"Why We Crave Dragons: The Psychology of the Fantasy World", with Dr Alexander Sergeant.

Why do we love stories about dragons, distant planets, and magical realms that could never exist?

In this thought-provoking talk, Alexander Sergeant explores the enduring appeal of fantasy fiction - now the most popular genre in the world - and asks: what are we really escaping from when we dive into these unreal worlds? Is it boredom, fear, powerlessness, or something deeper?

Through the lens of psychology, literature, and cultural analysis, this talk examines why we’re drawn to the impossible, how imagination helps us process reality, and what our favourite fictional worlds reveal about the one we live in.