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WMA Seminar - Mental Imagery and Harmful Language
Date: Wednesday, 22 October 2025
Location: Social Sciences Building, S0.11
Schedule:
14:05-14:55
Speaker: Michelle Liu (Monash)
Title: Mental Imagery and Harmful Language*
14:55-15:05
Coffee Break
15:05-15:50
Q&A
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*Abstract:
Research on pernicious language tends to focus on harmful beliefs and associations transmitted by such language. In this paper, I explore the idea that pernicious language often transmits harmful mental imagery. Empirical studies suggest that mental imagery is a pervasive feature of language processing. Furthermore, mental imagery prompted by language can influence our memories and judgements in an insidious way. Focusing on language containing misinformation about witnessed events, as well as generics and metaphors about social groups, this paper argues for the importance of mental imagery for theorising harmful language and suggests ways to combat the imagistic harm.
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See also:
Centre for Research in Philosophy, Literature & The Arts Events
糖心TV Mind and Action Research Centre (WMA)
Arts Faculty Events