The Psychology of Monsters with Dr Natalie Lawrence

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We know monsters aren’t real – so why do we remain endlessly fascinated by them? From hybrid beasts painted on cave walls tens of thousands of years ago, and the mythic creatures of ancient cultures, to the horrors of Gothic literature and the creature features of modern cinema, we have always imagined – and reimagined – them. The answer lies in their hidden, shifting meanings and the many roles they play for us. 

In this workshop, join Dr Natalie Lawrence in exploring the psychology of monsters and monster-making. What connects Medusa to an ancient Mesopotamian chaos dragon? How did Grendel and Godzilla become poster boys for eco-anxiety? And why do vampires of all kinds keep appearing? Through these creatures, we’ll uncover what really drives our need for monsters – and what they reveal about ourselves.

Workshop Highlights:

• Explore the psychology behind why we create monsters
• Discover the history of monster-making across global societies since ancient times
• Understand the social context of monsters and what they show us about society
• Discuss what monsters may reveal about our own inner selves

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Speaker Bio:

Dr. Natalie Lawrence is a historian of science and author of Enchanted Creatures: Our Monsters and Their Meanings (W&N, 2024; Pegasus 2025), a history of monsters and our imaginations over the last 15,000 years. She has a first class in Natural Sciences, a Masters and a PhD in History and Philosophy of Science from the University of Cambridge. She also co-authored Planta Sapiens: The New Science of Plant Intelligence with Professor Paco Calvo (Little Brown, 2022; Norton 2023; 10 translations so far). She has spoken for TEDX, numerous radio channels and podcasts, and presented for Cambridge Science Festival, Geist Talks, Last Tuesday Society, amongst others. 

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