S8E1 - High Conflict in Court: Managing Charm, Control, and Challenging Testimony

Mastering High-Stakes Legal Testimony: Confronting High Conflict Behavior in the Courtroom

Bill Eddy and Megan Hunter analyze a compelling murder trial where a defendant who demonstrated high conflict behavior attempted to control courtroom dynamics through charm, intelligence, and confrontation. Drawing from this case study, they explore how legal professionals can maintain composure and authority when facing witnesses who exhibit traits common to high conflict personalities, including extreme confidence, bullying tactics, and sophisticated manipulation techniques.

The episode then addresses two listener questions: a therapist's observation about clients who show limited empathy in human relationships yet demonstrate...