Being scared (safely and healthily) is an often enjoyable and cathartic experience for many people. This can also be true for those suffering from anxiety. What many people do not know is that scary movies can also help to aid those people suffering from anxiety. This aid can come in the form of cinema therapy.
Also known as “rest and digest,” which is mentioned above, this dopamine response can aid in flooding your brain with this addictively calming hormone, while also helping you to feel better after this scary experience.
"If someone is feeling anxious, they may find that horror helps them stop ruminating about other things in their life," Scrivner says. "Horror forces the viewer to focus -- the monster on the screen pulls us in and focuses our attention."
Albers said doing something spooky, like going to a haunted house, gives people the chance to step out of their comfort zones and experience something new – but in a safe and controlled way. They may also feel a sense of accomplishment once it's over.
Some people find scary movies a big turn-on. It's not that they're hot for Freddy Krueger or the gore he brings, it's biology. So if you feel aroused after watching a frightening film, you're not alone.
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Which gender likes horror more?
One survey found that, on average, younger individuals tend to be more attracted to this scary genre; men are more likely to be fans of horror than women; and women versus men may like different aspects of a horror experience.
“There is no true release until a sense of safety has been re-established. Then the relief can be huge.” While watching a horror movie, the release is felt when the conflict is positively resolved – usually when evil is defeated – and our brain releases endorphins, stress-relief hormones, to relax us.
Not surprisingly, some research indicates that people with a higher sensation-seeking trait and those who are more open to new experiences tend to seek out and enjoy horror-related experiences more. Additionally, if you have more empathy, you tend to react more negatively to what happens in horror shows.
Research indicates that people lower in the trait of empathy tend to enjoy horror movies because they are less impacted by the suffering depicted onscreen.
Horror entertainment can trigger the fight-or-flight response, which comes with a boost in adrenaline, endorphins, and dopamine. The brain can then process surroundings and conclude that the experience is not a genuine threat. This knowledge of personal safety is one reason horror fans habitually watch scary movies.
When you are watching a scary movie, you are constantly on edge. The high suspense can cause an increase in stress and anxiety, which can lead to an increased heart rate. The change is not very noticeable of threatening, but it is definitely something to keep in mind.
Studies indicate that a 90-minute session of horror viewing can help burn up to 150 calories, akin to a brisk half-hour jog or walk. This revelation stemmed from a study by researchers at the University of Westminster, which observed heightened heart and metabolic rates during horror movie-watching sessions.
People enjoy watching scary movies because it provides them with a safe, controlled environment to experience fear and adrenaline. It also allows them to explore the unknown and challenge their own fears. Additionally, it can be a great way to bond with friends by watching a horror movie together.
So why do we like it? It is a combination of an adrenaline rush and an opportunity to learn about dealing with scary situations in a safe environment, researchers say. Clasen and his colleagues identified three broad types of horror fans: “adrenaline junkies,” “white knucklers” and “dark copers.”
People with anxiety are more likely to be negatively affected by horror movies. Chronic anxiety increases sensitivity to startle stimuli, the researchers explain. As a result, it makes people who are already stressed and anxious more likely to react negatively.
SCRIVNER: Yeah, the third type, which we call the dark copers - they seem to use horror or sort of dark themes to deal with existential problems or dark emotional states - so, like, anxiety or fear that they're feeling in their life, and they use scary genres like horror to kind of work through those feelings.
As of October 2022, almost two-thirds (64 percent) of adults aged 30 to 44 surveyed in the United States said they either liked or loved the horror movie genre. Among respondents aged 18 to 29, that share was 10 percentage points lower, at 54 percent.
For those suffering from anxiety, it can sometimes feel like there is no way out. Perhaps this is why many struggling with anxiety disorder look to escape their troubles with distractions like horror movies.
Some people with anxiety have shared how horror movies help them deal with their symptoms. Many people are fans of the horror movie genre, but for people with anxiety, it can be more than just a fun, spooky hobby. For some, watching scary movies is actually a powerful way to deal with their anxiety symptoms.
"Exposure to horror films can be gratifying when the negative emotions caused by the film are manageable," Dr. Clasen explained. "Moreover, there's psychological distance when we watch a horror film. We know it's not real—or at least, some parts of our brain know it isn't real.
Dr. Kerr describes it as our body “ramping us up into 'go' mode.” Watching a scary movie can trigger this response, because you perceive a threat more quickly than you can distinguish whether it's real or imagined. This involuntary response can have a major effect on your body, causing it to release adrenaline.
Scary shows, movies, and books gave me an element of control in the face of sensations that usually invoked feelings of helplessness. I think a lot of enjoyment of horror for everyone, not just trauma survivors, has to do with being able to feel fear in a controlled environment.
According to Dolf Zillmann's excitation transfer theory, experiencing the stress or excitement of a scary movie leads to a sense of relief afterwards. The higher the level of fear during the movie, the greater the sense of relief after it's over, which can be a feel-good experience.
When we experience "recreational" or "staged" fear, our brain releases dopamine, a feel-good hormone associated with feelings of pleasure, reward and motivation.
Ultimately, horror is addictive because it is exciting. The build-up and impact tends to be greater than any other genre and it responds much more to human nature than anything else. It's fun to be scared, to push yourself, and to sometimes have something you are told you can't have.”
