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Spooky Folklore and the Psychology of Horror

Season 1
Episode #4
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Welcome to the Spooky Spectacular! In this episode we’ll share some of New Mexico’s classic ghost stories and folklore, then we’ll talk about what it means to be horrified and why the horror movie genre is not quite what it seems. This Halloween podcast episode delivers eerie expertise just in time for spooky season.

Gabino Noriega, a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Chicano and Chicana Studies, tells the stories of La Llorona and the Devil at the Dance and discusses how these stories have been seen around the world throughout history and how these stories are an integral part of New Mexico’s culture.

Learn more about La Malinche.

Learn more about the Aztec Cihuateotl.

Ditch Witch campaign:

Image of DitchWitch

Image of DitchWitch

In the 1980s, the Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority (AMAFCA), the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, Bernalillo County and the City of Albuquerque combined efforts to create a public safety education campaign to teach children to stay out of ditches and arroyos. Brochures, bumper stickers and signs conveyed: “Ditches are Deadly–Stay Away” and “Expect the Unexpected.” The Ditch Witch and Water Monster characters visited schools and events.

David Witherington, associate professor in the Department of Psychology, discusses how we develop fear as children, why horror is different than fear and how horror films can offer a sense of catharsis.

About Our Guest(s)

Gabino Noriega

Gabino Noriega III is a Burqueño, Ph.D. Candidate, Educator, Folklorist, Storyteller, Poet, and Multi-instrumentalist. Gabino is passionate about supporting the unique needs of students of color in education. His focus areas include Educational Opportunities for Students of Color, Community Cultural Wealth, Curanderismo, Folklore, Ethnic Studies, and Chicano Indigeneity. In addition to his doctoral studies, Gabino has a passion for Chicanx/Latinx arts, music, film, and sustaining the cultural traditions of New Mexico. He has performed his poetry, storytelling, and music both nationally and internationally. He is also a family man focused on connecting his family to the Earth and the traditions of our ancestors. Find him on Instagram @DarthNoriega.

David Witherington

David Witherington is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology. His empirical work focuses on emotional, perception-action, and cognitive development in infancy and early childhood. His conceptual work focuses on the metatheoretical foundations of developmental science and on delineating, elucidating, and resolving conceptual confusions in the discipline.

Hosted by UCAM’s Carly Bowling

Carly Bowling headshot

Long-time listener, first-time podcaster, Carly Bowling, is a university communication representative in The University of New Mexico’s University Communication and Marketing team (UCAM). She is thrilled to help shed light on the outstanding research work being done at UNM, New Mexico’s only R1 university. In addition to producing IPNRS, she contributes stories and videos to the UNM Newsroom, the University’s official communications platform.

Bowling is a graduate of the Arizona State University Walter Cronkite School of Journalism (’19). Her background includes multimedia journalism, documentary filmmaking, photography and writing. She is passionate about science communication and making academic topics and research accessible and interesting to people from all backgrounds and she hopes you’ll consider subscribing to the show!