Inside Out of Teen Emotions with Dr. Lisa Damour

·37 min·3 clips

Research shows teenage girls express more anger at home than boys, and girls outpace boys in disdain throughout development.

The episode begins with a teaser about research on anger expression in boys and girls, noting a flip during adolescence. Kim and Penn Holderness introduce the episode, mentioning their new merchandise and an ADHD book club. They welcome Dr. Lisa Damour, a psychologist and author, for her third appearance on the show. Dr. Damour reveals she consulted on Inside Out 2, describing how Pixar contacted her in May 2020 after reading her books. She worked with the director and writer over four years, providing input on adolescent development. The discussion focuses on the movie's portrayal of emotions, particularly anxiety, which evolved from a villainous character to a more nuanced team member. Dr. Damour explains that anxiety is not all bad, distinguishing between healthy and unhealthy anxiety. She outlines a clinical framework: irrational anxiety overestimates threats and underestimates the ability to manage them. The hosts share personal anecdotes about their daughter and managing anxiety at home. Dr. Damour advises parents on communicating with teenagers, suggesting asking if they want to hear advice rather than imposing it. The conversation shifts to the character Ennui and disdain, with Dr. Damour citing research that girls express more disdain than boys throughout development. She relates this to teenage coping mechanisms. Penn shares a story about his late puberty and using Dr. Damour's AI tool, Rosalie, to find advice on the topic. Dr. Damour describes her resources, including the Ask Lisa podcast and Untangling 10 to 20 video platform. The episode concludes with the hosts reflecting on the movie's emotional impact and Dr. Damour's contributions.

As heard by us

A grounded talk about teen anger, sarcasm, and the relief of finally naming them.

This episode works best when Kim and Penn Holderness and Dr. Lisa Damour get into teen emotions, especially how anger shifts from childhood into adolescence.

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Why you'd press play

You want a clearer read on teen eye-rolls and sarcasm, with a doctor decoding the mood shifts.

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