Why do many of us love watching horror movies? Why is it that we keep going back for more to feel the fear lacing every heartbeat of ours when we would do anything to avoid frightening, horrifying things in real life? This month is Halloween, a day associated with celebrating horror in these modern times. But being scared is not a positive emotion for most people—it leaves us with dark, second thoughts right before we fall asleep and keeps us awake all night. It leaves us trembling in the blinding darkness, petrified at the thought of leaving our bed's comfort to go to the bathroom.
Many of us simultaneously dread and look forward to jump scares. Several individuals report that it is the adrenaline pumping through their bodies, the fight-or-flight response that they crave while watching such scenes, but when thought about deeply, isn’t this the same fight-or-flight response that lies at the very core of anxiety and panic attacks? What is it about these digital simulations that make us crave the very things we are so spooked by in real life? In this blog, we shall cover the possible reasons that draw us toward this overwhelming feeling of uncertainty and trepidation.
As mentioned earlier, among the most important characteristics attracting people to watch such movies is that adrenaline rush. There is little doubt that fearful scenes that make you feel on the edge of your seat would surely stimulate the nervous system as if you were facing a threat from your environment in real life. The fight-or-flight response increases adrenaline, endorphins, and dopamine, creating a flawless, natural high. Though the response takes place because of a ‘threat,’ you are well aware of the fact that you are safe and sound, and the ‘threat’ is not real. A parallel can be drawn to adventure sports as well—the exhilarating, thrilling feeling one experiences when they are dangling mid-air with only a thin rope as their support—their biological system would’ve shifted gears to protect them, while the individual is well aware that they are perfectly safe. This psychological distance creates a comfort zone for individuals, and they experience a sense of relief and accomplishment after the movie ends. This feeling is similar to a post-exercise glow, as the adrenaline and the high fade slowly, and a mellow, tranquil feeling envelops you in a warm hug.
These movies also help people satisfy their curiosity about the darker side of humanity and the world. We get to explore several different attention-grabbing themes like post-apocalyptic scenarios, the threat of an attacker, and supernatural phenomena under a safety net.
Research also suggests that one can experience pleasure through horror if they have a ‘psychological frame.’ This frame has three categories:
An individual needs to believe they are distant from the scene and are physically safe. That way, they can derive pleasure through the jump scares and the thrilling scenes if there is a line drawn clearly between reality and fiction. But a sensation of anxiety and dread would burden them if the lines between reality and fiction blurred and if they did not feel safe.
When an individual can psychologically detach themselves from the scenes.
The confidence the individual holds. If they believe in their ability to manage and control themselves, they will be able to detach themselves from chilling visual stimuli.
Personality traits also influence our preference for horror, playing a role in determining whether we would love or hate it. Several studies have demonstrated that individuals with higher levels of sensation-seeking enjoy horror. Sensation-seeking is the tendency to search for new, novel, and intense experiences. Research also suggests that individuals with higher empathy levels might not enjoy horror as much because they would be distressed due to the negative encounters the characters face. However other researchers have shown mixed or opposite results when it comes to this.
And finally, the environment where this movie was watched also plays a key role. Watching such movies with friends enhances social connections as people bond over their shared experience of fear, contributing to a feeling of camaraderie between them. Watching it with people you like can make it a fun experience because of all the comments shared, contributing to overall relaxation and enjoyment.
References
Clasen, M. (2017b). Why Horror seduces. In Oxford University Press eBooks. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780190666507.001.0001
Hudson, M., Seppälä, K., Putkinen, V., Sun, L., Glerean, E., Karjalainen, T., Karlsson, H. K., Hirvonen, J., & Nummenmaa, L. (2020). Dissociable neural systems for unconditioned acute and sustained fear. NeuroImage, 216, 116522. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.116522
Madriga, E. (2020, October 11). The psychological reason Watching horror movies can be good for your mental health. Thought.is. https://thought.is/the-psychological-reason-watching-horror-movies-can-be-good-for-your-mental-health/
Martin, G. N. (2019). (Why) Do you like scary movies? A review of the empirical research on psychological responses to horror films. Frontiers in Psychology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02298
Sanders, A. (n.d.). Exploring the dark side of humanity: motivations of morbidly curious individuals. Murray State’s Digital Commons. https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/scholarsweek/Spring2023/PsychCP/3/
Yang, H. (2021, October 26). The psychology behind why we love (or hate) horror. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2021/10/the-psychology-behind-why-we-love-or-hate-horror
🙌🙌