanks doctor to share and spread it is very generous of you ! Happy Christmas god bless 💐

[@Pandoradan]

I absolutely agree that the focal point of this research doesn't really account for a multitude of other reasons for dysfluencies, or fillers. For example a person who experiences anxiety may have more dysfluency in their speech, they may be less confident, they may be distracted (dual processes, e.g. stereotype threat), they may have a smaller vocabulary or their cognition could be impaired. There are so many reasons this could happen, but correlation is not causation. Linguistic style is also really important. Boris Johnson uses many fillers in his speech for example.

[@Andypandieful]

Chis watts comes to mind. His interviews on the day of his crimes. He used “like”...countless times!

[@aakkoin]

Umm... like.... I really want those kids back. Kids are the most important thing in life, right? Like... I really miss those kids.

[@aarongreenfield9038]

@@aakkoin.Umm, He doesn't really like his wife and kids.

[@aakkoin]

@@aarongreenfield9038 I'm telling you, honestly... I did not do anything horrible to my family... I really love those people, honestly...

[@shanestrickland5006]

Alone the things he mentions means nothing. The very clues he gives alot of people use for different reasons. So the signs that he gives on their own don't mean anything. Hippies say like alot but most are not psychopaths and are very much about love and shearing stuff.

[@15-gurdjieff88]

Nicole Lessinger with k said like more times than he did

[@mgmarrow]

I believe that it is universally a combination of all three theories, but I definitely agree that disfluencies are more intentional than subconscious. I also believe that when they are subconscious, they are used more out of nervousness. I don't believe that they are more frequently used for showcasing a conversation. I've also been told by many that I tend to believe that most people have good intentions even when they don't. Very interesting argument and I appreciate learning from Dr. Grande's videos. Thank you for what you do for everyone here!! ☺️

[@JMM33RanMA]

This is a very interesting video. Maslow's theories and the hierarchy are extremely important in my line of work, education in general, as are Mager's objectives. Using frequency of words as a descriptor is, as Dr. Grande implied, questionable. The frequency would depend on the size and sophistication of the person's vocabulary as well as on age, social class, language(s) spoken, and other factors. For example, I am old and have to check more frequently for errors when typing, I have also been a professor and have to try to not write far too much, to not use jargon and to be clear and concise rather than pompous, technical, philosophical or flowery. The disfluency explanation is problematic, as both uses exist. It can also be related to the other factors I mentioned above. For example, I have, on occasion, had someone I was speaking to look at me intently and then proclaim, "You're a professor." The workers in the sandwich shop I patronized took to calling me "The Professor," and telling undecided customers, "The Professor recommends...." I never told them I was a professor, and tried to tell them that I wasn't. The language one uses is often an identifiable label, so one might as well be carrying a sign. I've been told that I seldom use disfluency. As far as expression in sociopaths, psychopaths and others, perhaps Dr. Grande could analyze Donald Trump's odd sentence construction and the extremely odd sign language that accompanies his speech. The hand gestures appear to be a series of Q's and K's.

[@rosalindgibbs2980]

Over all the years I'm so glad that you're on KZbin with me being 64' I've studied so many people around me during and I'm not perfect but listening to you has helped me in more ways and one. Fake from real it's scary somewhat but again you've have hit on the nail I believe I was right.

[@nickpapageorgio4835]

Factor 2 psychopathy shouldn't be called psychopathy, it is so very different than the goal oriented factor 1 psychopathy people think of..

[@santarivera1939]

I feel as if we have to use personality as a guide. Because, as a Multilingual person, I need to STOP, and rethink the sentences. While, if I'm in my native, and regional language, because regional counts, say my sister, I don't have to do it at all.

[@suzannemartin5927]

Dr.Todd Grande ..u Rock !! I really Love hearing u Talk ..U r so Incredibly Intelligent ..educating me .. Thanks !!!!

[@keariewashburn4680]

I agree. I pay more attention to the context of what they are saying because they are interpreting their thoughts, beliefs or such. The disflences dont really get my attention as much. It's what they have a mindset on. Imo

[@ssxvaki]

an interesting fact is that psyhopaths are actually really damn good at knowing other people's emotions but do not have affective empathy. some pro-social psychopaths know what someone else is feeling better then the actual person feeling the emotions but the psychopath doesn't care about it and do not relate to it but have learned how to mimic it.

[@kazkk2321]

I appreciate your in depth critique. The relationship between personality and Language is far too complex to be detected by human brain in real time.

[@wanderingfree149]

I knew a psychopath who was well spoken. However, he would screw up a few words. Example is he wouldnt say " the engine in my car blew up. " instead, he would say " the engine in my car blowed up. " He also was Mr. Ummmm. Great video. Thank you!

[@jerrymarshall2095]

Sounds like a southerner,ha ha,not a psycho.blowed is used all the time for blew,i hear it often.

[@jerrymarshall2095]

@occams99 learnt sumtin new everday,thanls

[@inahandbasket288]

@Rascal Bascal ...stereotype .

[@mkpleco]

Well done as always. Yes, I do agree with your thoughts on disfluencies. A psychopath's game is manipulation. However, I don't think they are easily manipulated.

[@QoraxAudio]

12:48 "when they know there is a delay coming..." *advertisement starts playing* Nice one! 😆 But judging people on their way of speaking is quite 'dangerous', I think there's a big risk of inducing prejudgements... My mother constantly tries to attack my choice of words and that of my father, he's got a short temper since she started to act like that. Living with them is like walking across a minefield while being questioned in court 24/7... glad I got out of there. It costs a lot of energy to constantly overthink how to say things so that there's no way for her to negatively interpret it.

[@alinewilliamson6482]

I believe there are many reasons why people use disfluencies. I am dyslexic for example and I use them sometimes to find my words. I also have family members who have ASPD that use them more often and also migraines, TIA and you get what I mean. It would be sad to associate this for the untrained due to falsely analysis people who just struggle at times. I enjoy this video, you are always in-depth and careful not to make jumps without analyzing.

[@freetobememe4358]

Sometimes the pause to think of a word is simply age related hesitation, trying to remember the word or o phrase.

[@HB-et5iv]

A pattern I have noticed among several 'empathically-challenged' people, including at least one actual sociopath, is the recurring failure to verbally provide context, e.g. switching topics, thoughts or the subject of consecutive sentences without notice, or starting out of the blue with like sentence #4 of what should have been a 5-sentece 'story' or explanation; and then, when being asked for clarification, being baffled about me not naturally sharing their (strange) thought/association process and having a hard time to see what information they would have needed to provide to give another person a chance to follow. Also, the failure to sometimes answer even very simple questions, basically ignoring what information I just told them I need and instead answering a question they just associate with my words, like 'At what time will we meet?' - 'Before we meet, I will be doing X, that's why.'

[@VillanoSyxx]

In my experience of 32 years dealing specifically with ; Psychopaths, Aspergers, depression, borderline personality disorder etc.... I think the theory of disfluencies is correct. They definitely use them to think of things to say to make their crimes and abuse to others sound acceptable and justified.

[@uyoebyik]

I associate the word correct with antisocial personalities. If you say something they often respond with "correct"

[@reversepolarity8981]

@@uyoebyik that's very interesting... I suspect my adoptive "mother" may be a psychopath or a malignant narcissist, and I've noticed she'll never use ordinary words like yeah or yes. It's always "correct" in conversations, and it sounds weird/robotic af.

[@invokingvajras]

Inflection in language is important to consider as well. Fillers like "um" can be used in a way that expresses confusion, fear, or even to draw attention to others, sometimes in a facetious manner. The latter is certainly more associated with psychopathy as it expresses irritation with the presence of potentially rival stimuli.

[@vl4394]

Man, these are the kinds of videos you should be doing.

[@gotpaint1770]

My main thought after watching this video is how sad it is that people think they might be a psychopath because of something like this. Wow. That must've been a scary thought. Another thing I found really interesting is what you said around the 14:53 mark. Because for me personally, it sort of works the other way around: I use words like 'um' (not 'like' and 'so' though) and I meander a bit in my talking (e.g. I might start a new sentence before I finished the first, or rephrase a sentence) _because_ I am quite perfectionistic. So I tend to edit myself as I go along. I want to be precise and I want to make sure that I convey to the other person what I actually mean. If someone wants to take that as a sign of insecurity or even psychopathy, well, uuh.. Hm. Actually, that's um.. well. That's, uh... like, um.. fine by me.

[@ayoutuberonyoutube554]

Are there more of the Dark Triad, now, than say 50 or 70 years ago. And is it the the culture that turns us into these things, and to what degree 🤔

[@geargail]

*** My Father tends to use alot more 'ums' and 'ah's - to the point, that Sentance / Phrase Interpretation is difficult. Sometimes to the point, where One CANCELS OUT the other. = Other than that --- I'm happy to of ran across this video.

[@narkfestmojo6156]

Have you ever heard a politician talk? You never hear a ......... silent pause in the stream of conversation. It would draw attention to them thinking about what they are saying which is a sign of dishonesty and might allow an interviewer to take control. Instead, you hear arrrr... to provide the illusion of continuity. Moreover, politicians (on Australian TV anyway) will often avoid directly answering a question and instead prattle on at length about something unrelated to the question being asked. The constant stream of talking jams your language centre and prevents you from being able to easily notice that the original question is being avoided. My opinion is that most of us use pause words because we are a little bit stupid, but I think there is a reasonable argument to indicate that there is an advantage to using this in the course of telling a lie (buys time to think) or avoiding a question (prevents the listener from thinking). If psychopathic murderers lie more then non-psychopathic murderers (I don't see why this would necessarily be the case) then it would make sense that they would become better at it and talk in a similar manner to the most skilled form of liar on the planet.

[@russellfultz9771]

Dr. Todd. I would like to enlighten you on this subject if I may. The first thing I would like to bring to the forefront is that your research was based on incarcerated subjects. The reason, in my mind, is most psychopaths refuse therapy. They believe nothing is wrong with them. Another is that the one’s in prison, according to Maslow hierarchy, are not “self actualized” They don’t know what they really are, which makes them “inferior” to the ones who know exactly what they are. Also their environment effects the outcome of the theory. The imprisoned psychopaths are more focused on their basic physical needs due to that fact that:1) they can be taken away or not supplied at all. Ex. Predatory inmates and unethical guards 2) The fear of uncontrolled events that would inhibit the supply to the prison. Ex. Natural or man made disasters etc. I know disfluencies are a biological process called “cognitive recall” Especially with the subject matter inquired about, Murder. Not only are they trying to relate the experience, they are reliving it in their heads. Their senses are again feeling and seeing the event play out. The dominance, the feeling of being superior, having all the control. Feeling like GOD in determining life and death. So their speech is fragmented with disfluencies as they remember such a extraordinary time in their lives. In my opinion, if you want to detect a psychopath based on linguistic capabilities, look for the use of “big” or “uncommon” words. The tone of the voice, threatening or condescending. The subject matter and description of such. Also test them on what they remember about you personally if this is not your first encounter with the individual. Watch their facial expressions and body language. Most importantly, your own “gut” feeling, your instincts, will inform you that your in the vicinity of a predator. Then again, what do I know? I’m labeled as having a personality and mental disorder..........Muhahahaha!

[@goodgracious6364]

I dated a guy once who had some very noticeable speech dysfluencies. He would use these abrupt and repetitive, "-ah, -ah, -ah, -ah, -ah ... " between his sentences. He also used a lot of verbal posturing in his conversations. For example, he would repetitively say, "-right, -right, -right, -right, -right, ... " or, "-yeah, -yeah, -yeah, -yeah, -yeah". Interestingly, he didn't have a speech impediment and always claimed to be a "great communicator". He turned out to be a total narcissist--a controller, manipulator, liar and a fraud. In retrospect, it did appear that this narc was always struggling to get his words right and not lose his place in a normal conversation.

[@carmenismyname]

Just a coincidence I’m sure. My bf fi uses a lot of the disfluencies above and is the most sweetest and caring human being. If this theory is true the world is doomed 🧐

[@goodgracious6364]

@@carmenismyname - Yes. I'm sure. I know some very sweet people with speech dysfluencies. However, the concern is with those individuals who have speech dysfluencies that are comorbid with manipulative behaviors. This is when the red flag may start to wave.

[@galhx8994]

Psychos are normally extremely intelligent and speak fluenty often better than most people and they are very confident they rather above than lower intelligence

[@pamelameckley5040]

You're absolutely right about there being an increase in narcissism.

[@Desertphile]

P.P.S. Hummm. I also add disfluencies in my writing of dialoge (I wrote a well-selling memoir). I use them to show hesitation and confusion in the speaker.

[@robicarm]

I take note in the way the psychopath/narc constructs, supports, defends, and counter attacks the opossers. If anyone has ever took a ethics/philosophy class then your introduced to debate and arguments. The whole ideal is to defend and reinforce your argument where as your conclusion is correct. That is why psychopaths can be excellent when it comes to law, sales, or politics. They have to be confident and flawless in all they do even when it is wrong. I would be scared someone didn't say um, uh, or blink.

[@dennisk5500]

Good stuff, Doc. I'm getting a lot to think about from your vids. Thanks

[@treeseer1573]

Omg yes when you said buy time to appear appropriate ! Yes the psychopathic narcissistic person I was involved with would talk slow- long withdrawn sentences. Use um and uh , so etc and sort of have a stutter but not really a stutter . And yes I could never pinpoint what it was , but now you said it . He was buying time to think of what he needed to say to appear a certain way - or scheme. Amazing !! Yet he had this social glib- tongue and cheek especially in texts. Written words would seem so carefully crafted to appear charming . This person was not a murderous psych / narc . He always stalled every time he spoke - like very aware of what he was saying .

[@MacShrike]

Very informative talk about disfluencies, especially(for me anyways) the, not wanting to be vs. the wanting, to be interrupted and meta looking at how you come across. Its funny how the Japanese language does the opposite by voicing sounds/word like ee and so ka to indicate that even though your sentence is long, they are still with you. For as much as I can understand what you are saying; between murderers, you can pick out the psychopaths by their use of disfluencies. But using them does not make you a psychopath.. makes total sense. Thank you. You are very good at thinking these things through(no pun intended). You should consider doing something with this skill (pun =)). Highest regards, Mac

[@darnellfreeman5595]

Blood thats me right there i really appreciate for you to take your time and help people known about their my issue's keep up the great work

[@jenilynneful]

Had me remembering someone saying that ppl who say, “You know what I mean?” during conversation was a sign of narcissism.

Makes me think of the film "Alfie", it's practically his catchphrase - curious where this idea comes from and if this is why they use this phrase (not sure if it's in the original 1966 version)

[@BeastnHarlotDFO]

I say this sometimes when the person is not nodding or showing their following in any way; is it seen as rude?

[@ibiminaabiye257]

Very true. My ex who's a narc says that a lot.

[@gonufc]

Or "Not gonna lie,......" - Why would you lie? Would you normally lie? I never say "Know what I mean?" because it just sounds patronising when you actually consider what's being said. A lot of people don't actually talk fluently. They copy and paste lots of small parts of sentences together and use lots of these 'filler' words/ phrases because they have a poor vocabulary and don't seem to consider their words before speaking. It's fascinating how many people do this.

[@angelahamon6730]

@ExposingMiLabs Thank you. I must be offending people. Sometimes a person who has not felt validated, believed, or well understood will defensively or reflexively say this. Didn't know it sounds condescending.

[@dansumigawa1414]

Those stop gap words are eliminated when you take Introduction to Public Speaking 1-A! Fear of silence is turned into a use of silence as punctuation! Preparation of speech and rehearsal can be used to mask uncertainty! A good speaker is a good actor! How can you tell? I use silence to put pressure on others to reveal their insecurities, to interrupt their narrative, to disrupt their crafted script ! I want truthful babble over carefully crafted lies!

[@ivyglenn8923]

The very few people I was skeptical about having higher psychopathic traits really didn’t use many “filler” words. They were very deliberate about the words they chose and when they chose to speak. That’s just my personal experience.

[@cherylhaskell9830]

Dr. Grande: Consider analyzing disapearance of Gabby Petito: Based on available information, it seems probable that her boyfriend abandoned her in Wyoming Teton Mountains or nearby area: specifically: Utah Police were called to a scene where (1) Gabby was experiencing a Mental/Emotional meltdown. (2) At that scene, her boyfriend told officer "she thinks I'm going to leave her [somewhere]." (3) Person who contacted police describe scene where Gabby appeared [hysterical], while boyfriend was in drivers seat of van, Gabby ran up to it and jumped through driver's side window and crawled over boyfriend to passenger's seat. When Officer caught up with them, the van was being driven across opposite lane and stopped with front tires up on curb. Gabby stated she was hitting boyfriend to get him to stop van and pull over for Police Officer who was teying to pul them over. At which time Gabby continued with meltdown, crying, and slapping boyfriend for trying to leave her [physically leave her]. He has lawyered up, will not cooperate with law enforcement. Has not disclosed where he last saw her. I think he abandoned her based on what is already known. Consider reaching and analyzing. Certain, she has passed by now.

[@runwiththewind3281]

Imagine running an experiment with subjects not using their native language. Interesting the effects, if any, of a learned second language. Difficult to set up but may yield in testing results.

[@GenaP2024]

Interesting idea to examine speech fluency. At least one of the studies discussed broached into a pragmatic language regarding basic needs. That was interesting. I would think examining social language would be far more telling given the inflated sense of self-worth (boastfulness), callousness (no empathetic statements), blame shifting, and mood dysregulation (speaking with anger undertones).

[@harmonizedigital.]

of course language can be used to figure out a persons thinking. it is a direct reflection of it.

[@entrusted2387]

I believe this is true, but I feel it requires being aware or educated on how to recognize someone is trying to manipulate your belief. The hard part being, to know whether something is true or not, you need to corroborate or collect evidence yourself, either before, during or after.

[@thepretender3814]

Justin Boger My vagina hurts when I cough

[@Sandra-hc4vo]

growing up in my house, I was taught to speak somewhat formally and it didn't really mesh at all when it came to speaking to other people in a casual setting. So i had spent some time retraining myself to speak more casually. I also picked up some likes, uhs and ums in the process.

[@itswhatyoumakeit6950]

Hey there Dr. Grande! Thanks again! You are appreciated!

[@jamespurcer3730]

I agree with you regarding disfluencies in speech being common behavior for normal people. I think that it would take practice to ensure fluency of speech without breaks or mid-sentence pauses.