Stanford Psychology Podcast 162 - Adam Benforado: How prioritizing kids benefits us all
Nov 6, 2025
Adan chats with Adam Benforado, a law professor and advocate for children's rights, whose works like 'A Minor Revolution' tackle critical issues in the legal system. They discuss how psychology reshapes legal assumptions about children and the decline of child-centered reforms. Adam emphasizes the importance of prioritizing kids, revealing that many protections are more symbolic than effective. He also shares his vision for youth empowerment through initiatives like Minor Power, aimed at giving children a voice in policy decisions, while urging empathetic communication in advocacy.
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Law Built On Untested Myths
- Adam Benforado argues law often rests on untested myths about human behavior and must incorporate social science.
- Bringing psychology and neuroscience into law builds a more realistic, fair legal system.
Retreat From Public Child Protection
- Benforado traces a 20th-century retreat from communal child protection toward exclusive parental responsibility.
- He links this shift to weaker public investment and U.S. refusal to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Frame Children As Rights Holders
- Use rights language to elevate children's protection because rights compel attention in U.S. politics.
- Treat children as full human beings rather than merely potential adults to change policy priorities.
