Psychologists dissect Holmes' shifting persona
Three experts from Boston medical centers watched the new documentary to determine if the Theranos founder is a master con artist or someone with a neurodivergent identity.
By Christopher Singh ·
Nathan Fielder’s new documentary, You Can See Everything, leaves viewers unsure of Elizabeth Holmes’ true character. To resolve that ambiguity, The Boston Globe screened the film for three psychologists in Boston. The experts examined Holmes’ behavior to distinguish between deliberate deception and a fixed neurodivergent style of communication.
The film documents Holmes’ life in the weeks before her 11-year prison sentence began in 2023. It explores her relationship with partner Billy Evans and the mechanics of the Theranos fraud. The movie presents conflicting versions of Holmes, ranging from a confident CEO to a dependent partner who struggled to stand up for herself.
Alice Connors-Kellgren, director of psychology at Tufts Medical Center, noted that Holmes scored low on reflective functioning. This trait measures a person’s ability to understand their own thoughts and motivations. Connors-Kellgren said she felt little empathy for Holmes because the former’s childlike appeal felt calculated rather than genuine.
Matt Jerram, a clinical psychologist at Boston Neuropsychological Services, observed that Holmes rarely blinked and kept her eyes wide open. He said this expression drew in viewers who wanted to feel sympathetic toward her. Jerram argued that effective manipulators usually go unnoticed, whereas Holmes’ behavior was overt and striking.
Kristina Pinto, a psychologist at the same Boston firm, focused on Holmes’ literal language. Pinto found it difficult to reconcile Holmes’ concrete speech patterns with the social banter required to secure billions in investment. She questioned how Holmes accomplished such complex fundraising tasks while appearing so basic in her interpretation of language.
The experts also analyzed the dynamic between Holmes and Evans. Pinto felt empathy for Holmes during their scenes, viewing the relationship as the only moment where she seemed authentic. Connors-Kellgren described the pairing as controlling, suggesting Evans exploited Holmes for personal gain. Jerram agreed, noting that Evans appeared to use Holmes for whatever he could extract from the relationship.
When asked if they saw signs of a personality disorder, the psychologists pointed to Holmes’ shifting identity. Pinto highlighted a scene where Holmes claimed she had never lied, only to later admit she had to pretend with Evans. Jerram added that Holmes did not appear distressed by her own behavior, a trait often associated with personality disorders rather than other mental health conditions.
The psychologists also critiqued Fielder’s role in the narrative. Connors-Kellgren pointed out that Fielder is not an objective observer and that his personal feelings influenced the documentary. Pinto admitted that she, as a viewer, was unsure if she was being taken by Holmes or by Fielder’s framing. The screening ended with the experts agreeing that identity is layered and difficult to boil down to a single label.
