Monsters as Psychological Tools for Children

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Authors of the 2020 study 'Monsters at Bedtime, Managing Fear in Bedtime Picture Books for Children' suggest that monsters symbolize something else
A 2014 study suggests that monsters serve as psychological tools for children to cope with problems and anxieties
Younger kids (under seven) benefit from reframing monsters as tired creatures that eat dust bunnies, while older kids respond better to affirming that monsters are not real
For more on dreaming and nightmares, refer to the onorology two-parter from January

Frankenstein’s Monster! Hungry ghosts! Moaning bloodsuckers! Goat draining goblins. Babadooks. Gorilla-whales. Slasher films. Body horror… and what these folk stories, films, and fandoms have to do about our hopes and fears. Also yes, you can watch monster movies as a job. Just ask the wonderfully charming and deeply informed Dr. W. Scott Poole, College of Charleston professor and author of “Monsters in America,” who teaches multiple courses on history and monster lore. We also cover: monsters on various continents, monsters as queer icons, horror vs. monsters, secret messages in monster movies, the edits that your government may not have wanted you to see, what to do if you suspect you have one under the bed, Hollywood production secrets, special effects makeup, and — as always — why we’re so horny for ghouls.

Buy W. Scott Poole’s new book: Dark Carnivals: Modern Horror and the Origins of American Empire

Browse more horror and pop culture books by W. Scott Poole including: Wasteland: The Great War and the Origins of Modern Horror, Monsters in America, and In the Mountains of Madness: The Life and Extraordinary Afterlife of H.P. Lovecraft

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