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Salerno warns DNA, not trauma, drives 50 percent of narcissistic traits
The belief that toxic behavior always stems from childhood trauma is being upended by new research into behavioral genetics. Dr. Peter Salerno reveals that narcissism and psychopathy are often built into a person's biological operating system, making them resistant to traditional empathy-based interventions. If the person who hurt you isn't driven by shame, but by a genetic lack of fear and social conscience, your attempts to 'fix' them might actually be fueling their exploitation.
Mar 7, 2026