It is indeed a gross oversimplification. However it is useful to me when confronted with specific behaviours, such as obdurate refusal to accept responsibility for harms they commit. By this simple assessment I determine whether or not I can continue to associate with people, or whether it is unreasonable to do so because I cannot anticipate any reform or recompense from them.

I am not a psychologist and do not attempt a formal definition, only what is necessary and useful to me to protect myself from malicious actors that do me harm from time to time. I have seen that people with conscience can honestly reform, even though it might cost them extraordinary suffering if they have done terrible things. I have also suffered continuous harm when attempting to continue to associate with people incapable of self reflection, and it is like battering my head against a brick wall. I cannot afford to make that mistake, and I am not competent to fully sort all the specific components of such maladies. This leads me to apply as simple a mechanism as possible, necessary because deception is extremely common and gaining the necessary insight to even apply this simple principle can be very difficult, and I need to protect myself from avoidable harm.

It has proven to be an existential threat, and I cannot safely dismiss it.