#41: Psychohistory — How Parenting Shaped Human History and Creates Our Future with Robin Grille

In this episode of the Mindform Podcast, psychologist and psychohistorian Robin Grille joins Frank Lawton for a transformative conversation about how parenting practices echo through generations to shape the very fabric of society. Drawing from decades of research and experience, Robin introduces the field of psychohistory — the study of how childhood experiences impact cultural and political outcomes.

From Nazi Germany to modern Sweden, Robin uncovers how parenting styles have played pivotal roles in both the rise of authoritarianism and the advancement of democracy. The conversation weaves through themes of trauma, healing, hope, and agency — highlighting how cycles of dominance and obedience can be broken through conscious parenting and collective listening.

This dialogue is a powerful reminder: while history reveals deep patterns, we are not prisoners of them. We have agency. And with that agency comes the profound opportunity to reimagine how we raise our children — and in doing so, how we remake the world.

See Robin's bite-sized articles on Substack: https://substack.com/@robingrille
More of his work here: https://www.robingrille.com/

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