Smart Talks. Cold Drinks.

Presenting THINK & DRINK – where the curious gather. This ongoing lecture series delivers a wide array of topics that generate fresh perspectives, ideas, and discussion. These community-driven events are powered by a collaboration between UMKC, Linda Hall Library, The Third Place Historian, and Casual Animal Brewing Company. 

Your RSVP is appreciated to help us preset the room and accommodate as many seats as possible for interested attendees. You will also receive at least 1 reminder email about the event when you RSVP.

September 3 - The Science of Sarcasm

Speaker: Dr. Valeria Pfeifer, Assistant Professor of Psychology and Counseling, University of Missouri-Kansas City

Despite there being no logical reason to say the opposite of what you mean, and many people dismissing sarcasm as maladaptive, full of contempt, and “bad for you”, its use is ubiquitous. So, why would anybody use verbal irony and sarcasm, if we risk not only being misunderstood, but possibly worse? Newer science says that irony is actually good for you! It can help regulate emotions, foster creativity, and manage social relationships. In this presentation, This lecture will discuss science related to sarcasm, from examples and prevalence of sarcasm in the world around us, what happens in your brain when you encounter it, and how we can use this communicative superpower to our advantage.

Valeria Pfeifer is an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Counseling at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She joined UMKC in the Summer of 2025 from sunny Arizona, where she completed a Ph.D. in Psychology and a Postdoc at the University of Arizona. She also holds a BA and MA in Linguistics, from Bielefeld University in Germany. Her research investigates how we can use figurative language, such as metaphor, irony, or swearing, to express, perceive, and regulate emotional experiences.