374: Gloat Therapy: What to Do with a Defiant Child

Evolutionary psychologist, Doug Lisle, PhD discusses listener questions with co-host, Nathan Gershfeld.

0:00 Teaser Clips & Intro

01:20 Q1: Single mom asks for advice on dealing with her out of control son

13:30 Cognitive dissonance in a mom

20:55 Personality does not deteriorate

35:35 Gloat Therapy

46:00 Limitations of Positive/Negative Reinforcement

57:45 Final thoughts

Q1: What is your advice to a single mom of a 15 year old teen male that is out of control and no consequences are changing his behavior? He says he hates his mother, wants to go to foster care, has a lot of anger. His father is not in the picture and has not been for 10+ years. He is refusing to go to school, repeatedly running away, is definitely vaping and using marijuana, uncertain about harder drugs, his speech is odd, using slang and talking in a way he has never spoken before. He has been arrested and is pending a hearing however any suggestions as to the best way to handle this? I fear once in the juvenile justice system he will become even more hardened. Are there any approaches that can increase the odds of helping him out of this? To add, until recently I haven't done the best job of consistently following through on consequences when he is disrespectful to me, doesn't do school work, or acts out of control. Is he just pushing back harder now because I've never stuck to my guns before?

X: @BeatYourGenes

Web: www.beatyourgenes.org

Doug Lisle, PhD www.esteemdynamics.com

Nathan Gershfeld, DC www.fastingescape.com

Intro & outro song: City of Happy Ones • Ferenc Hegedus Licensed for use

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