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Titled Four Questions about Violence, Dr Adshead's lectures will address the most pertinent questions that she has faced in her work as a forensic psychiatrist:

• Is violence normal?
• What is the relationship between trauma and violence?
• Is there such a thing as evil?
• Can we change violent minds?

At a time of growing concerns surrounding the prevalence of violent behaviour both online and offline, these four lectures will consider the motivations, actions and rehabilitation of those who commit violent acts.

Drawing on her extensive professional experience as a leading forensic psychiatrist and psychotherapist, Dr Adshead will explore these questions from a clinical perspective, informed by thinking about the developmental and social roots of violence.

Dr Adshead’s work has led her to study how people develop social minds; how trauma affects the development of the mind and capacity to be pro-social and how best to help offenders rehabilitate.

Dr Gwen Adshead trained at St Bartholomew’s hospital, St George’s hospital and the Institute of Psychiatry and in 2024, she was named as one of five Honorary Fellows of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Dr Adshead currently works part-time in the NHS, as a consultant in a high secure hospital and in a women’s prison. With Eileen Horne, she wrote a book for general readership about her work as a therapist with violence perpetrators called The Devil You Know.

The lectures and question-and-answer sessions will be chaired by presenter, journalist and author Anita Anand.

About the Reith Lectures

The Reith Lectures were inaugurated in 1948 by the ´óÏó´«Ã½ to mark the historic contribution made to public service broadcasting by Sir John (later Lord) Reith, the corporation's first director-general.

John Reith maintained that broadcasting should be a public service which enriches the intellectual and cultural life of the nation. It is in this spirit that the ´óÏó´«Ã½ each year invites a leading figure to deliver a series of lectures on radio. The aim is to advance public understanding and debate about significant issues of contemporary interest.

2024 Reith Lecturer Dr Gwen Adshead is a forensic psychiatrist and psychotherapist. She trained at St Bartholomew’s hospital, St George’s hospital and the Institute of Psychiatry. In addition to her medical degree and her qualifications as a psychiatrist, she holds a Master’s Degree in Medical Law and Ethics, a Master of Science Degree in Mindfulness based Cognitive Therapy from Oxford University and she is a Qualified member of the Institute of Group Analysis. She was Yochelson visiting fellow at Yale School of Law & Psychiatry in 2013, professor of psychiatry at Gresham College between 2014 and 2016 and has been awarded two honorary doctorates by St George’s Hospital medical school in 2016 and 2024. In 2013 the Royal College of Psychiatrists awarded her the President’s Medal for her work in mental health ethics and in 2024, she was named as one of five Honorary Fellows of the Royal College of psychiatrist.