Dr. James Fallon is one of the nicest, most honest, and most competitive psychopaths you'll ever meet.

When the neuroscientist from the University of California, Irvine, discovered in the course of his research that his brain scan registered psychopathic levels in regions associated with empathy, morality, and self-control, he embraced it rather than hide from it, Fox News reported.

"Since finding all this out and looking into it, I've made an effort to try to change my behavior," Fallon said. "I've more consciously been doing things that are considered 'the right thing to do,' and thinking more about other people's feelings."

But Fallon, who's long believed in the dominance of nature vs. nurture, admits he hasn't undergone a dramatic character change. In a likeable -- or perhaps just bluntly honest-- manner, his answer betrays the psychopath inside.

"I'm not doing this because I'm suddenly nice, I'm doing it because of pride -- because I want to show to everyone and myself that I can pull it off," he said.

Since his discovery, however, Fallon has given more credit to nurture. Given his crime-free, rather successful life complete with a wife and children, he's had to.

"I've never killed anybody, or raped anyone," he said.

"I was loved, and that protected me," he told Smithsonian Magazine's blog.

In 2005, Fallon happened to be taking a hereditary approach to Alzheimer's research during the same time he was analyzing stacks of brain scans from serial killers, depressives, and controls. At the bottom of the stack was a scan belonging to a member of his family, intended for the Alzheimer's study. He analyzed it anyway and found clear psychopathic tendencies. But he didn't know which member of his family it was so he broke the anonymous seal and discovered it was him, according to Smithsonian.

"Out of serendipity, I was also doing a study on Alzheimer's and as part of that, had brain scans from me and everyone in my family right on my desk," Fallon told Smithsonian Magazine. "I got to the bottom of the stack, and saw this scan that was obviously pathological."

Since then, the married father has interviewed with NPR Radio and TED Talk, and has written a book, "The Psychopath Inside," published last month, Smithsonian reported.

Fallon's discovery is backed by family gene lines (he's related to seven alleged murderers), research (recent studies have confirmed how brain scans and analysis of certain alleles can predispose individuals to psychopathic behavior), and his own admissions.

"I'm obnoxiously competitive. I won't let my grandchildren win games...and I do jerky things that piss people off," Fallon said. "But while I'm aggressive...my aggression is sublimated. I'd rather beat someone in an argument than beat them up."

Indeed, Fallon's last point is also backed up by research. One of the alleles that put Fallon at risk of becoming a mass murderer is also highly influenced by environment, according to Smithsonian. A nurturing family probably did save Dr. James Fallon.

What is saved him from is difficult to say. Fallon's predispositions may also show that not all psychopaths are mass murderers; some may just be highly competitive and stubborn, and, with a loving family, have the potential to put those characteristics towards a highly successful career.