Why Do Some People Like Horror Films?

Where does it come from that fear appeals to people? Let us look at the words of the famous researcher and psychologist Artuhr Westermayr: “Since the beginning of human thought, fear has been viewed with contempt.”   If this statement is true, why do so many people enjoy it?

It may be that there is no one true and completely correct answer. Nevertheless, we will try to get to the bottom of this unique emotion. Here we go!

The pleasure of controlled fear

We begin by looking at the assumption of sociologist Margee Kerr, who works at an attraction, the House of Terror, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. For them, control is key.

What kind of control does Kerr mean? The answer is simple. Whenever the human brain feels fear in a safe environment, the psychological responses can be very entertaining. With this, Kerr explains that overcoming a situation that caused stress in our brains leads to increased self-confidence and positive feelings. This is a consequence that allows our brains to enjoy things that should be negative.

You don’t have to be afraid of anything in life if you understand your own fear.

Marie Curie

What is fear really?

Do we know what fear actually is? It is usually described as a series of emotions associated with a psychological process indicating potential danger, stress, or negative situations. It is actually a whole series of systems that are activated psychologically and at the behavioral level in threatening situations.

It all happens very quickly. At first glance, our brains become aware of the type of fear that is within us. Obviously, therefore, the fear experienced in controlled situations can be enjoyed . For example at a horror film, at carnival or on Halloween.

When our brain experiences a fear that is not related to a controlled situation (such as the sudden death of a loved one) then there is certainly no joy and the real and uncontrolled terror of the mind and body dominates us completely.

Conditioned fear

Can a person be conditioned to suffer from severe anxiety? If we look at the “Conditioned Emotional Responses” experiment by Rosalie Rayner and John Watson conducted at the beginning of the 20th century, we can conclude that it is possible.

In the above experiment, the researchers triggered a phobia in a 9-year-old boy. The study describes the entire process of fear conditioning. Today the experiment would be considered unethical, but it also sheds light on this phenomenon.

The results suggest that our brains can be perfectly conditioned to experience fear. Again, it is very rewarding for some people when this fear is experienced in a controlled manner.

Psychological responses to fear

The positive or negative responses to fear can be understood with the help of the psychological response that our brain gives. Depending on the perceived stimulus, we are able to interpret and understand these emotions. In our limbic system, deep in the temporal lobe, we find the amygdala. This subcortical structure is responsible for deciding whether it is a pleasant fear or a real fear.

We can react in a number of ways in a fearful situation. Maybe we want to flee or attack … our bodies react by expelling adrenaline and the levels of stress hormones and glucose in the blood rise. Is this all-encompassing response normal in our body? When you are in a controlled environment and your mind knows for sure that there is no danger, then it can be a great treat for your whole body. You’ll enjoy it with no real danger in between.

Fear is that little darkroom where negatives are developed.

Michael Pritchard

So now you know. When everything is under control, indulging in fear can be a means of improving your mood. A way to stimulate your brain, a feast of substances it loves, with no harm at all.

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