psychology

Jonathan Haidt is an American psychologist and anti-transgender activist.

In 2015 Haidt co-founded Heterodox Academy to promote “intellectual diversity” and challenge “enforced orthodoxies” in academia. These are buzzwords for people who want academic freedom without academic responsibility or accountability. The organization and its conference are popular among anti-transgender activists.

Background

Jonathan David Haidt was born October 19, 1963 in New York City and grew up in Scarsdale, New York.

Haidt earned a bachelor’s degree from Yale University in 1985, then attended University of Pennsylvania, earning a master’s degree in 1988 and a doctorate in 1992. Following postdoctoral work and time working in India, Haidt took an appointment at University of Virginia in 1995. While there, Haidt published several works on positive psychology and moral psychology.

Haidt and spouse Jayne K. Riew (born 1971) have two children, Max and Francesca.

Anti-transgender activism

Haidt and Greg Lukianoff are key figures in promoting Alice Dreger’s cover-up of J. Michael Bailey’s fabricated “Danny Ryan” case report that got him tenure.

References

Lukianoff, Greg; Haidt, Jonathan (2019). The Coddling of the American Mind How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure. Penguin, ISBN 9780735224919

Staff (2017). Obituary for Elaine K. Haidt. https://www.epsteinmemorialchapel.com/obituaries/Elaine-Haidt/

Resources

Jonathan Haidt (jonathanhaidt.com)

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

Jonathan Haidt

Twitter (twitter.com)

jonhaidt

Substack (substack.com)

jonathanhaidt.substack.com

After Babel (afterbabel.com)

TED (ted.com)

Jonathan Haidt

Sheri A. Berenbaum is an American psychologist and anti-transgender activist. Berenbaum is connected to several leading lights of academic transphobia, including J. Michael Bailey, Kenneth Zucker, and psychologists connected to the Human Behavior and Evolution Society..

Much of Berenbaum’s work is involved in shoring up the concept of “sex differences.”

Background

Sheri Ann Berenbaum was born on May 1, 1950.

Berenbaum earned a bachelor’s degree from The City College of New York, followed by a doctorate from the notoriously transphobic and conservative psychology department at University of California, Berkeley in 1977. Berenbaum’s dissertation focused on maintaining sex segregation. Berenbaum did a postdoctoral fellowship in behavioral genetics at University of Minnesota.

Berenbaum then taught at University of Health Sciences / Chicago Medical School. Berenbaum was affiliated with Southern Illinois University prior to joining PennState in 2001. Chicago Medical School

Much of Berenbaum’s work is about hormones and behavior and has been cited as a reason to force adolescents through unwanted puberty.

Anti-transgender activism

Some researchers, such as Kenneth J. Zucker, PhD, a psychologist and the head of the child and adolescent gender identity clinic at Toronto’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, applaud Reiner’s study for renewing interest in the biological determinants of gender and calling into question the notion of some that gender identity is mainly socially constructed and determined by socialization.
That’s not to say, however, that socialization isn’t still a major or important factor, Zucker emphasizes. “The debate is still up in the air because there are other centers who have studied kids with the same diagnosis, and the rate of changeover from female to male is nowhere near what Reiner is reporting,” he explains. “It must be something about their social experience that is accounting for this difference.”
Contradictory evidence
Backing Zucker’s belief that socialization still plays a major role–and biology is only part of the story–is research by Sheri Berenbaum, PhD, a psychologist at Pennsylvania State University, and J. Michael Bailey, PhD, a psychologist at Northwestern University.

Berenbaum was quoted by Megan Twohey and Christina Jewett in their 2022 New York Times piece on puberty blockers for gender diverse youth. That fearmongering piece came out amid the Times’ transphobic coverage crisis on the 2020s.

References

Bailey JM, Bechtold KT, Berenbaum SA (2002). Who are tomboys and why should we study them? Archives of Sexual Behavior 10.1023/A:1016272209463

Berenbaum SA, “Beyond Pink and Blue: The Complexity of Early Androgen Effects on Gender Development,” Child Development Perspectives 12, no. 1 (2018): 58.

Berenbaum SA, Bailey JM (2003). Effects on gender identity of prenatal androgens and genital appearance: evidence from girls with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 88, Issue 3, 1102–1106, https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2002-020782

Berenbaum SA (1999). Effects of Early Androgens on Sex-Typed Activities and Interests in Adolescents with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia. Hormones and Behavior Volume 35, Issue 1, February 1999, Pages 102-110

Chen, D. et al. (2020). Consensus Parameter: Research methodologies to evaluate neurodevelopmental effects of pubertal suppression in transgender youth. Transgender Health, 5, 246-257.

Twohey, Megan; Jewett, Christina (November 14, 2022). They Paused Puberty, but Is There a Cost? New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/14/health/puberty-blockers-transgender.html

Resources

PennState (pure.psu.edu)

Sheri A. Berenbaum
https://pure.psu.edu/en/persons/sheri-a-berenbaum
http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/s/a/sab31/berenbaum/bio.html

The Berenbaum Lab (berenbaumlabpsu.wixsite.com)

https://berenbaumlabpsu.wixsite.com/

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

sheri-berenbaum-7b856310b

Elias Heino is a Finnish researcher and anti-transgender activist who has published a number of papers that promote disease models of gender diverse youth.

Background

Heino is affiliated with Tampere University Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology and frequently publishes with conservative psychiatrist Riittakerttu Kaltiala-Heino.

Heino’s path to anti-trans activism is explained in this interview:

Why did I start doing psychiatric research?

After the first year of study, I got a summer job as a research assistant. I handled material related to youth psychiatric research. At the same time, my interest in research was awakened. After the research summer, I was offered the opportunity to start doing my own research related to the transgender topic, and I am still on this path.

The subject of my research

Our study compares the adolescent development of trans and cisgender identifying youth in the adolescent normal population. Adolescent development is examined with the help of sexuality, mental health, participation in school bullying and family relationships.

Why does research related to my topic matter?

The research aims to find out to what extent the developmental tasks of adolescence are solved despite the specificity of the identity experience and whether any problems are related to the identity experience itself or to possible external factors, such as a lack of support from family or friends. Based on the research results, the support that gender identity minorities may need can be targeted correctly, and the research data can be used as an aid in planning longitudinal studies, for example.

Anti-trans activism

Heino got €3,000 from the Orion Foundation to study “Transgender identity, mental health and adolescent development in the adolescent population.”

In 2021, Heino got a grant from The Psychiatry Research Foundation for similar work.

Heino has published papers stating that trans youth perpetrate bullying and have high suicidality.

References

Tampere University (4 November 2020). [50,000 euros from the Orion Foundation for Tampere University researchers.] https://www.tuni.fi/fi/ajankohtaista/tampereen-yliopiston-tutkijoille-50-000-euroa-orionin-saatiolta

(9/12/2019). [The Kandi calendar is coming again – Fine art pearls inspire creators.] Mediuutiset https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/kandikalenteri-tulee-taas-kuvataiteen-helmet-inspiroivat-tekijoita/12fb0bf9-88db-49e4-8562-be21f86bb228

[Recipients of the 2021 grants.] Psykiatrian Tutkimussäätiö [Psychiatry Research Foundation] https://www.psykiatriantutkimussaatio.fi/index.php/myonnetyt-apurahat/

Resources

ReseachGate (researchgate.net)

Elias Heino
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Elias-Heino

Alex Capo is an American counselor and anti-transgender activist.

Capo was an invited speaker at a 2023 anti-trans conference organized by anti-transgender hate group Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine.

Resources

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

alex-capo-114493227

Sallie Baxendale is a British psychologist and anti-transgender activist.

Background

Sallie Ann Baxendale earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Surrey in 1990, followed by a master’s degree there in 1992. Baxendale earned a doctorate from UCL in 1997.

Much of Baxendale’s research involves epilepsy and brain development.

Anti-transgender activism

Baxendale began appearing in anti-trans media in 2021, starting with Transgender Trend.

Baxendale supports the ex-transgender movement and is critical of gender affirming healthcare for minors, especially use of puberty blockade. Baxendale was alarmed that some people describe puberty blockade as “fully reversible.”

Baxendale was an invited speaker at a 2023 anti-trans conference organized by the Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine (SEGM).

Since 2023 Baxendale has contributed to anti-trans publication UnHerd,

In 2024 Baxendale published a summary of the 2024 Acta Paediatrica literature review (described below) on anti-trans site Clinical Advisory Network on Sex and Gender (CAN-SG).

2024 puberty blockade literature review

In 2024 conservative Swedish psychiatrist Mikael Landén leaked a pre-publication paper by Baxendale to anti-trans activist Bernard Lane. Baxendale’s academic literature review reflected Landén’s view that puberty blockade should be strictly controlled because of unknown risks, particularly cognitive effects.

On the day of publication, Baxendale published a piece in UnHerd about how this puberty blockade literature review was rejected by three journals as well as accepted by Acta Paediatrica, which previously promoted more gatekeeping of healthcare for gender diverse youth in Sweden’s healthcare system. Baxendale claimed, “it wasn’t the methods they objected to, it was the actual findings.” Of the rejection reasons that Baxendale shared, all were about the obvious bias of the author and the stigmatizing potential from how the material is tendentiously presented.

The obvious and simple answer is to skip puberty blockers and go straight to hormones. Baxendale cites studies about young people who experience central precocious puberty having more robust brain development and cognition, so Baxendale has made a strong case for use of puberty-inducing drugs in all minors who desire improved cognition and IQ.

References

Baxendale, Sallie (February 19, 2024). Why did three journals reject my puberty-blocker study? Trans children deserve to know the facts. UnHerd https://unherd.com/2024/02/why-did-three-journals-reject-my-puberty-blocker-study/

Baxendale, S. (2024). The impact of suppressing puberty on neuropsychological function: A review. Acta Paediatrica. https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.17150

Gender diverse youth studies cited:
Staphorsius AS, Kreukels BPC, Cohen-Kettenis PT, Veltman DJ, Burke SM, Schagen SEE, Wouters FM, Delemarre-van de Waal HA, Bakker J (2015). Puberty suppression and executive functioning: An fMRI-study in adolescents with gender dysphoria. Psychoneuroendocrinology (Vol. 56, pp. 190–199). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.03.007
Arnoldussen M, Hooijman EC, Kreukels BP, de Vries AL (2022). Association between pre-treatment IQ and educational achievement after gender-affirming treatment including puberty suppression in transgender adolescents. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry (Vol. 27, Issue 4, pp. 1069–1076). SAGE Publications. https://doi.org/10.1177/13591045221091652
Schneider MA, Spritzer PM, Soll BMB, Fontanari AMV, Carneiro M, Tovar-Moll F, Costa AB, da Silva DC, Schwarz K. Anes M, Tramontina S, Lobato, MIR (2017). Brain Maturation, Cognition and Voice Pattern in a Gender Dysphoria Case under Pubertal Suppression. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience (Vol. 11). Frontiers Media SA. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2017.00528

Baxendale, Sallie (January 21, 2024). Research Raises Concerns About the Impact of Puberty Blockers on the Development of Cognitive Function. CAN-SG https://can-sg.org/2024/01/21/puberty-blockers-and-teenage-brain-development/

Lane, Bernard (January 17, 2024). Evidently correct: New support for brain studies: the WHO steers clear of paediatric transition. Gender Clinic News https://www.genderclinicnews.com/p/evidently-correct

Manning, Sanchez (January 13, 2024). Puberty blockers given to children who say they were born in the wrong body and want to ‘change gender’ may lower their’ IQs. Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12960869/Puberty-blockers-given-children-say-born-wrong-body-want-change-gender-lower-IQs.html

Baxendale, Sallie (July 7, 2023). Doctors have failed detransitioners. UnHerd https://unherd.com/2023/07/doctors-have-failed-detransitioners/

Baxendale, Sallie (July 26, 2023). Has Gids learned from its failure? UnHerd https://unherd.com/2023/07/has-gids-learned-from-its-failure/

Baxendale, Sallie (July 1, 2021). The Teenage Brain. Transgender Trend https://www.transgendertrend.com/teenage-brain/

Media

Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine (January 16, 2024). SEGM NYC23 – Sallie Baxendale – The Effect of Puberty Blockers on the Teenage Brain. YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5ZnRKqqByg

Resources

University College London Hospitals (uclh.nhs.uk)

Sallie Baxendale
uclh.nhs.uk/our-services/find-consultant/professor-sallie-baxendale

Henrik Anckarsäter was a Swedish psychologist and anti-transgender activist.

Anckarsäter was affiliated with anti-trans group Society for Evidence-based Gender Medicine (SEGM) and with the Centre for Ethics, Law and Mental Health.

Background

Pär Henrik Georg Söderström was born October 12, 1966 in Göteborg, Sweden.

In 2005 Anckarsäter was appointed associate professor at Lund University, and in 2008 assumed a professorship in forensic psychiatry at the University of Gothenburg. Anckarsäter was also a visiting professor at the University of Paris XII from 2006 to 2007 and in the Department of Clinical Sciences at Lund University, Malmö, from 2009 to 2015.

Anckarsäter’s spouse is Rolf Anckarsäter. Anckarsäter died on March 9, 2021 in Askim, Sweden.

References

Staff (May 11, 2021). In memory of Henrik Anckarsäter. https://akademiliv.se/en/2021/05/74108/

Henrik Anckarsäter 1, Christopher Gillberg (2020). Methodological Shortcomings Undercut Statement in Support of Gender-Affirming Surgery. Am J Psychiatry. 2020 Aug 1;177(8):764-765. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.19111117

Resources

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

Henrik Anckarsäter
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrik_Anckars%C3%A4ter

Facebook (facebook.com)

Henrik-Anckars%C3%A4ter-100009842868551

Twitter (twitter.com)

anckarsater

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

henrik-anckars%C3%A4ter-19890017

James Caspian is a British therapist and anti-transgender activist in the “ex-transgender” movement.

Caspian was a member of the anti-trans organization Pediatric & Adolescent Gender Dysphoria Working Group.

Background

James Caspian was born in ~1959.

Anti-transgender activism

In 2016, Caspian proposed studying “detransition” while in graduate school, but Bath Spa University rejected the proposal.

Caspian then became a cause célèbre among anti-trans activists, who showered Caspian with money and attention.

Caspian appeared in the 2018 anti-trans propaganda piece Trans Kids: It’s Time to Talk hosted by Stella O’Malley.

References

Staff report (September 25, 2017). Bath Spa University ‘blocks transgender research.’ BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41384473

Petherick, Sam (). Bath Spa University vetoes ‘politically incorrect’ transgender surgery reversal study -https://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/news/bath-news/bath-spa-university-vetoes-politically-533956

Media

Genspect (June 7, 2022). Trans Kids: It’s Time to Talk | 4: James Caspian. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXH_6CEjnRQ

Oren Amitay (January 27, 2018). Academic Cleansing: Fight for Truth & Free Speech vs Political Correctness and Trans Ideology. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQIWoDW63ak

Resources

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

james-caspian-30942536

CrowdJustice (crowdjustice.com)

Free Speech Matters
https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/free-speech-matters-round2/

Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077577183412)

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077577183412

Alessandra Cavalli was an Italian therapist and anti-transgender activist.

Cavalli was a member of the anti-trans organization Pediatric & Adolescent Gender Dysphoria Working Group.

Background

Alessandra Cavalli was born in Italy on April 27, 1957 and grew up with five siblings in Concordia. Cavalli studied in Munich, then lived in Belgium.

In 1998, Cavalli moved to London to train in Jungian child analysis.

Cavalli died on May 17 2020, possibly from COVID.

References

Wiener, Jan; Bisagni, Francesco (May 27, 2020). Alessandra Cavalli, 1957 – 2020. https://iaap.org/alessandra-cavalli-1957-2020/

Dianna T. Kenny is an Australian psychologist and anti-transgender extremist.

Kenny was a member of the anti-trans organization Pediatric & Adolescent Gender Dysphoria Working Group.

Kenny contributed chapters to two anti-trans books by Heather Brunskell-Evans.

Background

Dianna Theadora Kenny earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Sydney in 1975, followed by training in music and education. Kenny then attended Macquarie University, earning a master’s degree in 1980 and a doctorate in 1988. While in school, Kenny worked in troubled students. Kenny taught at University of Sydney from 1988 to 2019. In 2019 Kenny founded DK Consulting.