The Dr. Laura Podcast
Episode: Do You Know What an Assumption Is?
Host: Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Date: December 21, 2025
Episode Overview
In this episode, Dr. Laura Schlessinger addresses the often overlooked but highly impactful role that assumptions play in human relationships. She uses her direct, practical style to discuss how making—and acting on—assumptions without clarification can damage communication and undermine intimacy. Dr. Laura urges listeners to ask direct questions, be curious about their loved ones’ thoughts and feelings, and resist self-centered patterns in relationships. The focus: don’t default to assumptions, check them out!
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. How and Why We Make Assumptions
- Normal Brain Function:
Dr. Laura explains that making assumptions is a basic "shortcut" humans use to handle the world quickly.- Example (03:00): “I’m making the assumption that this piece of wood will hold while I’m crossing the chasm because it looks good. Your brain just makes quickie decisions.”
2. The Problem with Assumptions in Relationships
- Misinterpretation and Conflict:
Instead of resolving issues, unchecked assumptions cause misunderstandings which add up, leading to resentment and emotional distance.- (03:32) “I hear every day, callers not even aware of that, they're making assumptions and then acting on them as though the assumption was correct.”
- (04:18) “What the hell are you just compiling? You're just compiling misunderstandings. By that point, people are angry. They emotionally distance.”
3. The Failure to Communicate Directly
- Lack of Clarification:
Dr. Laura highlights how rarely people clarify by simply asking what someone meant or felt.- (04:45): “I don't mind you making assumptions. Just check it out. Ask the direct question.”
- Her On-Air Example:
“You hear me asking a million questions on air, don't you? I'm role modeling. Ask a million questions, even ones everybody thinks are stupid.” (05:09)
4. Societal Shift: Assumptions Trumping Truth
- Dr. Laura criticizes a broader cultural trend where “truth is kind of irrelevant. Assumptions are superior to truth and reality.” (05:36)
- She argues healthy relationships and societies need honest questioning and open answers.
5. Dangers of Attributing Motives
- Assuming you know why people act as they do is a major source of conflict.
- (06:05): “‘I know why you did that. I know why they did that. ... They were just being mean.’ No, they were having gas pains.”
- Dr. Laura shares a humorous therapy story: a wife assumes ill intent; in reality, her husband was just irritable from gas pains. (06:40)
6. Self-Centered Assumptions
- People often focus first on their own feelings, not their partner's (“First person you’re worried about is you,” (11:00)).
- Even “people pleasers” are ultimately concerned with how others perceive them, not genuinely with the others’ well-being.
7. The “Mind-Reading” Fallacy
- Dr. Laura strongly criticizes the belief that those who love you should “just know” what you feel or need.
- (12:10): “‘They should know what I'm feeling. They should know what I need. If they love me, they should know.’ That is, on the scale of dumb, 10 out of 10. Nobody's psychic. ... You have to actually say it.”
- Instead of accusatory statements, she encourages loving directness:
- (13:18): “Oh, sweetheart. I love when we hold hands. Can we hold hands right now?”
8. Sustaining Spark and Affection
- Recapture playfulness and affection with fun, physical gestures, not perfunctory routines.
- (14:32): “That’s why I tell women, for example, when he walks through the door, wrap yourself around him, give him a Slurpee kiss and say, ‘I missed you.’ … Sweep her off her feet, twirl her around, especially in front of the kids.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Assumptions:
“Even though assumptions are very fundamental to how our brain works, that's a shortcut. And often we get into problems of misinterpretations, mistakes, and then the conflict is never solved.” (03:12) -
On Communication:
"Ask the direct question. Were you angry by that? Are you upset by that? Did you think I meant to hurt you? Did you ask the questions?” (04:46) -
On Motives and Humor in Therapy:
“She never asked and he never said. And I figure if you're married to somebody, you ought to be able to say, I have gas pains, I have PMS, and I'm crazy. My mother called and she upset me and I didn't want to talk anymore.” (06:55) -
On Mind-Reading:
"Nobody's psychic. And we can't tell. You have to actually say it. I really yearn for more Huggies or more late night stupid movies with you or more silly times or more tennis or...." (12:30) -
On Restoring Affection and Spark:
"Cute ways. That's why I tell women when he, for example, when he walks through the door, you know, wrap yourself around him, give him a Slurpee kiss and say, I missed you. That's sparks." (14:32) -
Final Reminder:
“Stop making assumptions. Be curious because you love them and you want to know their state of mind, not just how something affected you. Self-centeredness doesn't work in love. Love is giving.” (15:03)
Key Timestamps
- [03:00] – The brain’s tendency to make assumptions
- [04:18] – Accumulation of misunderstandings and emotional distancing
- [04:46] – Importance of asking direct questions
- [06:05] – Attributing motives and the gas pains anecdote
- [11:00] – Self-centeredness, even in people-pleasers
- [12:10] – The “they should know” fallacy
- [14:32] – Tips for affection and maintaining spark
- [15:03] – Core takeaway: Stop assuming, start asking
Conclusion
Dr. Laura delivers clear guidance: assumptions are unavoidable, but damaging when unexamined in relationships. Direct questions and curiosity foster intimacy and understanding, while self-centered thinking and “mind-reading” expectations erode love. Her advice is practical, sprinkled with humor, and rooted in genuine care for helping listeners become better communicators and partners.
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