Episode 343: Can people change?

from PsycHacks · host Orion Taraban

As a psychologist, I'm often asked the question as to whether people can change. And since people are always in a constant state of change, I take this question to mean: "is radical personality transformation possible?" And my answer is: yes! However, it is typically only possible once people hit bottom. In today's episode, I make the case that my favorite musical, "Les Miserables," is actually a protracted examination of this question. Is Valjean's transformation legitimate, or will he forever be Javert's escaped convict, 24601? Let's take a look. "Valjean's Soliloquy": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJx1pRCey78 "The Confrontation": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jfRE_FljrE "Stars": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfoJEYicu7c "Javert's Suicide": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsZdfna1LKA Social Media Facebook: https://facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090053889622 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/orion-taraban-070b45168/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/psyc.hacks Twitter: https://twitter.com/oriontaraban Website: https://oriontarabanpsyd.com Orion's Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrXBzQ2HDEQ Thinking of going to grad school? Check out STELLAR, my top-rated GRE self-study program based on the world's only empirically-validated test prep system. Use the code "PSYCH" for 10% off all membership plans: https://stellargre.com. GRE Bites: https://www.youtube.com/@grebites4993 Become a Psychonaut and join PsycHack's member community: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSduXBjCHkLoo_y9ss2xzXw/join Book a paid consultation: https://oriontarabanpsyd.com/consultations Sponsor an episode: https://oriontarabanpsyd.com/sponsor-an-episode Sound mixing/editing by: valntinomusic.com Presented by Orion Taraban, Psy.D. PsycHacks provides viewers with a brief, thought-provoking video several days a week on a variety of psychological topics, inspired by his clinical practice. The intention is for the core idea contained within each video to inspire viewers to see something about themselves or their world in a slightly different light. The ultimate mission of the channel is to reduce the amount of unnecessary suffering in the world. #psychology #lesmiserables #transformation

What this episode covers

As a psychologist, I’m often asked the question as to whether people can change. And since people are always in a constant state of change, I take this question to mean: ”is radical personality transformation possible?” And my answer is: yes! However, it is typically only possible once people hit bottom. In today’s episode, I make the case that my favorite musical, ”Les Miserables,” is actually a protracted examination of this question. Is Valjean’s transformation legitimate, or will he forever be Javert’s escaped convict, 24601? Let’s take a look. ”Valjean’s Soliloquy”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJx1pRCey78 ”The Confrontation”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jfRE_FljrE ”Stars”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfoJEYicu7c ”Javert’s Suicide”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsZdfna1LKA Social Media Facebook: https://facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090053889622 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/orion-taraban-070b45168/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/psyc.hacks Twitter: https://twitter.com/oriontaraban Website: https://oriontarabanpsyd.com Orion’s Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrXBzQ2HDEQ Thinking of going to grad school? Check out STELLAR, my top-rated GRE self-study program based on the world’s only empirically-validated test prep system. Use the code ”PSYCH” for 10% off all membership plans: https://stellargre.com. GRE Bites: https://www.youtube.com/@grebites4993 Become a Psychonaut and join PsycHack’s member community: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSduXBjCHkLoo_y9ss2xzXw/join Book a paid consultation: https://oriontarabanpsyd.com/consultations Sponsor an episode: https://oriontarabanpsyd.com/sponsor-an-episode Sound mixing/editing by: valntinomusic.com Presented by Orion Taraban, Psy.D. PsycHacks provides viewers with a brief, thought-provoking video several days a week on a variety of psychological topics, inspired by his clinical practice. The intention is for the core idea contained within each video to inspire viewers to see something about themselves or their world in a slightly different light. The ultimate mission of the channel is to reduce the amount of unnecessary suffering in the world. #psychology #lesmiserables #transformation