Life Has No Objective Meaning: The Psychology of Nihilism

Talks on Tuesdays: Real lectures in your favourite venues. 45-mins + Q&A with Dr Natasha van Antwerpen and Dr Sarah Halliday Talks on Tuesdays is a live event series bringing big ideas, real experts, and curious minds together - at your favourite local venues. Think thought-provoking lectures, audience questions, and post-talk mingling over drinks and dinner. This isn’t a uni lecture. It’s a social, intelligent night out. Come alone or with friends, leave with something to talk about. Event Schedule: 6.30pm Arrival & Doors Open 7pm Lecture Starts 7.45pm Q&A 8pm Talk Concludes 8.30pm Event Closes. *Please arrive close to 6.30pm A La Carte menu and full bar available throughout the night - pay as you go. Your Topic: Devoid of Meaning? The Psychology of Nihilism There has been growing concern that existential nihilism, the philosophical view that life has no objective meaning, is on the rise, especially among young people - with potential negative consequences for mental health, and societal engagement. We present on some initial work looking at the intersection of nihilism and psychology, including how these beliefs connect to wellbeing and illbeing, and perspectives from people interested in nihilism or identifying as nihilistic on the influence of nihilism on their wellbeing, moral decision making, and societal engagement. We'll talk a bit about what nihilism is, why it's a concern, and what the early research in this area is suggesting about how real (or otherwise) those concerns are. Your Speaker: Dr Natasha van Antwerpen and Dr Sarah Halliday Dr Natasha van Antwerpen is a Lecturer in the School of Psychology at Adelaide University. She uses quantitative and qualitative research methods to investigate the interaction between psychology, modern information environments, and our understanding of truth - with a focus on how we can apply psychology to journalism; misinformation and its connection to broader societal attitudes; and how philosophical beliefs influence people's values and wellbeing. Dr Sarah Halliday is a Lecturer in the School of Psychology at Adelaide University. Her research and teaching largely focuses on health and developmental psychology, and she actively engages in the scholarship of teaching and learning for psychology. Her research interests include adolescent health and wellbeing, including the impact of adolescent bullying victimisation on emotional wellbeing, psychosocial, and academic outcomes; she also researches the impact of nihilistic beliefs on various aspects of mental health and wellbeing, and life decisions.