Why do we enjoy being scared?
People have a curious fascination with horror and fright. We love the rush of being afraid. The reason has to do with survival instincts developed over millions of years. Fear triggers the fight-or-flight response – the body’s quick reaction when it thinks you’re scared, worried or in danger. This evolutionary survival mechanism releases adrenaline. For example, when we watch a scary film, we activate this response, but without any real risk of harm.
Are spine-chilling experiences actually good for us?
Experiencing fear in a controlled setting can be exhilarating, explained(opens in new window) Coltan Scrivner, a behavioural scientist and internationally recognised expert on morbid curiosity and the psychology of horror. “Our amygdala(opens in new window) is saying, ‘Hey, there’s a danger.’ But other parts of our brain, like our prefrontal cortex(opens in new window), say, ‘Well, hang on a second. You’re sitting on your couch, and that’s on a TV, and so this isn’t really dangerous to you’. When people describe morbid curiosity, it’s a mixed feeling of fear but also curiosity, fascination or even comfort.” Once the danger passes, the brain releases dopamine, the feel-good chemical. A recent study(opens in new window) by a University of Colorado Boulder research team in the United States revealed how a specific brain circuit helps us to respond to danger and learn when threats aren’t real. “The brain’s threat system is like an alarm. It needs to sound when danger is real, but it needs to shut off when it’s not,” first author Elora Williams explained(opens in new window). “Our study shows how the brain learns to fine-tune those responses through experience, helping us adapt to the world.” But enough with biology. The psychology of fear is where it gets really interesting. “Horror movies are a good way for adults to practice emotion regulation—when you’re watching a horror movie, you’re not always trying to be the most scared you can be,” Scrivner elaborated. “Often, you’re trying to hit a sweet spot and have to regulate your fear and anxiety up and down.” The safe space can help us to confront, reduce or even conquer our anxieties. Pushing the limit can offer a sense of self-satisfaction, achievement and empowerment. We believe we can successfully cope with challenging or uncomfortable situations. All this ends up boosting our self-confidence. We’re usually not alone when our eyes widen and the heart races. This helps to strengthen bonds with family, friends and significant others.
Turning fear into fun
Marc Hye-Knudsen from Aarhus University in Denmark stated that there’s a fine line between humour and fear(opens in new window). By laughing at our fears, we’re overcoming them. He led a 2024 study(opens in new window) to understand why we love horror by examining how 280 visitors to a haunted house controlled their fear. The researchers also studied data from 100 online scare prank videos. “On the surface, fear and humor seem like polar opposite states of mind. … The two are such seemingly opposed states of mind that we should hardly ever expect them to interact. Yet, throughout our lives, they continually do just that. From playing peekaboo with our parents as infants, through scaring play mates for fun when we are children, to laughing after jump scares when watching horror films as adults.”