Scary movies, books and podcasts can help people think through how they would respond to threats and prepare them for worst-case scenarios, say experts who study the psychology of fear.
Scary stories can show children that it is okay to be afraid and that they can use their brains to solve problems, even when they are frightened or use their natural survival instincts to safely escape from dangerous situations.
“Horror is a disruptive force that emphasizes the positive forces we value: coming together as a community, putting others first or self-love,” says Fletcher. “Showing a stark absence of those values helps us remember that they keep us from becoming monsters.”
What is Horror Fiction? Horror is a genre of literature, film, and television that is meant to scare, startle, shock, and even repulse audiences. The key focus of a horror novel, horror film, or horror TV show is to elicit a sense of dread in the reader through frightening images, themes, and situations.
Horror stories show readers the need for safety, spanning life and damnation and the gradations in between, including injury, illness, unconsciousness, and death. Damnation is a fate worse than death, which looms large and lurks around every dark corner in all horror stories.
What the Christian Horror Genre Can Teach Us About the Bible
What is the main theme of horror?
Some of the most common themes and motifs used in horror stories include death, supernatural forces, mental illness, and the unknown. These elements contribute to the genre as a whole by creating an atmosphere of tension and anxiety for the reader or viewer.
Horror books serve as portals to the darker corners of the human psyche. They mirror our fears, doubts, and vulnerabilities in a safe and controlled environment.
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.
At a very simple level, being scared can trigger an adrenaline rush, which is a visceral, exciting experience — enjoyable for many people. Reading and writing horror also often serves as a form of emotional release, in which people can confront and process their own fears in a controlled and safe environment.
The purpose of horror films is to highlight unconscious fears, desire, urges, and primeval archetypes that are buried deep in our collective subconscious – images of mothers and shadows play important roles because they are common to us all.
According to this theory, horror movies let us vicariously explore the nature of evil, both in others and in ourselves. They also allow us to grapple with the darkest parts of humanity in a safe environment.
Allowing our students to be scared and empowering them to not only face those fears but openly discuss what makes them afraid is one of the most important things we can do for them. I am a firm believer that horror stories provide the vehicle for these conversations.
They are designed to frighten, shock and disgust while evoking our worst hidden fears, ironically captivating and entertaining us at the same time. Horror films are centered around the dark side of life, the forbidden and strange, unexplainable events.
Horror movies help us gain coping skills and boost resilience. Facing your fears and being aware of your emotions are the first steps in learning how to navigate them.
People seek horror entertainment for thrill and adventure, but studies have found mental health benefits in viewing scary movies, including stress release, managing real-life fears, and gradually reducing the impact of stressors through exposure to danger and fear in a controlled environment.
On the surface, scary stories can help build confidence, enhance empathy, and teach a lesson, but there is also scientific evidence that demonstrates how scary stories can be beneficial (and might explain why we seek out the sense of fear).
Horror is the most important film genre because it's flexible enough to reflect the times, the tastes, and the traditions of the entire world. No matter who you are, no matter where you live or what you're into, odds are you're afraid of something. And as long as movies exist, so will horror.
As we mitigate more risks in everyday life, scary stories not only present a healthy way for kids to enjoy a good yarn and safely experience the thrill of danger, they also provide a unique way for children to learn how to gauge risks and how to manage their fears.
A horror narrative, film, or television program's primary objective is to spook the audience by presenting horrific situations, ideas, and images. According to the acclaimed author, there are three main subgenres of horror: The Gross-Out, Horror, and Terror.
The biochemical inside our bodies also changes when we consume horror. Fright can trigger the release of adrenaline, resulting in heightened sensations and surging energy.
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.
One brain imaging study found that watching horror movies activates threat-response brain regions such as the amygdala, prefrontal cortex and insula as if the danger were real. After this rush, many people experience an elevated mood.
According to science findings, people may seek out horror movies for all sorts of reasons, such as triggering chemicals in their brains, to help them plan for worst case scenarios, or to practice coping strategies and control.
The genre comes in many flavors, from psychological horror that messes with your mind to serial killer slashers that make you jump out of your skin. But regardless of the sub-genre, a horror story's main goal is the same: to scare the living daylights out of you.
From classic monster tales like Dracula to modern blood-soaked thrillers and urban horror, many elements make up the horror genre. Some recurring themes in horror stories include the concept of the fear of the unknown, isolation and alienation, loss and grief, and basic human fears such as death and mortality.
