Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast

37 - Thought Lab 4: The Psychology of Horror

October 28, 2021 Clif Mark
37 - Thought Lab 4: The Psychology of Horror
Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast
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Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast
37 - Thought Lab 4: The Psychology of Horror
Oct 28, 2021
Clif Mark

Grizzly bears are scary. But what about zombie grizzly bears? What’s makes something horrifying rather than just frightening? 

Paul has a theory. It turns out that humans have a psychological way of organizing the world that also creates the possibility of getting really creeped-out. It helps explain the horror of the zombie grizzly why the old Dracula was creepier than Twilight and how war propaganda can turn enemies into monsters. 


References

David Livingstone-Smith (philosopher where Paul’s getting his ideas about essentialism and dehumanization from)

Credits 

Paul Sagar
Clayton Tapp (intro)
David Zikovitz (outro)
Sep (art)

Support the Show.

Show Notes

Grizzly bears are scary. But what about zombie grizzly bears? What’s makes something horrifying rather than just frightening? 

Paul has a theory. It turns out that humans have a psychological way of organizing the world that also creates the possibility of getting really creeped-out. It helps explain the horror of the zombie grizzly why the old Dracula was creepier than Twilight and how war propaganda can turn enemies into monsters. 


References

David Livingstone-Smith (philosopher where Paul’s getting his ideas about essentialism and dehumanization from)

Credits 

Paul Sagar
Clayton Tapp (intro)
David Zikovitz (outro)
Sep (art)

Support the Show.