We all wear masks. In social situations, at work, even in our private lives, we present versions of ourselves that fit the moment. Most of the time, this is adaptive—it helps us function smoothly in complex environments. But for millions of people, that mask hides a gnawing fear that they are not who others think they are. This fear has a name: imposter syndrome.   As a former FBI agent who spent decades studying human behavior and talking to countless individuals for my books over and over,...

Why do narcissists so often appear to win—to get their way, advance, or escape accountability—while those harmed by them are left confused, isolated, or doubting themselves? Narcissists do not succeed because they are smarter, wiser, or more capable than others. Often enough they are not. They succeed because their behavior exploits blind spots—both in human psychology and understanding as well as the systems designed to protect us.   As I noted in my book  Dangerous Personalities , the...

When it comes to understanding human behavior, the devil is always in the details. I’ve spent decades studying nonverbal cues—how people move, gesture, and even how they dress. Clothing, like other nonverbal behaviors, communicates volumes about a person before they ever speak. But what happens when women’s work attire subtly violates unspoken social norms? A fascinating study by Howlett, Pine, Cahill, Orakçıoğlu, and Fletcher (2015) illuminates this question, revealing that even minor...