Desire, Dread & Devotion

Why do we enjoy being scared? If we truly hated fear, we probably wouldn’t keep seeking it out in ghost stories and horror films. Even small things - a half-open door in the dark, or a foot slipping out from under the duvet - can send a chill down your spine. In this talk, we’ll explore our strange attraction to fear through the work of writer Thomas Ligotti, asking why frightening stories draw us in and why sometimes being scared is something that brings us together.

Fandom runs deep in Liverpool. But why do we care so much? Why does a win for Liverpool F.C. feel personal? Why does this city’s heart still beat to the rhythm of The Beatles, decades later? This talk explores the psychology of fandoms, from tribal loyalty to parasocial bonds. Using Psychology, we'll explore why fandoms are so important for our wellbeing, and how the things we love become a part of who we are.

Depictions of artificial women as perfect romantic partners go all the way back to Greek myths. But in an age when ever-smarter generative chatbots have sparked a wave of ‘AI girlfriend’ apps - from Replika to Dream Companion and Harmony - it’s time to take another look at the fictional robot woman. This talk offers a whistle-stop tour through the history of fembots in literature, tracing how these imagined companions have evolved and how some of the latest versions are beginning to echo developments in the real world.