Episode 91: Imagining the End of the World -- The Psychological Appeal for Post-Apocalyptic Fiction, with Dr. Mathias Clasen

In this episode of MindTricks Radio, I sit down with Dr. Mathias Clasen, associate professor of literature and media and co-director of the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University in Denmark, to explore why people are so drawn to frightening stories — especially stories about the end of the world.

Our conversation dives into the strange appeal of post-apocalyptic fiction, from its “blank slate” fantasy of starting over to its darker confrontation with loneliness, survival, morality, and meaning. Dr. Clasen explains how these stories tap into the human imagination, our tendency toward worst-case thinking, and our deep ambivalence about civilization: we depend on society, but we also fantasize about escaping its rules, pressures, and artificial constraints.

We also discuss the psychology of fear, including how horror and apocalyptic fiction may function almost like emotional rehearsal. Drawing from his research on scary entertainment, haunted attractions, and pandemic-era resilience, Dr. Clasen makes the case that frightening fiction does more than scare us — it may help us practice coping with anxiety, uncertainty, and crisis.

At my request, Dr. Clasen also generously provided a list of some of his favorite post-apocalyptic works of literature. For listeners interested in exploring the genre further, here is his list:

George R. Stewart, Earth Abides (1949)
John Wyndham, The Day of the Triffids (1951)
Richard Matheson, I Am Legend (1954)
John Christopher, The Death of Grass (1956)
Nevil Shute, On the Beach (1957)
Pat Frank, Alas, Babylon (1959)
Walter M. Miller Jr., A Canticle for Leibowitz (1960)
John Christopher, Empty World (1977)
Stephen King, The Stand (1978/1990)
David Brin, The Postman (1985)
Robert R. McCammon, Swan Song (1987)
Emily St. John Mandel, Station Eleven (2014)
Max Brooks, World War Z (2006)
Joe Hill, The Fireman (2016)