E|195 An Interview With Dr. Eric Hickey

Inside the Criminal Mind: Dr. Eric Hickey What creates a serial killer? Why do some offenders escalate from fantasy to violence while millions of people with dark thoughts never cross that line? And after decades of studying the most dangerous criminals in America, can we actually identify the warning signs before somebody kills? This week on Criminal Mischief, Carolyn Ossorio sits down with renowned criminal psychologist and criminologist Dr. Eric Hickey for a deep conversation about the psychology of murder, serial offenders, predatory violence and the uncomfortable realities behind the people responsible for some of society's most disturbing crimes. Dr. Hickey has spent decades studying serial murderers and their victims, interviewing offenders and examining the psychological, behavioral and environmental forces that can contribute to extreme violence. His research has challenged many of the convenient assumptions popular culture has built around serial killers—including the idea that there is a single psychological profile capable of explaining who becomes a predator and why. Carolyn and Dr. Hickey explore the complicated intersection of nature and nurture, childhood trauma, fantasy, sexual motivation, power and control, and the process through which violent behavior can escalate. They also examine the differences between psychopathy and other forms of personality pathology, why manipulation can be such an effective weapon for predatory offenders, and what investigators can—and cannot—learn from criminal profiling. The conversation also tackles the mythology surrounding serial killers themselves. Movies, television and true crime have helped create an image of the serial murderer as a calculating criminal mastermind operating several moves ahead of everyone around him. Reality is considerably messier. Dr. Hickey explains what decades of research tell us about intelligence, compulsion, opportunity and the mistakes offenders make when fantasy collides with the real world. And perhaps most importantly, Carolyn turns the discussion toward the victims. Behind every psychological profile and behavioral theory are real people whose lives were taken, families permanently altered and communities left searching for explanations that may never feel sufficient. It's an unusually candid conversation about evil, psychology and the limits of our ability to understand the people capable of extraordinary violence. This week on Criminal Mischief. 🎧 LISTEN & FOLLOW Listen to Criminal Mischief wherever you get your podcasts and hit Follow so every new investigation and interview lands automatically in your feed. ⭐ RATE & REVIEW If you're enjoying Carolyn's investigations, leave Criminal Mischief a 5-star rating and review. It takes less than a minute and remains one of the most effective ways to help new listeners discover the show. 📺 WATCH & SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE Watch Criminal Mischief and more original programming from across the network on the Evio Creative YouTube Channel. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss new interviews, investigations and episodes. 📧 HAVE A CASE WE SHOULD INVESTIGATE? If there's a case, investigation or criminal-justice story you think Carolyn should examine, send your tips, suggestions and listener feedback to mailto:[email protected]. The evidence tells a story. Carolyn follows where it leads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices