The Sisyphus 55 Podcast

We explore the purpose of uncertainty, why some people are more comfortable with deep questions than others, and the process of writing. Please check out Robert's work here: https://www.youtube.com/@PursuitofWonder

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Klein, W., Li, S., & Wood, S. (2023). A qualitative analysis of gaslighting in romantic relationships. Personal Relationships, 30(4), 1316-1340.

• Specifically talk about it around 25 minutes  and 42 minutes 

Klein, W., Wood, S., Forget, A. A., & Bartz, J. A. (2026). A historical review of gaslighting: Tracing changing conceptualizations within psychiatry and psychology. Clinical Psychology Review, 102742.

• Was under review when we filmed - accepted and early access now 

Klein, W., Wood, S., & Bartz, J. A. (2026). A theoretical framework for studying the phenomenon of gaslighting. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 30(2), 195-215.

• I call it the 2025 paper, cause it was accepted and early access online in 2025, but I guess now it gets 2026 in the citation info, because the issue its technical in is the January issue. Which is annoying, because it's cited as 2025 in some places lol. 

Info on other stuff I brought up

https://www.amazon.ca/This-Your-Brain-Music-Obsession/dp/0452288525

Barton, R., & Whitehead, J. A. (1969). THE GAS-LIGHT PHENOMENON. The Lancet, 293(7608), 1258–1260. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(69)92133-3

• First psychiatric gaslighting paper, don't think its open access though

Stark, C. A. (2019). Gaslighting, misogyny, and psychological oppression. The monist, 102(2), 221-235.

• 11 minute mark - reasonable disagreement - I thin it's open access

Clark, A. (2013). Whatever next? Predictive brains, situated agents, and the future of cognitive science. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 36(3), 181–204. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X12000477

• Around the 19 minute mark 

de Bruin, L., & Michael, J. (2021). Prediction error minimization as a framework for social cognition research. Erkenntnis, 86(1), 1-20.

• Also around the 19 minute mark 

Friston, K. (2010). The free-energy principle: a unified brain theory?. Nature reviews neuroscience, 11(2), 127-138.

• Around the 22 min mark 

Ogunfowora, B., & Bourdage, J. S. (2026). Is My Boss Gaslighting Me? Uncovering the Nomological Network of Gaslighting In Leader-Employee Relationships. Journal of Management, 01492063261426014.

• Workplace gaslighting 29 minute mark

Bashford, J., & Leschziner, G. (2015). Bed partner “gas-lighting” as a cause of fictitious sleep-talking. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 11(10), 1237-1238.

• Contemporary case study discussed around 30 minute mark 

Bellomare, M., Giuseppe Genova, V., & Miano, P. (2024). Gaslighting exposure during emerging adulthood: Personality traits and vulnerability paths. International journal of psychological research, 17(1), 29-39.

Miano, P., Bellomare, M., & Genova, V. G. (2021). Personality correlates of gaslighting behaviours in young adults. Journal of Sexual Aggression, 27(3), 285-298.

• 2 papers on personality and gaslighting - 35 minute mark 

Graves, C. G., & Samp, J. A. (2021). The power to gaslight. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 38(11), 3378-3386.

• Gaslighting and power  35 minute mark 

https://www.amazon.com/Gaslighting-Interrogation-Methods-Psychotherapy-Analysis/dp/1568218281

• Covert control  - 37 minute mark - cults 46 minute mark 

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Maeve's Work:
She has been in the field of countering violent extremism (CVE), focusing on prevention and practitioner research, for the last five years.
She wrote a book titled Black Pilled Masculinity Media and Incels, which breaks down the ideology and includes interviews with 32 young self-identified incels.
She sees the incel community as an "extremist misogyny, manosphere" space and focuses on understanding the people involved in these spaces.

The conversation covers:

The "Black Pill" (the incel idea of seeing the "harsh reality of the world") and the sense of intellectual superiority it gives some members.

The "Fear of Missing Out" (FOMO), which Maeve describes as a core tenet of incel ideology, where they believe everyone else is "at the party" and they are not.

The concept of incels as a "canary in the coal mine" for increasing societal isolation and poor social skills in younger generations.

The self-defeating nature of the ideology, which often leads to incels developing unrealistically strict criteria for a partner and becoming "worse position now" than before.

The role of social media and passive consumption/lurking in increasing feelings of depression and anxiety, especially when comparing one's own life to the curated, often fake, "influencer" lifestyle.
The importance of learning and practicing social skills to combat isolation.

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In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Tatjana Schnell, a leading researcher in the psychology of meaning, to talk about what it really means to live a meaningful life. We explore how people navigate existential crises, the different ways we construct meaning, and why the experience of belonging is so central to our well-being. This conversation is both intellectually rich and deeply human — a reflection on what keeps us going when things feel uncertain, empty, or directionless.

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Marianne Williamson is a candidate running for the Democratic nomination for President of The
United States in 2024. She’s a successful entrepreneur, bestselling author, political activist, and
globally influential spiritual thought leader.
For over three decades, she has been a leader in spiritual and progressive circles. She is the
author of 15 books, four of which have been #1 New York Times bestsellers.

If interested, here are ways you can support her campaign: 

Marianne2024.com
Social Media
Twitter @MarWilliamson
Instagram: @MarianneWilliamson
TikTok: @MarWilliamsonOfficial

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A discussion on self-love, self acceptance and self-hatred

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You can check out Olivia's channel here:  @oliSUNvia  

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We discuss mediated intimacy, masculinity and the perils of the seduction industry, You can check out Dr. O'Neill's work here: https://www.amazon.ca/Seduction-Men-Masculinity-Mediated-Intimacy-ebook/dp/B07F52917Y/ref=sr_1_1?crid=486Q75CCLGV2&keywords=seduction+rachel+o%27neill&qid=1695125646&sprefix=seduction+rachel+o%27neill%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-1

Support the show! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=3261155

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A discussion with Lily Alexandre (https://www.youtube.com/@lily_lxndr) on gender identity, the subjective experience of transitioning and constructive forms of social activism. 

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We discuss dating, attractiveness, relationships and the Red Pill / Manosphere with anthropology researcher and host of the "Species" podcast Macken Murphy

A link to his website is here: https://www.mackenmurphy.org/

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