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

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

January 28, 2026 · 1h 0m · Season 1 · Episode 374

About this episode

Doug Lisle, PhD discusses strategies for dealing with a defiant child and the implications of parenting approaches.

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…

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Host: Nathan Gershfeld

Guest: Doug Lisle, PhD

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