In any room of a hundred people, one or two of them are wired to charm you, use you and feel nothing about it. We like to think of psychopathy as something rare and monstrous. The research says otherwise.
*[TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED ON LUMA HERE: FROM 12 EUROS](https://luma.com/2jk62gbl?utm_source=meetup)*
Most of those people never commit a crime. They become your charismatic new hire, your investor, your co-founder, your partner.
The initial charm is real. So is what comes after it.
In this Growth Lab LIVE session, Adolf takes you inside the neurobiology of deception and the "dark triad" of psychopathy, narcissism and Machiavellianism. You will look at what separates violent offenders from the polished white collar operators who cause far more damage, why women's manipulation patterns look different from men's, and what the evidence really says about whether any of it can be changed. Expect a serious, unsentimental take on a topic that usually gets sensationalised.
Prof Adolf Tobeña has spent his career mapping the brain circuits and hormonal machinery behind predatory behaviour, and the flipside question that matters just as much: how the rest of us decide who to trust, and why we are so easy to fool. Trust is a fast, ancient, largely unconscious calculation. Manipulators are extremely good at hijacking it.
About the Speaker:
Adolf Tobeña is Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, where he led the Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine for two decades. He is the author of *Neurología de la maldad* and *Manipuladores*, has published 15 books and over 160 papers, and won the European Science Communication award in 2004.
What you'll learn
• How to spot the behavioural signatures of manipulation early, before the cost lands on you or your business
• Why charm is the first tactic, not a personality trait, and what usually follows it
• What brain imaging and hormonal research actually reveal about predatory behaviour, and where the science stops
• Why highly manipulative people cluster in leadership, finance and politics, and what that means for how you hire and partner
• How your own trust instincts work, and the specific conditions that make them easiest to exploit
Agenda:
• 1845h - Doors open
• 1900h - Talk starts
• 2015h - Q&A
• 2045h - Drinks & Networking
Tickets: [https://luma.com/2jk62gbl?utm_source=meetup](https://luma.com/2jk62gbl?utm_source=meetup)
Join us at Growth Lab, where ambitious minds gather to explore ideas that fuel personal and professional growth. Each session dives into powerful strategies and insights across psychology, philosophy, longevity, economics, and cutting-edge tech — designed to help you unlock your best self.
Expect thought-provoking talks, interactive discussions, and a community of like-minded individuals dedicated to bettering themselves. Whether you're seeking inspiration, new skills, or meaningful connections, Growth Lab is your space to grow.
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