All In The Mind

The backpacker killer. The Claremont killer. Ted Bundy. The crimes serial killers commit linger in our memories for decades.

But when was the last time you heard about an active serial killer in the news?

In our final episode of Criminal Psychology, we probe the lead-crime hypothesis, find out about 'chemical castration' and ask — where have all the serial killers gone?

And a heads up that this episode explores some heavy themes including sexual assault, child abuse, suicide and murder. It also contains the names of Aboriginal people who have died. Please take care while listening.

If you've got more questions for our forensic psychiatrist Dr Rajan Darjee, please send them to us! We're going to make a special mail-bag episode featuring your burning true crime questions. Get in touch by emailing us at [email protected] with the subject line "criminal psychology question".

Guests:

Dr Rajan DarjeeForensic psychiatristClinical Director, Forensic Behavioural Assessment and Consultation Services

Dr Xanthe MallettCriminologistAssociate Professor of Criminology, Central Queensland UniversityCo-Director, Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence ResearchPodcast co-host, Motive and Method

Credits:

• Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
• Senior producer: James Bullen
• Producer: Rose Kerr
• Sound engineer: Emrys Cronin

More information:

Support resources:

• Beyond Blue
• Lifeline 13 11 14
• 1800 Respect

What drives some people to steal compulsively?

This week, as part of our special four-part series Criminal Psychology, we're talking about kleptomania and the impact it can have on a person's life.

We speak to someone who’s been diagnosed with kleptomania about their experiences; from their urges to steal, to the guilt and shame they feel.

We also chat to a psychiatrist about what treatment looks like for people with kleptomania.

Guests:

Lynn

Dr Sam ChamberlainProfessor of Psychiatry, University of Southampton 

Credits:

• Presenter/Producer: Sana Qadar
• Reporter/Senior Producer: James Bullen
• Producer: Rose Kerr
• Sound Engineer: Emrys Cronin
• Voice Actor: Swa Kaushik

More information:

Australians know the devastation of bushfires all too well. So why would anyone deliberately light a fire?

In this episode of Criminal Psychology, our new four-part series on unusual crimes and unusual minds, we're exploring the psychology of arson.

Answering questions like, how does it relate to pyromania? What do we know about the profile of a typical arsonist? And how do investigators track down the source of a blaze?

Guests:

Dr Paul ReadClimate criminologist

Dr Nichola TylerSenior lecturer, forensic psychologySwinburne University of Technology

Richard WoodsDirector, Wildfire Investigations and AnalysisAdjunct Associate Lecturer, Wildfire Investigation, Charles Sturt University

Credits:

• Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
• Senior producer: James Bullen
• Producer: Rose Kerr
• Sound engineer: Emrys Cronin

Extra information:

Why would any parent lie about their child's health? Or worse, intentionally make their child sick?

In episode one of Criminal Psychology, our new four-part series on unusual crimes and unusual minds, we dive into a disorder that’s long been sensationalised in the media: Munchausen by Proxy – and ask: how do these parents get away with their lies? Can their behaviour ever be reformed?

Guests:

Brenda Bursch, PhDDirector, Pediatric Psychology in Outpatient Subspecialty Pediatrics ProgramProfessor of Clinical Psychiatry & Biobehavioral SciencesProfessor of Clinical PediatricsDavid Geffen School of Medicine,University of California, Los Angeles

Professor Jon JureidiniChild psychiatristResearch Leader, Robinson Research InstituteUniversity of Adelaide

Credits:

• Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
• Senior producer: James Bullen
• Producer: Rose Kerr
• Executive producer: Petria Ladgrove
• Sound engineer: John Jacobs

Extra information:

Support resources:

Lifeline Australia 13 11 14

On All in the Mind, we investigate why people behave the way they do. But there are some perspectives we don't often hear about.

Introducing Criminal Psychology, a special series diving into just that.

On this four-episode series, we'll cover arson, kleptomania, serial killers and Munchausen by proxy as we look at what drives people to the extremes of human behaviour.

And we'll examine how our understanding of the human mind can better help us to prevent harm.

Whether you're a dedicated fan of true crime or curious about the inner workings of our minds, find the series linked below and on the All In The Mind website.

Time and time again, Dr Rangan Chatterjee has seen chronic stress wreak havoc on his patients' lives — contributing to autoimmune disorders, gut problems, low libido and more.

But the most devastating blow struck his own family, when his father's punishing work schedule forced him to medically retire in his 50s.

It’s an experience that led Rangan to rethink his own work and approach to medicine.

Today, Dr Chatterjee, a GP and host of a mega popular wellbeing podcast, shares his story, as well as strategies for better managing stress in your own life.

Guest:

Dr Rangan ChatterjeeGP, author and host of Feel Better, Live More

Credits:

• Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
• Senior producer: James Bullen
• Producer: Rose Kerr
• Sound engineer: Tegan Nicholls

More information: 

Rangan's Australian tour

Loneliness hurts. And we know it's bad for us, worse than smoking or obesity. Even though a third of us are lonely, we're embarrassed to say so. 

So, what would happen if we talked about our loneliness openly? And how can we build more meaningful connections?

This week we have a special episode from our friends at Ladies, We Need To Talk.

Host Yumi Stynes speaks to women who are lonely, one within a marriage and one hoping to find a partner, to understand the toll it can take. Plus, psychologist Dr Bella Ingram shares tips on how we can insulate ourselves from the chill of being lonely.

More information:

Resources:

Lifeline 13 11 14

Concussions are hard to diagnose, often get missed, and don't always get taken seriously.

And if you're not a professional athlete, it can be surprisingly hard to get clear information on how to manage and recover afterwards. Why?

The brain is your most important organ, after all!

This week, we try and make sense of the confusion around concussions.

This episode was first broadcast in October 2023.

Guests:Dr Lewis FreethPsychiatrist

Kate

Naznin Virji-BabulPhysical therapist and neuroscientistAssociate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy Faculty of MedicineUniversity of British Columbia

Shreya McleodPhysiotherapistLecturer, Australian Catholic UniversityPhD candidate, University of Newcastle

Credits:

• Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
• Producer: Rose Kerr
• Sound engineer: Russell Stapleton

Avoiding your emotions is generally a recipe for disaster — but Ethan Kross makes a case for occasional 'strategic' avoidance.

He’s a professor of psychology from the University of Michigan, and he’s appeared in some of our most popular episodes: Controlling the chatter in your head and What influences your inner voice? Controlling 'chatter' part two.

He’s back to share more tools for taking charge of your emotions.

Guests:

Ethan Kross, PhDProfessor of Psychology and Management, University of MichiganAuthor, Shift: Managing Your Emotions—So They Don't Manage You

Credits:

• Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
• Senior producer: James Bullen
• Producer: Rose Kerr
• Sound engineer: Dylan Prins

Panicky. Irrational. Impulsive. These are the traits that have long been associated with crowd behaviour.

But modern crowd science suggests that’s an incomplete, if not inaccurate picture.

From crowd crushes to terrorist attacks, we take a closer look at how people really behave in crowds, and what you can do to keep yourself safe in one.

Want to listen to more All in the Mind? Check out our episode, Can music inspire mania?

Guest:

Associate Professor Milad HaghaniPrincipal Fellow in Urban Resilience & MobilityUniversity of Melbourne

Credits: 

• Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
• Senior producer: James Bullen
• Producer: Rose Kerr
• Sound engineer: Roi Huberman

More info: