reality
62 episodes mention this concept
HealthyGamerGGApr 14, 2026The Psychological Void After Addiction: Understanding Libidinal Attachment and the Process of Decathexis
PsychologyPost-sobriety depressionLibidinal energyLibidinal attachmentDecathexis
psychacksMar 30, 2026Redefining Performative Masculinity: The Misapplication and True Nature of Gendered Performance
PsychologyPerformative masculinity (misapplied)Performative femininity (host's definition)Authentic desireOptics
ChrisWillxMar 19, 2026Uncomfortable Truths of Human Nature: Empathy, Pathologization, and the Age of Slop
PsychologyOxytocin ParadoxSelective EmpathyIn-group LoyaltyZero-sum Empathy- ChrisWillxMar 7, 2026
How Narcissists Hijack Your Brain: Understanding Cluster B Personality Disorders, Reality Distortion, and Genetic Predisposition
PsychologyPsychotherapyPersonality DisordersCluster B Personality DisordersReality Confidence - psychacksDec 29, 2025
The Unspoken Realities of Staying at Home: Boredom, Isolation, and Gender Dynamics
PsychologyBehavioral economicsGender rolesSocial stigmaNuclear family 
hubermanlabDec 8, 2025Mastering the Creative Process: Discipline, Evolution, and the 'Spine' of Artistic Endeavor with Twyla Tharp
Self-DevelopmentCreative ProcessSelf-DisciplineThe "Spine" (Focus/Concentration)Artistic Evolution- HealthyGamerGGNov 16, 2025
AI Induced Psychosis: Delusional Reinforcement, Cognitive Drift, and the Erosion of Reality Testing
PsychologyAI induced psychosisTechnological folie à deuxDelusional reinforcementBidirectional belief amplification 
lexfridmanOct 14, 2025Criminal Psychology of Murder, Serial Killers, Memory, and the Continuum of Evil with Julia Shaw
PsychologyEvil as a continuumDark TetradPsychopathySadism- HealthyGamerGGJun 1, 2025
How Your Perception is Destroying Your Motivation: The Thalamus, Klishta, and Cultivating Reality
PsychologyMotivationPerceptionDisciplineHabits - HealthyGamerGGMay 6, 2025
Why Self-Improvement Backfires in Dating: The Role of Projection and Perception
RelationshipsSelf-improvement paradoxPsychological projectionCognitive assumptionsSelection bias 
DocSnipesMar 21, 2025New Insights into Narcissistic Personality: Neurobiological, Physiological, and Developmental Factors & Treatment Strategies
PsychologyNarcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)Narcissistic traitsNeurobiological contributorsPhysiological contributors
PredictiveHistoryNov 12, 2024Julius Caesar: The Myth-Making Genius and the Fall of the Roman Republic
HistoryMythmakerReality Distortion ProjectorCognitive DissonancePiety (Roman value)- PredictiveHistorySep 3, 2024
The Religious Impulse: Driving Agriculture, Society, and Prehistoric Art from the Ice Age to Modern Thought
HistoryReligious ImpulseTransition to AgricultureIce Age Cave PaintingsAnimism - hubermanlabAug 5, 2024
Accessing the Essential Self: Mind-Body Practices, Visualization, and Intentional Living with Dr. Martha Beck
PsychologyEssential SelfPerfect Day ExerciseIdeal Day VisualizationMind-Body Connection 
DrTraceyMarksApr 10, 2024Psychedelic Progress: LSD-Derived M-120 Fast-Tracked for Generalized Anxiety Disorder Treatment
HealthBreakthrough Therapy StatusGeneralized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)M-120 (LSD-derived drug)- psychacksJan 26, 2024
Navigating Life's Path: Why Action and Experimentation Trump Overthinking for Self-Discovery
Self-DevelopmentMental Chess / ChessingSelf-knowledgeExploration and ExperimentationCourse Correction - psychacksOct 13, 2023
Emotions Are Never Irrational: Distinguishing Emotional Validity from Justification
PsychologyEmotional rationalityEmotional illogicalityThought (broad sense)Embodied cognition - lexfridmanSep 10, 2023
Walter Isaacson on Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, Einstein, Da Vinci: Harnessing Demons, Visual Thinking, and Mission-Driven Innovation
Self-DevelopmentDifficult childhood as a catalystHarnessing demonsPsychological abuseAsperger's - lexfridmanMar 14, 2023
Empathy, Reason, and the Fragility of Society: A Dialogue on Trump, Truth, and Public Discourse with Sam Harris
PhilosophyCognitive EmpathyEmotional ContagionTheory of MindEthical Intuitions - psychacksFeb 26, 2023
Cannabis: The Deceptive Harmlessness and Its Role in Prolonged Stagnation
PsychologyPhysiological dependencePsychological addictionToxicity profileNeurodepressant - psychacksNov 2, 2022
The Strategic Solipsism of Romantic Love: A Critique of Modern Romance
RelationshipsRomance SolipsismSolipsismSexual MarketplaceStatus (Higher/Lower) - psychacksOct 19, 2022
Why \"Nice Guys\" Finish Last: Deconstructing Women's Partner Preferences and the \"Jerks\" Myth
RelationshipsPartner selection criteriaAttraction dynamicsPerceived value vs. actual valueCompensation package (metaphor) - HealthyGamerGGJul 23, 2022
Overcoming Pervasive Anxiety: Reconnecting Fear with Reality After Parental Influence
PsychologySocial anxietyFear of lossPervasive anxietyDivorce of fear from reality - HealthyGamerGGJul 1, 2022
Overcoming Loneliness and the Feeling of Unlovability by Distinguishing Mind from Reality
PsychologyLonelinessFeeling unlovableAnxietySocial skills - DrTraceyMarksJun 29, 2022
Distinguishing Psychosis from Psychopathy: Unrelated Mental States and Personality Traits
PsychologyPsychosisPsychopathyHallucinationsDelusions - lexfridmanMay 23, 2022
Sarma Melngailis: Navigating Fraud, Sociopathy, and the Search for Reality and Connection
PsychologySociopathyPsychological manipulationCognitive dissonanceFraud - psychacksApr 30, 2022
The Choice of Happiness: Why Internal Contentment Trumps External Conditions
PsychologyInternal locus of controlExternal locus of controlContentmentPresent moment awareness - HealthyGamerGGApr 22, 2022
Transcending Desire: Navigating Contentment and Purpose in Advanced Meditation
PsychologyInner eyeHedonistic treadmillContentmentDesire - DrTraceyMarksFeb 9, 2022
Big Egos vs. Strong Egos: Understanding Ego Strength, Weakness, and Development
PsychologyPsychoanalytic theorySigmund Freud's structural model of the mindIdEgo - psychacksJan 11, 2022
The Town Liar Lies: Reframing Frustrating Behavior Through Radical Acceptance of Reality
PsychologyRadical AcceptanceBehavioral PatternsCognitive ReframingExpectation Management 
NewEconomicThinkingDec 13, 2021Affluence, Narcissism, and the Decline of Democratic Virtue: Our Own Worst Enemy
PsychologyNarcissismIlliberalismDeath of ExpertiseConstitutional Order- psychacksOct 5, 2021
The Evolutionary Function of Grief: Why Its Pain is Essential for Survival and Re-evaluation
PsychologyGriefEvolutionary perspectiveHedonic perspectiveSuffering (pointless vs. purposeful) - psychacksSep 23, 2021
Effectively Responding to Anxious "What If" Thoughts with the "So What" Mindset
PsychologyAnxiogenic cognitionsCognitive restructuringBlock and replace methodMindfulness of cognitions - psychacksJul 29, 2021
The Psychology of 'Should' and Anger: Aligning Thoughts with Reality
PsychologyAnger pathogensIncorrect usage of "should"Emotional sufferingMoral/ethical obligation of reality - DrTraceyMarksJul 14, 2021
Understanding Neuroticism: From Personality Trait to Psychoanalytic Concept
PsychologyNeuroticismFive Factor Model of Personality (OCEAN)OpennessConscientiousness - lexfridmanMay 20, 2021
Sam Harris on Consciousness, Free Will, Psychedelics, AI, and the Nature of Reality
PhilosophyConsciousnessFree Will (illusion of)MeditationPsychedelics - NewEconomicThinkingFeb 26, 2020
The Perils of Globalization, Populism, and Polanyi's Double Movement: Towards Societal Protection and Conservation
EconomicsRight-wing populismNationalist reactionsGlobalized economyFinancialized economy - lexfridmanJan 29, 2020
David Chalmers on the Hard Problem of Consciousness, Simulation Theory, and the Nature of Reality
PhilosophyHard Problem of ConsciousnessSimulation HypothesisReality 2.0Manifest Image - lexfridmanDec 19, 2019
Consciousness, Panpsychism, and the Emergence of Awareness from Universal 'Time Capsule States'
PhilosophyPanpsychismConsciousnessLaws of physicsQuantum level - lexfridmanSep 7, 2019
Elon Musk's Physics View of AI Love and Simulation Theory
PhilosophyAI loveMetaphysical questionsPhysics standpointIndistinguishability principle - DrTraceyMarksDec 5, 2018
Understanding Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Approaches
PsychologyDepersonalizationDerealizationDepersonalization-Derealization Disorder (DPDR)Reality Testing - NewEconomicThinkingJul 25, 2018
Radical Reform for Economics: Addressing Inequality, Structural Shifts, and Policy Failures
EconomicsGlasnost and Perestroika (academic reform)Academic self-dealingUniformity of thought (in economics)Economic inequality measurement - DocSnipesMar 23, 2018
Mastering Assertiveness: Techniques for Setting Boundaries and Authentic Living
Self-DevelopmentAssertivenessPassive communicationAggressive communicationPassive-aggressive communication - DocSnipesFeb 16, 2017
Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Simple Distress Tolerance Tools to Manage Emotions and Survive Crises
PsychologyEmotional dysregulationDistress toleranceReality acceptanceHomeostasis - DocSnipesDec 4, 2016
Teaching Assertiveness Skills: Overcoming Stress, Social, and Belief Barriers for Effective Communication
Self-DevelopmentAssertiveness skillsNon-assertive behaviorPassive communicationAggressive communication - DocSnipesJul 18, 2012
Effective Treatment Planning and Goal Setting in Clinical Practice
PsychologyTreatment PlanningGoal SettingBiopsychosocial NeedsKnowledge, Skills, Abilities (KSA) - DocSnipesMar 10, 2012
An Overview of Core Counseling Theories and Common Irrational Beliefs
PsychologyCounseling theoriesPerson-centered counselingUnconditional positive regardSelf-efficacy - DocSnipesMar 9, 2012
Verbal Crisis De-Escalation: Understanding, Intervening, and Empowering in Times of Overwhelm
PsychologyCrisis definitionSix basic fears (unknown, loss of control, rejection, isolation, failure, death)Primitive coping skillsMaslow's hierarchy of needs - psychacks
Don't Feel Guilty: The Transformative Power of Contrition for Sustainable Behavior Change
PsychologyGuiltContritionExpiationSelf-castigation - psychacks
Date Like It's Your Job: A Strategic Approach to Improving Your Dating Options
RelationshipsStrategic datingApproach anxietySmall talk masteryPolarization (in attraction) - psychacks
How to Get Less Angry: Accepting Reality on Its Own Terms
PsychologyAnger pathogensIncorrect use of "should"Moral/ethical obligation of realityReality acceptance - psychacks
Escaping Approach-Avoid Conflicts: Resolving Ambivalent Feelings and Making Provisional Decisions
PsychologyApproach-avoid conflictAmbivalenceInner turmoilEmotional exhaustion - psychacks
Overcoming the Anger Epidemic: The Cognitive Shelf as a Solution to Societal Polarization
PsychologyAnger epidemicImpotent angerEmotional equilibriumReality-based problem-solving - psychacks
The Problem with Feminized Communication: Let Men Solve Problems
RelationshipsProblem-solving strategiesEmotional coping strategiesTherapeutic institutionFeminization of men - psychacks
Mental Illnesses as Compromise Solutions: A Theory of Origin and Reality Avoidance
PsychologyCompromise solutionsPain, suffering, and traumaReality avoidanceConsequences of avoiding reality - psychacks
Authentic Living: Why 'Playing Dress-Up' in Life Decisions Leads to Failure
Self-DevelopmentPlaying dress-upFantasy narrativeAccurate self-knowledgeAuthentic preferences - lexfridman
Richard Dawkins on the Simulation Hypothesis, Evolution, and the Nature of Perception
PhilosophySimulation hypothesisEvolutionary processGradual incremental processMeta-simulation - psychacks
Mental Illnesses as Compromise Solutions: A Theory of Origin and Reality Avoidance
PsychologyCompromise solutionsPain, suffering, and traumaReality avoidanceConsequences of avoiding reality - psychacks
Need Versus Want: How Language Shapes Anxiety and Reality Perception
PsychologyWant versus NeedBlock and Replace TechniqueCognitive RestructuringSurvival Instinct - psychacks
The Psychology of Need vs. Want for Anxiety Reduction
PsychologyAnxiety reduction techniqueConcept of needConcept of want (desire)Survival - psychacks
Mental Illnesses as Compromise Solutions: A Theory of Origin and Reality Avoidance
PsychologyCompromise solutionsPain, suffering, and traumaReality avoidanceConsequences of avoiding reality - psychacks
Emulating Professional Athletes: A Three-Part Strategy for Handling Failure and Achieving Mastery
PsychologyEmotional acceptance of failurePath to masteryReality-based assessmentInstrumental behaviors