Critically Speaking

Dr. Brandon Sparks: Incels - Involuntary Celibacy


Listen Later

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Brandon Sparks discuss the phenomenon of involuntary celibacy (incels). Dr. Sparks, an applied forensic psychologist, explains that incels are men experiencing long-term involuntary celibacy, often due to social exclusion and bullying during adolescence. Incels, primarily aged 18-30, are less likely to be in education or employment. The term "incel" originated from a woman's project at Carleton University. Incels often self-identify online, where they discuss the "Black Pill" philosophy, a nihilistic view of society. Dr. Sparks highlights the need for empathy and understanding to address their isolation and frustration.

 

 Key Takeaways:

  • The modern iteration is often “incel” refers exclusively to men who are experiencing involuntary celibacy and they've been experiencing this for quite some time. They've come to believe that they can't form romantic or sexual relationships, and that's causing them an extreme amount of distress.

  • For women who identify with the experience of an incel, they are often called “femcels”. 

  • There's a lot of incels that are looking to talk to people and to share their experiences.

  • One of the biggest risk factors in adolescence is the people who are already being left behind. This seems to indicate that there's certainly a subset of people who struggle to catch up.

 

"Incel philosophy as we know it, based on forum analysis they've created this worldview called the “Black Pill”, which is a nihilistic perspective of the world. It's this very transactional view of relationships, which is quite problematic because they're viewing women as master manipulators, playing this big game plan, and that men are just a means to an end for them." —  Dr. Brandon Sparks

 

Connect with Dr. Brandon Sparks:

Website: https://www.brandontsparks.com/ 

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=vWzf3QMAAAAJ&hl=en   

Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Brandon-Sparks-4 

Twitter: https://x.com/brandon__sparks   

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/brandonsparks.bsky.social   

 

Connect with Therese:

Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net

Threads: @critically_speaking

Email: [email protected]

 

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Critically SpeakingBy Therese Markow

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

44 ratings


More shows like Critically Speaking

View all
This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

90,766 Listeners

The Rachel Maddow Show by Rachel Maddow, MSNBC

The Rachel Maddow Show

37,609 Listeners

This Week in Virology by Vincent Racaniello

This Week in Virology

2,044 Listeners

Freakonomics Radio by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Freakonomics Radio

31,972 Listeners

Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts by Slate Podcasts

Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts

3,459 Listeners

Pod Save America by Crooked Media

Pod Save America

86,283 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

111,388 Listeners

Radio Atlantic by The Atlantic

Radio Atlantic

2,274 Listeners

Happy Bones, Happy Life by Margie Bissinger

Happy Bones, Happy Life

82 Listeners

Huberman Lab by Scicomm Media

Huberman Lab

28,395 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

15,246 Listeners

Morning Wire by The Daily Wire

Morning Wire

26,441 Listeners

The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Show by Dr. Gabrielle Lyon

The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Show

1,123 Listeners

Chalk & Talk by Anna Stokke

Chalk & Talk

35 Listeners

Good Hang with Amy Poehler by The Ringer

Good Hang with Amy Poehler

5,742 Listeners