Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life Podcast The Rescuer Trap: Country Fried Parentified
Oct 22, 2025
Explore the fascinating world of parentification, where children take on caretaking roles and its complex effects. Discover how these learned behaviors can lead to overfunctioning and a loss of self-identity. The hosts delve into childhood experiences, emotional neglect, and the societal pressures that create these roles. They also offer Stoic principles and CBT tools to help break free from the rescuer trap. Plus, learn the difference between labeling behaviors and identities to promote personal growth and autonomy.
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What Parentification Means
- Parentification is a role reversal where a child takes on adult caretaking responsibilities early in life.
- That early responsibility builds strengths but also long-term sensitivities and liabilities.
Calm Caregiver In Real Life
- Scott describes being exceptionally calm in crises and naturally stepping into caregiver roles for friends and family.
- He uses those strengths currently while caring for his father-in-law in hospice.
Good At The Gas, Missing The Brakes
- Parentified people learn to 'gas' — aggressively help — without learning the brakes or limits.
- That pattern makes preferences feel like needs and inflates responsibility for others' states.
