But Why? Real talk on messy minds, and messier systems

But Why Do We Create Monsters? | Part 3: Fear, Projection & the Psychology of Horror


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Part 3 of our Halloween series: Monsters as Mirrors
If monsters reflect our fears, what does it say that we keep making them?

In this final episode of our Halloween trilogy, Kristin and Laura dig deep into the psychology of monstering, from ancient instincts to modern media. We explore how and why the human brain was built to see monsters...and why we still crave them.

From evolutionary survival mechanisms to existential dread, we unpack:

  • How fear comes first and logic comes later

  • Why we invent monsters to make sense of chaos

  • The role of projection, displacement, and group fear

  • Monsters as scapegoats for guilt, anxiety, and social control

  • Why we use horror to feel safe, bonded, and in control

  • How neurodivergent brains might experience monsters differently

  • What our favourite monsters reveal about our politics, culture & inner selves

    This episode blends cognitive science, social psychology, existential theory, and lived experience into a final idea: our monsters are more human than we think...and so are we.

     

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    But Why? Real talk on messy minds, and messier systemsBy Dr. Kristin & Dr. Laura