Our desire to experience fear, it seems, is rooted deep in our evolutionary past and can still benefit us today. Scary play, it turns out, can help us overcome fears and face new challenges—those that surface in our own lives and others that arise in the increasingly disturbing world we all live in.
Exposure to terrifying acts like stories of demonic possession or alien infestation can be stimulating both mentally and physically. These experiences can give rise to both negative feelings, such as fear or anxiety, and positive feelings, such as excitement or joy.
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.
What is the psychology behind enjoying horror movies?
Exploring the Dark Side of Humanity
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.
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.
Dark copers, the third type of horror fan, seem to use scary media to help them deal with anxieties about the world or their own lives by focusing on a more concrete threat. By pinning down what is causing us to feel fear and dread, people can have more control over their emotional state.
The tendency to fear intrusive thoughts and images can be triggered and increase levels of anxiety or panic. Viewing horror images can lead to unwanted thoughts and feelings. Thus, people who experience anxiety sensitivities often have a need to avoid those experiences.
Horror movies can be a form of escapism for those struggling with anxiety. Instead of facing their issues straight on, it may be easier to drown them in another person's narrative.
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.
“Horror movies allow the release of tension and all sorts of emotion in a safe environment,” says Hong Kong-based clinical psychologist Melanie Bryan. “There are not many environments, aside from concerts, that allow the strong emotional release of a horror movie.”
Watching horrific images can trigger unwanted thoughts and feelings and increased levels of anxiety or panic, and even increase our sensitivity to startle-eliciting stimuli, making those of us who are anxious more likely to respond negatively and misinterpret the sensations as real threats.
Holly Richmond, a somatic psychologist and certified sex therapist explains it like this. Something called “horror-induced horniness” has a lot to do with the body's physiological response to fear. When we're scared, our bodies typically have some natural and hormonal responses reports Refinery 29.
For us sensitive people, this means a scene of violence can be difficult to stomach. Watching someone in pain can cause our brains to almost experience that scene ourselves, as if we were actually there. We cannot just watch and feel amused, pretending it isn't real (even if it isn't).
Different types of psychopathy are related to horror movie preference as well as things like violent sports (and an aversion to romance, pop music and non-violent sports). However, you don't need to be a psychopath to enjoy horror cinema.
Some research indicates that people with a higher sensation-seeking trait (i.e., a stronger need for experiencing thrill and excitement) tend to seek out and enjoy horror-related experiences more. Those with a lower sensation-seeking trait may find those experiences unpleasant and avoid them.
Even talking about it to yourself can really help with processing. Writing down what happened in your notes section on your phone, or journaling about it if you're a journal writer, can help it stop buzzing around your brain. Even looking up the plot of the film online helps you accept and process what you just saw.
This also ties into the element of individual empathy, which is the capacity that one has to understand someone's emotions. Therefore, people who are less empathetic are more prone to liking horror films and people who are empathetic will not because they get attached and feel the emotions of the characters.
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.
People with pre-existing mental health conditions like anxiety disorders may be more vulnerable to negative reactions to scary films, as they are more prone to experiencing disgust in response to the graphic depictions in these films.
“When kids are exposed to excessively scary movies, images, or even haunted houses, they tend to have some of the symptoms of Acute Stress Disorder or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,” Dr. Scanlon explained. The phenomenon of being scared is an experience that all humans can relate to, according to Dr. Scanlon.
The Dark Triad traits of psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism were hypothesized as having a positive correlation with horror movie enjoyment and a lower physiological response during the viewing of a horror movie because of past research showing that low empathy and high senastion seeking are consistently ...
“When kids are exposed to excessively scary movies, images, or even haunted houses, they tend to have some of the symptoms of Acute Stress Disorder or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,” Dr.
Irritability is a feature of depression itself. If you have depression, anger may show up as snapping at others over trivial things or being unable to handle small disappointments without reacting negatively.
There are even horror films that give people psychosis. Long-term and even short-term effects of the stress brought on by horror can make people feel like they are having a heart attack or eventually create one.
