About this episode
Dr Gwen Adshead explores the relationship between trauma and violence in her lecture at HMP Grendon.
How best do we understand how to manage powerful emotions such as rage, fear and shame? With very rare access, Forensic Psychiatrist Dr Gwen Adshead gives her third Reith Lecture inside HMP Grendon, where she talks to prisoners and staff, and asks the question: “Does trauma cause violence?” Does being a victim of violence in some circumstances make you more likely to become a perpetrator of violence? Was WH Auden right when he wrote in 1939 ‘Those to whom evil is done do evil in return’? The Reith Lectures are presented and chaired by Anita Anand. Producer: Jim Frank Editor: Clare Fordham
People in this episode
Host: Anita Anand
Guest: Dr Gwen Adshead
Topics covered
- trauma
- violence
- forensic psychiatry
- emotions
- prison system
Keywords
- trauma
- violence
- rage
- fear
- shame
- forensic psychiatry
- HMP Grendon
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: HMP Grendon, BBC Radio 4
Books & works: WH Auden
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- Moral Maze debate: Rutger Bregman’s call for a moral revolution · November 25, 2025 · 57 min
- Can we change violent minds? · December 17, 2024 · 58 min
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