Gwen Adshead - Four Questions About Violence [The Reith Lectures]

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Is Violence Normal?

20241126

20241230 (R4)

In her 2024 Reith Lectures, Dr Gwen Adshead, addresses four questions that she has most commonly faced in her work as a therapist with violent perpetrators in secure psychiatric units and prisons:

What is the relationship between trauma and violence?

Is there such a thing as Evil?

Can we change violent minds?

In this first lecture, using data and real-life stories from nearly 40 years' experience as a forensic Psychiatrist working inside institutions such as Broadmoor, she asks if violence is normal.

Is violence unnatural? Or is it normal because, deep down, we are all capable of cruelty and can experience, even briefly, the urge to hurt others? What then are the tipping points, what are the factors that drive some to kill?

The programme was recorded at Broadcasting House in London in front of an audience and is presented and chaired by Anita Anand.

Producer; Jim Frank

Editor: Clare Fordham

Forensic psychiatrist Dr Gwen Adshead asks if violence is normal.

Significant international thinkers deliver the BBC's flagship annual lecture series

In the first of four Reith Lectures, forensic psychiatrist Dr Gwen Adshead asks if violence is normal. Do we think that because, deep down, we all have a capacity for cruelty?

[LISTEN NOW]

Aren't They All Evil?

20241203

20241231 (R4)

In her second Reith Lecture, Dr Gwen Adshead asks if there's such a thing as “evil. ??

In a career spanning nearly 40 years the forensic psychiatrist has heard many of her patients ask: “ I have done evil things but does that make me evil. ??

Dr Adshead says that we have often confused “evil ? with mental illness. She argues that we all have capacity for “evil ? and says we need to find ways to cultivate societal and individual “goodness. ?

The programme is recorded at the V&A in Dundee in front of an audience.

The Reith Lectures are presented and chaired by Anita Anand.

Producer: Jim Frank

Editor: Clare Fordham

Forensic psychiatrist Dr Gwen Adshead asks: Aren't they all evil?

Significant international thinkers deliver the BBC's flagship annual lecture series

I have done evil things, but does that make me evil?' Forensic psychiatrist Dr Gwen Adshead with the second of her Reith Lectures looking at the nature of evil.

[LISTEN NOW]

Does Trauma Cause Violence?

20241210

20250102 (R4)

How best do we understand how to manage powerful emotions such as rage, fear and shame? With very rare access, Forensic Psychiatrist Dr Gwen Adshead gives her third Reith Lecture inside HMP Grendon, where she talks to prisoners and staff, and asks the question: “Does trauma cause violence? ?

Does being a victim of violence in some circumstances make you more likely to become a perpetrator of violence? Was WH Auden right when he wrote in 1939 ‘Those to whom evil is done do evil in return'?

The Reith Lectures are presented and chaired by Anita Anand.

Producer: Jim Frank

Editor: Clare Fordham

Forensic psychiatrist Dr Gwen Adshead asks if trauma causes violence.

Significant international thinkers deliver the BBC's flagship annual lecture series

Forensic psychiatrist Dr Gwen Adshead gives her third Reith Lecture inside Grendon prison. There, she discusses with prisoners and staff if they think trauma causes violence.

[LISTEN NOW]

Can We Change Violent Minds?

20241217

20250103 (R4)

In her final lecture, the forensic psychiatrist Dr Gwen Adshead, assesses how we deal with violent offenders and asks is it time for a re-think?

The UK has more than 70 people on whole life tariffs, at incredible expense – all to appease a sense of revenge, she says.

Dr Adshead assesses the effectiveness and impact of therapeutic interventions with offenders in prisons. And she asks if the public needs to change their minds about violent perpetrators.

The programme is recorded in Bergen, Norway – a country which has a long tradition of rehabilitating violent offenders.

The Reith Lectures are presented and chaired by Anita Anand.

The series was mixed by Neil Churchill.

Producer: Jim Frank

Editor: Clare Fordham

In her final Reith Lecture, Dr Gwen Adshead asks if we can change violent minds.

Significant international thinkers deliver the BBC's flagship annual lecture series

In her final lecture, Dr Gwen Adshead asks how we can try and change people who have been violent. Does the public need to change their minds about violent perpetrators?

[LISTEN NOW]

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	Is Violence Normal?	20241126	20241230 (R4)	In her 2024 Reith Lectures, Dr Gwen Adshead, addresses four questions that she has most commonly faced in her work as a therapist with violent perpetrators in secure psychiatric units and prisons: What is the relationship between trauma and violence? Is there such a thing as Evil? Can we change violent minds? In this first lecture, using data and real-life stories from nearly 40 years' experience as a forensic Psychiatrist working inside institutions such as Broadmoor, she asks if violence is normal. Is violence unnatural? Or is it normal because, deep down, we are all capable of cruelty and can experience, even briefly, the urge to hurt others? What then are the tipping points, what are the factors that drive some to kill? The programme was recorded at Broadcasting House in London in front of an audience and is presented and chaired by Anita Anand. Producer; Jim Frank Editor: Clare Fordham Forensic psychiatrist Dr Gwen Adshead asks if violence is normal. Significant international thinkers deliver the BBC's flagship annual lecture series In the first of four Reith Lectures, forensic psychiatrist Dr Gwen Adshead asks if violence is normal. Do we think that because, deep down, we all have a capacity for cruelty? [LISTEN NOW]
02	Aren't They All Evil?	20241203	20241231 (R4)	In her second Reith Lecture, Dr Gwen Adshead asks if there's such a thing as “evil. ?? In a career spanning nearly 40 years the forensic psychiatrist has heard many of her patients ask: “ I have done evil things but does that make me evil. ?? Dr Adshead says that we have often confused “evil ? with mental illness. She argues that we all have capacity for “evil ? and says we need to find ways to cultivate societal and individual “goodness. ? The programme is recorded at the V&A in Dundee in front of an audience. The Reith Lectures are presented and chaired by Anita Anand. Producer: Jim Frank Editor: Clare Fordham Forensic psychiatrist Dr Gwen Adshead asks: Aren't they all evil? Significant international thinkers deliver the BBC's flagship annual lecture series I have done evil things, but does that make me evil?' Forensic psychiatrist Dr Gwen Adshead with the second of her Reith Lectures looking at the nature of evil. [LISTEN NOW]
03	Does Trauma Cause Violence?	20241210	20250102 (R4)	How best do we understand how to manage powerful emotions such as rage, fear and shame? With very rare access, Forensic Psychiatrist Dr Gwen Adshead gives her third Reith Lecture inside HMP Grendon, where she talks to prisoners and staff, and asks the question: “Does trauma cause violence? ? Does being a victim of violence in some circumstances make you more likely to become a perpetrator of violence? Was WH Auden right when he wrote in 1939 ‘Those to whom evil is done do evil in return'? The Reith Lectures are presented and chaired by Anita Anand. Producer: Jim Frank Editor: Clare Fordham Forensic psychiatrist Dr Gwen Adshead asks if trauma causes violence. Significant international thinkers deliver the BBC's flagship annual lecture series Forensic psychiatrist Dr Gwen Adshead gives her third Reith Lecture inside Grendon prison. There, she discusses with prisoners and staff if they think trauma causes violence. [LISTEN NOW]
04	Can We Change Violent Minds?	20241217	20250103 (R4)	In her final lecture, the forensic psychiatrist Dr Gwen Adshead, assesses how we deal with violent offenders and asks is it time for a re-think? The UK has more than 70 people on whole life tariffs, at incredible expense – all to appease a sense of revenge, she says. Dr Adshead assesses the effectiveness and impact of therapeutic interventions with offenders in prisons. And she asks if the public needs to change their minds about violent perpetrators. The programme is recorded in Bergen, Norway – a country which has a long tradition of rehabilitating violent offenders. The Reith Lectures are presented and chaired by Anita Anand. The series was mixed by Neil Churchill. Producer: Jim Frank Editor: Clare Fordham In her final Reith Lecture, Dr Gwen Adshead asks if we can change violent minds. Significant international thinkers deliver the BBC's flagship annual lecture series In her final lecture, Dr Gwen Adshead asks how we can try and change people who have been violent. Does the public need to change their minds about violent perpetrators? [LISTEN NOW]