#83. Dark Chapters in Psychiatry - Jack El-Hai

#83. Dark Chapters in Psychiatry - Jack El-Hai

From Smooth Brain Society by Smooth Brain Society

March 5, 2026 · 1h 13m · Season 2 · Episode 83

About this episode

Jack El-Hai discusses the psychological examination of Nazi war criminals and the implications of psychiatry on understanding evil.

Jack El-Hai, acclaimed journalist and author of The Nazi and the Psychiatrist and The Lobotomist, takes us inside Dr. Douglas Kelly's psychological examination of Nazi war criminals at the Nuremberg trials. From the lobotomy era to the chilling conclusions about "ordinary" evil, this conversation explores what psychiatry revealed about history's most notorious figures—and what it means for us today. Key Topics Covered: 🧠 The Lobotomist: How a 1968 lobotomy case in Minnesota led Jack down a 20...

People in this episode

Guest: Jack El-Hai

Topics covered

  • psychiatry
  • Nazi war criminals
  • lobotomy
  • psychological examination
  • ordinary evil
  • history
  • mental health

Keywords

  • psychiatry
  • Nazi
  • lobotomy
  • Nuremberg trials
  • psychological examination
  • ordinary evil
  • Jack El-Hai

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Nazi and the Psychiatrist, The Lobotomist

More episodes of Smooth Brain Society

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Smooth Brain Society podcast page.