Avsnitt
-
What is the real difference between a psychopath, a sociopath, and antisocial personality disorder? In this episode, I respond to Dr. Ramani's claim that "psychopaths are born and sociopaths are made" and explain why that framing is far too simplistic. I also explain why cold psychopaths unsettle us so much and how antisocial personality disorder fits into this.
-
In this episode, I break down the red flags of narcissism in women and why female narcissism is often much harder to recognize than male narcissism. Women are taught from very early on to speak the language of empathy, compassion, healing, boundaries, emotional safety and self-awareness. But that does not necessarily mean the underlying personality is agreeable, sacrificial or kind. In many cases, the narcissism is simply cloaked differently.
Subscribe on Substack to support my work and join our exclusive LIve and Google meets!
-
Saknas det avsnitt?
-
Postpartum depression is real, and in some cases it can be severe and even dangerous. Mothers who are struggling deserve compassion, support, and proper care. But what happens when a normal, difficult transition into motherhood increasingly becomes viewed through the lens of pathology?
In this episode, I explore the rise of postpartum depression as a cultural phenomenon, the expansion of screening and diagnosis, and whether we are sometimes pathologizing experiences that previous generations understood differently. I also examine the role of feminism, women's media, and modern therapeutic culture in shaping how women anticipate and experience motherhood.
Sponsor: Get 15% off OneSkin with the code HANNAH at https://www.oneskin.co/HANNAH #oneskinpod
Chapters: 00:00 Coming Up 00:14 Motherhood as a Risk State 01:35 The Rise of Postpartum Depression 02:37 From Motherhood to Pathology 03:02 Screening Mothers Everywhere 04:16 The Baby Blues vs Postpartum Depression 05:03 What the Data Actually Shows 06:54 Why Diagnoses Feel Validating 07:49 Anticipating Illness and Self-Fulfilling Prophecies 08:24 How Women's Media Shapes Expectations 08:48 "Women's Magazines Don't Just Report It, They Stage It" 10:03 The Isolation of Modern Mothers 11:47 Does Feminism Really Care About Mothers? 12:35 Final Thoughts
-
Is feminism really a movement for equality or could it be something else entirely? Evolutionary psychologist Dr Dani Sulikowski joins me to discuss if feminism may be best understood as a form of intrasexual competition between women. Let me know what you think in the comments.
Follow Dr. Dani Sulikowski:
https://x.com/DrDaniS
https://substack.com/@drdanis
CHAPTERS:
01:05 Feminism as a form of female competition 02:02 How feminism suppresses female reproductive success 03:07 The attack on attractiveness and femininity 04:22 Body positivity and competitive strategies 04:39 "Feminism was always intersexual competition" 05:05 Was feminism ever about motherhood? 06:09 Ancient Rome and declining birth rates 07:43 My challenge: is this really about resentment? 09:40 Why feminism targets desirable men 12:33 "It's not suicidal empathy, it's homicidal virtue signalling" 21:56 Feminist mothers and transing children 29:35 Activism, status, and moral superiority 32:32 Competitive strategies vs evolutionary adaptations 33:35 The attack on masculinity and femininity 39:15 Does this theory remove female agency? 58:30 Final reflections 01:00:32 "That wasn't the answer I was hoping for"
-
In this episode, I look at the mechanisms behind female grievance culture: externalizing blame, turning victimhood into identity, and rewarding antagonism through therapy-speak and social media. I argue that when ordinary disappointment is constantly translated into harm, trauma, invalidation, gaslighting or exploitation, this prevents maturation. When they are trained to scan for injury, keep score, and treat gratitude or accommodation as weakness, relationships are doomed to fail.
Want to listen ad-free? Go to Substack: https://hannahspier.substack.com/p/71-the-3-mechanisms-behind-female
00:32 The mechanisms behind female grievance culture
01:31 Marriage, fertility and adult adjustment
02:26 How motherhood became framed as burden
02:56 Mechanism 1: Externalizing blame
04:27 Mechanism 2: Victimhood and suspicion
05:13 Mental load and the grievance lens
06:37 Are fathers really doing less?
07:28 Marriage as a zero-sum game
08:12 The burdens fathers carry
09:20 Interpersonal victimhood and personality
10:23 When grievance becomes identity
11:02 Mechanism 3: Rewarded antagonism
12:05 Why suspicion is treated as intelligence
13:32 Female venting, validation and social media
14:47 Therapy-speak and the female psyche
16:36 The three mechanisms together
17:28 What feminist wellbeing research misses
-
For decades, feminist literature has claimed that feminist identification is associated with better psychological well-being in women. But what exactly was being measured and did those measures tell us anything serious about women's adjustment to adult life? In this episode, I look at the gap between self-reported empowerment and broader indicators of functioning: marriage, fertility, divorce, emotional regulation, and the rise of late mental-health labels among adult women. I also trace how feminist ideas moved from academia into popular psychology, advertising, music, television, and social media , shaping how women were taught to interpret frustration, dependence, men, marriage, and motherhood.
Chapters: 00:00 Feminism and female psychological health 00:40 What the studies actually measured 02:14 Assertiveness, empowerment, and anger 04:02 Functioning versus feeling empowered 05:17 The indicators of women's adjustment to adult life 06:29 Marriage, fertility, divorce, and mental-health labels 08:53 The feminist narrative push 09:51 Early feminist literature and marriage as exploitation 10:49 Advertising, independence, and female self-possession 11:32 Media portrayals of men, fathers, and marriage 13:35 Sisterhood, resentment, and female loyalty 15:28 Music, ridicule, and the female psyche 16:33 Why these messages reach girls early 17:06 The influence of feminist academia 18:48 Popular psychology and female grievance 19:32 From pendulum to freight train 20:11 Modern feminism, 4B, and decentering men 21:43 Social media and the divorce reflex 22:09 Grievance as a psychological orientation 22:50 What comes next: the psychological mechanisms
Want to listen ad-free? Subscribe on Substack and get the epsiode straight to you inbox without any ads!
https://hannahspier.substack.com/
-
Prevention matters because once these patterns are learned, they are extremely difficult to undo. I am not convinced we can confidently call them curable. This is a practical look at what could make a difference, first at the individual-level, and then at a societal level.
Listen to ad-free epsiodes of Psychobabble by subscribing on Substack!
Chapters:
00:00 The Missing Piece: Prevention 00:28 The Temperament Foundation 02:10 How it Develops 05:35 Where Parents Lose Ground 06:53 Containing Neuroticism 11:30 Training Agreeableness 13:14 Culture vs Parenting 16:06 The Danger Effects of Peer Saturation 17:19 The Role of Social Norms and External Constraints 18:11 Cultural Shift: From Restraint to Expression 21:13 Feminism's Role in Shaping Behavior Norms 23:14 A Practical Example 26:06 Preserving Innocence and Delaying Instrumentalization 27:29 What Needs to Change (Family, Culture, Mental Health Framing) 30:25 Indulgence vs Adversity (Why Traits Are Increasing Today) 31:37 Final Framework: Containment vs Expression
-
At first, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy sounds like good therapy: calm tone, validation, "skills," the language of care. But if you look closely, something very different is happening. In this video, I break down a real clip of a DBT therapist and show how what is presented as "help" can, in practice, reinforce the very behaviors it claims to treat. We'll go beyond the surface, beyond self-report, beyond symptom reduction and look at what these interventions actually do in real relationships. Because the question isn't whether DBT reduces self-harm in the short term. It does. The real question is: what is it training instead?
-------
Want to listen ad-free? Head over to the Psychobabble Substack and subscribe to receive the episodes ad-free straight to your email:
https://substack.com/@psychobabblewithspier
--------
-
Borderline Personality Disorder is usually framed as the result of trauma: a broken attachment system, a damaged patient reacting to early wounds.
This is inclomplete. Borderline traits persist not because they are purely pathological, but because, in many contexts, they are functionally effective. This epsiode goes into the problem of the "invalidation environment" theory of Marsha Linehan, and the more plausible interpretaion of what makes this personality pathology.For ad-free episodes of the Psychobabble Podcast, subscribe on Substack:
https://hannahspier.substack.com/p/66-how-borderline-traits-develop
-
What was presented as an investigation into the subculture of the "Manosphere" felt like something else entirely. In this panel discussion, I'm joined by Janice Fiamengo, Tom Golden, and Jim Nuzzo to react to the new manosphere documentary and discuss what this actually was, what they got right and what they missed. We also touch on a new trend - Alpine Divorce.
Want to listen ad-free? Subscribe on substack:
https://hannahspier.substack.com/
-
Borderline Personality Disorder is routinely explained as trauma response. In this episode, I look at the evidence behind that assumption. It matters because bad causal stories produce bad therapy.
Become a Psychobabble Insider and join us for Live Clinical Sessions twice a month!
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hannahspier.substack.com/subscribe -
This isn't about calling women "crazy." It's about recognizing the strategy behind the "aura" and the patterns of behavior that society often fails to warn men about. As a mother of two sons, I am seeing these dynamics play out more than ever, and it's time for a clinical and social autopsy of the high-conflict personality.
Become a Psychobabble Insider and join us Sunday the 12th of April for a Live Clinical Session on Men's Fitness with James Nuzzo!
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hannahspier.substack.com/subscribe -
Are we misdiagnosing female predators as "patients"?In this video, I explore a provocative but clinically grounded theory: that Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is often the female expression of Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD). While we have no trouble identifying the "Language of Force" in the male predator, society often falls for the "Language of the Heart" when it comes to women.Using the viral case of a young woman named Deja, I break down the Strategic Regression and Tactical Tantrums used to establish affective dominance over others. We move past the "victim-patient" model to restore the dignity of agency, analyzing how hyper-neuroticism can be used as a weapon system.
I also released the full recording of our latest clinical live session with Tom Golden, where we unpack why men don't process grief the way modern psychology assumes and what actually works instead. It's one of those discussions that shifts how you interpret behaviour almost immediately. If you've ever felt that the standard framework doesn't quite fit, this is worth watching. You can access it here (paid subscribers), and the next live session is on April 12th with Jim Nuzzo, focusing on a practical approach to men's health.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hannahspier.substack.com/subscribe -
ADHD did not expand by accident.In some U.S. states, nearly 1 in 5 boys have been diagnosed. Adult diagnoses continue to rise. The standard explanation is simple: "It was always there — we're just recognizing it now."But genuine medical conditions do not behave this way.In this episode, I trace the historical evolution of ADHD from a rare and severe childhood condition to a lifelong, broadly defined neurodevelopmental diagnosis. We look at the DSM revisions that expanded criteria, the shift from hyperactivity to inattention, and the moment adult self-report became sufficient for diagnosis.More importantly, we examine the forces that benefited from this expansion
Become a Psychobabble Insider and join us Saturday the 28th of March at 3 PM Eastern for a Live Clinical Session on helping men grieve with Tom Golden!
0:00 The Epidemic of ADHD Diagnoses and Medication0:20 Challenging the 'ADHD Was Always There' Narrative1:02 Why Prevalence Data Disproves the 'Always There' Argument1:40 DSM Revisions and Shifting Diagnostic Criteria2:24 ADHD as a Reflection of Institutional Demands2:52 The Intellectual Roots of Psychiatric Diagnosis: Wundt's Lab3:39 Sir George Still's Early Description of 'Abnormal Incapacity' (1902)4:47 From Brain Damage to Dysfunction: Early Diagnostic Evolution5:35 The Baby Boom and the Need for Conformity: Shifting Focus to Hyperactivity6:46 DSM 2 (1968): Hyperkinetic Reaction and Teachers as Gatekeepers7:59 DSM 3 (1980): The Pivotal Shift to Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)8:58 DSM 4 (1994): Broadening Criteria, Subtypes, and 'Horoscope Questions'10:24 The Dangers of Subtypes, Spectrum Disorders, and Inclusivity in Psychiatry11:15 Institutional Priorities Driving Diagnostic Expansion12:44 DSM 5 (2013): Redefining ADHD as a Lifelong Neurodevelopmental Disorder13:30 Modern Schooling and Affluent Areas: Why This Diagnosis?14:22 Benefits for Parents: Replacing Moral Judgment with Medical Explanations15:52 Benefits for Teachers: Diagnosis as a Recourse for Behavioral Issues16:47 Psychiatry's Quest for Legitimacy and the Role of ADHD17:39 The Pharmaceutical Industry: Amplifying ADHD Diagnosis18:08 The Role of Identity: ADHD as a Path to Redemption and Status19:12 Why ADHD Grew: Solving Multiple Problems for Many Stakeholders20:20 The Origin of Stimulant Medications: War and Addiction21:20 How Stimulant Medications Work (and What They Don't Do)22:31 Non-Stimulant Medications: Mechanisms and Misrepresentation23:58 Withdrawal Effects, Side Effects, and the Dangers of ADHD Medication25:04 The Core Question: Medicalizing Normal Variants
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hannahspier.substack.com/subscribe -
ADHD is officially classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder: a lifelong brain condition said to be present from birth. But despite decades of research, there is still no biomarker, no diagnostic brain scan, and no consistent neurological abnormality that can reliably distinguish an "ADHD brain" from a normal one.In this video, I examine why adult ADHD diagnoses have surged, especially among women, and why the evidence increasingly suggests that what we call adult ADHD maps far more closely onto extreme personality traits than to a discrete brain disorder.
Become a Psychobabble Insider and join us Saturday the 28th of March at 2 PM Eastern for a Live Clinical Session on helping men grieve with Tom Golden!
0:00 The Appeal of an ADHD Diagnosis and Redemption0:38 Questioning ADHD as a Neurodevelopmental Disorder1:29 Initial Red Flags in ADHD Diagnosis Narratives2:10 The Four Archetypes of ADHD Prevalence3:32 The Expanding Umbrella of ADHD Subtypes4:15 ADHD Diagnosis: Lack of Biomarkers or Brain Scans4:56 Challenging the 'Neurodivergent' Claim in ADHD5:53 Brain Volume Differences: Personality Traits vs. Pathology6:39 Environmental and Cultural Impact on ADHD Rates7:32 Women's Self-Diagnosis and the Hereditary Link8:23 Personality Traits as Predictors of Life Outcomes9:02 Deconstructing 'ADHD Symptoms' as Extreme Extroversion11:28 Impulsivity and Distractibility: Low Conscientiousness13:10 Fidgeting, Anxiety, and Mood Swings: Neuroticism14:19 Adaptive Task Switching vs. Fixation: Openness16:20 The Concept of 'Symptom Masking' and Emotional Pain17:58 The 'Anxious, Scattered Mother' and Personality Profiles19:55 Adult ADHD as a Manifestation of Extreme Personality20:25 Psychiatry's Influence on Cultural Expectations
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hannahspier.substack.com/subscribe -
I am joined by Janice Fiamengo, Tom Golden, and James Nuzzo to analyze a "folder of awful" containing various feminist buzzwords and social media trends.
If you want to go deeper, here is the recording from a live session with Psychobabble Insiders,. These live discussions are where we can slow down, go through the clinical details, and answer questions directly. If you'd like to listen to the recording — and join future live sessions — you can find it here.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hannahspier.substack.com/subscribe -
Obesity is increasingly explained through hormones, genetics, metabolism, and microbiomes. These explanations sound compassionate, scientific, and non-judgmental — but they often fail to explain what we actually observe and definitely fail those who want to lose weight.
Become a Psychobabble Insider and join us this Saturday the 14th of March at 3 PM Eastern for a Live Clinical Session on psychiatric medication!
00:00 The Hard Truth: Obesity Is Psychological01:57 Lie #1: The "Slow Metabolism" Alibi02:51 The Truth About Thyroid Issues04:40 Lie #2: The "Fat Gene" & Family Habits06:58 Lie #3: The Microbiome "God of the Gaps"10:10 Lie #4: The Starvation Mode Myth14:30 Why Your Skinny Friend Stays Thin15:50 Insulin: Signals vs. Calories16:50 The "Food Noise" & GLP-1 (Ozempic)22:50 Conclusion: The Alcoholism Comparison
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hannahspier.substack.com/subscribe -
To question a diagnosis today is to trigger a moral reaction.In contemporary psychiatry, diagnostic categories no longer function merely as clinical tools. They increasingly operate as moral identities, conferring legitimacy, status, and exemption from blame. When criteria are questioned, the response is often not clinical disagreement but moral accusation.
Upgrade and join us this Saturday the 14th of March at 3 pm Eastern for the next Live Clinical Case Session on psychiatric medications
In this video, I trace how bipolar disorder transformed from a rare and unmistakable illness into a broad diagnostic spectrum, and how that transformation reshaped psychiatric practice itself. From Kraepelin's manic-depressive insanity, through DSM standardization, to the rise of the bipolar spectrum and the invention of the "bipolar child," this is an account of how diagnostic boundaries eroded under cultural, institutional, and professional pressure.
00:00 Diagnosis as Moral Status03:00 How Bipolar Became a Checklist04:50 The Spectrum Explosion09:50 The Bipolar Child14:50 The Cost of Inclusion
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hannahspier.substack.com/subscribe -
I explain how traits once understood as borderline pathology were gradually laundered into bipolar disorder — through expanding criteria, rapid cycling, and the replacement of personality with biology.This isn't about denying suffering.It's about why diagnosis matters, how boundaries collapsed, and what it costs.
Upgrade and join us this Saturday the 28th of Febuary at 3 pm Eastern for the next Live Clinical Case Session on psychiatric medications: When, How and How to Taper Safely.
00:00 – How mania is portrayed01:00 – What real mania actually looks like03:40 – Performative emotion vs psychosis05:45 – Why mania isn't happiness07:30 – What real bipolar patients experience09:10 – Diagnosis as moral status10:00 – Rapid cycling and diagnostic collapse12:30 – Borderline traits relabeled as bipolar15:10 – Why psychiatry prefers bipolar
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hannahspier.substack.com/subscribe - Visa fler
