Tall Poppy Syndrome (TPS) and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) - Podcasts

3 Feb 2025 — 2 min read

Taking Wing. Photo by author.

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles. Isaiah 40:31

I published a blog about the above subjects (see J. D. Vance, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE), and the Tall Poppy Syndrome). A lot has changed since then, namely, J.D. Vance is now the Vice President of the United States.

ACE is associated with TPS and is important in understanding some cutters' behavior. Higher ACE scores lead to low self-esteem prompting bad envy and other dark emotions, often ending in TPS.

David Hanscom, M.D.

Dr. Hanscom has been an orthopedic complex spinal deformity surgeon formally based in Seattle, Washington, for over 32 years. He quit his surgical practice in 2019 to focus on teaching people how to break loose from the grip of chronic mental and physical pain – with and without surgery. He is unrelenting in searching for better methods to optimize patient outcomes.

Dr. Hanscom’s insights emerged from his escape from a 15-year ordeal with severe chronic pain. He began sharing his approaches with his patients and a predictable learning sequence evolved. This resulted in The DOC (Direct your Own Care) Journey. The DOC Journey is the self-directed action plan of his book, Back in Control: A Surgeon's Roadmap Out of Chronic Pain.

In the early 1980s, David was one of my students in orthopedic residency. We published a peer-reviewed scientific article in one of our prestigious orthopedic journals. After training he went his separate way.

Nearly 40 years later we reconnected. We had retired from orthopedic surgery and were following new directions. Dr. Hanscom was investigating chronic pain and aiding others in its management while I was exploring psychosocial interactions regarding TPS. Little did we know our paths would cross.

Podcasts

Shortly after our reunion, David hosted two podcasts with yours truly regarding TPS and ACE.

Part 1 - 'Back In Control' with David Hanscom, MD

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/1664.731375

Part 2 - 'Back In Control' with David Hanscom, MD

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/1756.786938

Other Collaborations

Thereafter, we did a two-part radio interview with Brian Reynolds of KCBX FM Central Coast Public Radio which was embedded in our recent blog (see Anger, Tall Poppy Syndrome, and Schadenfreude - The Luigi Mangione Story).

tall poppy syndrome adverse childhood experiences David Hanscom schadenfreude Luigi Mangione

Doug Garland Twitter

Douglas Garland, M.D. practiced orthopedic surgery for 37 years in Southern California. Doug was also a Clinical Professor of Orthopedics at the University of Southern California.

Comments

Rising Above the Scythe: A Guide to Recovery and Resilience After Tall Poppy Syndrome.

Understanding why things happen the way that they do makes you better prepared to face them. Mitta Xinindlu Understanding the Anatomy of the Cut-Down Why Groups Sabotage High Achievers0:00/1324.4894331× The Tall Poppy Syndrome (TPS) is not merely a source of social friction but also a "mediocre

12 May 2026

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Why Tall Poppies Matter

Those who can, do; those who can't, cut down. Doug Garland, paraphrasing George Bernard Shaw Breaking Free from the Cutting Down Culture What I Learned About Success and Sabotage How to Survive Tall Poppy Syndrome0:00/1290.5650791× I used to think success was straightforward—work hard, achieve

30 Apr 2026

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U.S. Representatives Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales - Victims of the Tall Poppy Syndrome?

Power does not corrupt men; fools, however, if they get into a position of power, corrupt power. ~ George Bernard Shaw Why Pride Toppled Tony Gonzales and Eric Swalwell0:00/975.0058961× Public tall poppy syndrome (TPS) entails cutting down someone who stands above the rest for any reason. Tall poppies