Psychiatrist explains "superficial charm" of individuals like Barrelier who "integrate into society with total impunity"

Psychiatrist Enrique De Rosa has analyzed the characteristics of individuals involved in extreme violence, specifically referencing Claudio Barrelier, the sole suspect in the murder of Agostina Vega. De Rosa explained how some individuals possess a "superficial charm" and an ability to generate trust, allowing them to easily integrate into society, often with impunity.

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I can even have a kind of superficial charm, a complicity.

De Rosa noted that society often expects obvious signs of dangerousness, but in reality, those who commit severe crimes can appear perfectly normal. He described individuals with certain personality structures as having a "superficial charm, a complicity." A key trait, he explained, is a difficulty in recognizing others as subjects with their own rights and value. "If the other ceases to matter and is no longer a person," he stated, these individuals can exploit social contexts they perceive as fragile.

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Part of their abilities is to be able to detect environments, places, and social spaces of particular fragility.

Crucially, De Rosa emphasized the distinction between criminality and mental illness. "Mental illness is absolutely underrepresented in crime," he asserted. "Those who commit crimes are not mentally ill. Those who commit crimes are normal people, or people who pass as normal, and that is the danger with them." He challenged the long-held misconception that dangerousness is easily identifiable, stating that the opposite is true: "The big problem with these characters is that, on the contrary, they integrate into society with total impunity."

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Mental illness is absolutely underrepresented in crime. Those who commit crimes are not mentally ill. Those who commit crimes are normal people, or people who pass as normal, and that is the danger with them.

Furthermore, De Rosa expressed criticism regarding the widespread and often indiscriminate use of the term "psychopath." He clarified that it is not a formal medical diagnosis and its casual application can lead to confusion in both social and judicial spheres. While acknowledging that psychiatry might discuss certain personality disorders, he stressed that each case requires specific evaluations and cannot be defined solely by external observations.

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The big problem with these characters is that, on the contrary, they integrate into society with total impunity.