Bloody Nora! Bugger! What the heck?! Feeling any better yet?
Did you know that swearing can help us relieve pain and feel physically stronger – if momentarily? Or that it is a crucial aspect of navigating our identities and relationships to other?
While the use of bad language is frowned upon in most public-facing scenarios, it proofs to be an intrinsic part of our lives. We’re thrilled to welcome back Catherine Loveday will take a deep dive into the science behind swearing, how it can help us process emotions but also trigger our fight of flight response. We’ll specifically look at what happens in our brains when we use swear words, how it affects the way we think, behave, and interact with others.
Come along to this promising evening, bring your favourite swear words, make comments, and ask questions. Everyone is welcome, though parental guidance may be advised.
Disclaimer: Some swear words will be used and described. It will be suitable for those aged 8 and above at their parents’ discretion.
Speaker
Catherine Loveday
Centre for Psychological Sciences
University of Westminster
Professor Catherine Loveday holds a PhD in the neuropsychology of memory and ageing. Her research continuously focuses on the nature of normal and impaired memory. She has a a long-term fascination with music and the brain and has carried out a number of studies looking at the cognitive and neuronal aspects of music processing. Currently, she is investigating how memories of music are central to our sense of self, imagination, emotional state and social functioning.
Further research interests focus on the neuropsychology of autobiographical memory. Catherine works closely with people with various forms of memory loss and is also very keen on interdisciplinary collaboration, for example examining the lived experience of amnesia with cognitive psychologist Martin Conway, and artist Shona Illingworth.