How Do Serial Killers Think? Forensic Psychiatrist Answers Your Questions | Honesty Box

In this episode of Honesty Box, we sat down with the brilliant Dr Sohom Das, a forensic psychiatrist who works with individuals who have committed violent crimes and are suspected of having mental illnesses. Dr Das opens up on why people are obsessed with true crime, identifies how to spot a psychopath, and discusses the most shocking cases he's worked on.

Thank you to Dr Das for telling his story. He passed on a message - 'Hey LADbible - I had a great time answering all these fascinating questions. Thank you so much for having me. I would love to see some of your viewers on my YouTube channel, A Psych for Sore Minds, which dissects a smorgasbord of topics related to mental illness and crime:

00:00 - 00:30 - Intro
00:32 : 00:55 - What do you actually do?
01:30 - 02:40 - Typical personality traits of serial killer?
02:42 - 03:46 - Most violent crimes you've worked on?
02:50 - 05:08 - Why am I obsessed with true crime?
05:08 - 07:05 - How can you tell if someone is a psychopath?
07:07 - 07:56 - What is the criteria for broadmoor?
07:58 - 09:08 - Why do women fall in love with serial killers?
09:11- 10:12 - What is the most dangerous mental illness?
10:12 - 12:26 - How can you tell if someone is lying?
12:26 - 13:11 - Are CEOS psychopaths?
13:12 - 16:13 - Did lobotomies work?
16:13 - 17:55 - Does anybody have the potential to commit a serious crime?
17:55 - 18:38 - Do you ever have empathy for criminals?
18:38 - 19:54 - Is Lucy Letby a psychopath?
19:54 - 20:41 - Do psychopaths cry?
20:41 - 22:00 - Can a head injury change your personality?
22:00 -22:26 - Which serial killer would you like to meet?

#LADbible

[sarw]

Speaking to the question about why more women are interested in true crime compared to men - of course, I am only speaking for myself, but for me it isn't about fear. It's about trying to understand a way of thinking that is just so far outside of what I can imagine thinking myself.

[gdaymates]

Medical student here. I got close with one girl in my course who has a lot of psychopathic traits. It's terrifying to me that she will be a doctor one day. It took me 6 months of ignoring my instincts to finally cut her out. It's scary to see those traits up close. Trust your instincts, people.

[Littlebingus]

I really believe the reason that a majority of women watch true crime videos is because we want to know what to watch out for as he said. That’s the top reason why I watch things about dangerous people.

[headerahelix]

What I've learnt from true crime is: if your spouse is suddenly interested in a life insurance policy on you where they or your children they'd be legally reasonable for are the benefactors, keep one eye open at night.

If you're leaving your partner, tell everyone you're doing so and also inform them that you have no interest in killing yourself. Do not meet your partner alone afterwards, only in public spaces and after informing a trusted person. It's also a good idea to change your locks if they have a history of violence.

If you're pregnant/just gave birth to the baby of a person who is wishy washy with you (i.e. they're cold and distant), exercise the same precautions as above. Don't meet alone, move in with a friend or relative if possible, and try to use tools like couples therapy to have a neutral third party try and assess whether the situation is dangerous or worth salvaging.

[mariabromwich]

Imagine committing an horrendous crime during a psychotic episode, being 100% convinced it’s to save someone, then coming out of the episode. Regardless of the legal punishment, how does one come to terms with having done something like that?

[mrsdsparky]

I teach college communication courses & I was SO happy to hear him thoroughly explain the BS of ppl claiming they can identify liars—or they tell you how to identify liars. That’s just lies.

[T-qi]

This guy was so good at capturing my attention (which is hard. I have adhd) I wish this video was longer…

[johnclark]

With that colour suit, the background and the box I thought he was going to pull a rabbit out of the box. 😂

[pdxnikki]

This guy is really good. Clear, concise & cute!

[brittanyp]

THANK YOU!!! I always thought that body language interpretation for lying was ridiculous. They say if you're nervous then you must be lying is such bologna! Everytime I watch one of those videos it pisses me the hell off!

[TomahwkVideos]

My ex boss is a psychopath. Exploiting his workers like crazy, never taking responsibility himself and always selling the team's achievements as his own. Now he's leaving the company and invited us for lunch, nobody wants to go. He doesn't even realise people don't like him.

[AuskaDezjArdamaath]

My roomie’s mom is a psychopath. Very charismatic lady but dangerous to know if you don’t know how to protect yourself from being exploited. Since she had a stroke a couple years back, not quite as dangerous since she’s not as quick to keep up with her web of lies, but still a menace for anyone not smart enough to realize what she is. She’s stolen from her own children, has had a string of failed marriages, will always give you a lie when the truth would be simpler. The stories we have on this woman!

[Mustlovebooks]

I have a close family member who dated a guy when she was 17 that could only feel anger. He didn’t understand happiness or love or sadness. He was really confused why my family member was really sad and upset when her pet cat died. He’s very mentally abusive. He was diagnosed as a psychopath but they labeled it as “a personality disorder.” He’s now married and has kids. So that’s super fun.

[thewhitbyphotographer]

Someone I knew was a Psychopath. Managed to function perfectly well in society. Actually became head of the county's Police firearms department, and did some very important work.

[Nickname-eftv]

19:54 At the end of the trial of the Green River killer statements of the victims (in the vast majority their relatives) were heard, which was an unsually long affair. The perpetrator listened to them stoically throughout the entire procedure, with one exception: When the father of one of the victims, a highly religious man i understand, announced that he forgave him the perpetrator shed tears.

[mccormickja]

Really good video.

This guy speaks very well. He explained his answers very clearly and thoroughly.

I would say that I’m a man and enjoy true crime but not especially so. I enjoy it because I love to learn about extremism of all forms (terrorism, political views, etc), as it’s fascinating to know where the boundaries are at each end of the spectrum on any given topic and also why people end up with such extreme beliefs.

[MSeliskaZ]

I wasn’t much of a reader but I read a book about serial killers when I was like 10-11 years old. Loves that one😂 if I hadn’t such a severe anxiety, I’d love to work in psychiatry/as a therapist. I love Dr. Das❤

[JasonTheOneAndOnly]

When he was describing a psychopath, just sounded like he was describing influencers to me, make everything about themselves and have lots of "friends" they can throw away.

[zenadra]

"As women, I've discussed with my husband why women like true crime more than men. We are trying to, somewhere deep in our psyche, figure out how we could survive in that situation. What went wrong? How could there have been something better?"

[karenkneisley]

When I was young I read about serial killers to avoid becoming their victim.