Why do we enjoy being scared?
My favorite pastime lately is sitting in my room reading “The Shining” by Stephen King, with the only light on being the ambience emitting from my lamp and string lights. I enjoy the anticipation of not knowing what’s coming next in the book and the twinges of fear when I hear the wood floor outside my bedroom door creak or the air conditioning turn on. I am not alone in this since these eerie environments excite millions, if not billions, of people.
I love watching horror movies no matter the time of year. I have a long list of favorite horror films that range from classics like “The Shining” and “Psycho” to brand new thrillers like “The Barbarian” and “Get Out.” Two things remain the same no matter the horror movie: the enjoyment from being scared while watching it and my roaring laughter after screaming from the unexpected jumpscares.
Our nomadic ancestors who fought for food and constantly searched for comfort would probably be horrified to know that we purposely go to haunted houses or write stories for the sole purpose of becoming scared.
The real question is: Why do we enjoy fear when our sole purpose as humans is to do things that further our survival? Surely, being chased by a fake masked killer at a haunted corn maze is not something humans instinctively believe will further their survival. Yet, we continue to consume horror and true crime media at a faster rate than ever before.
The global horror industry is flourishing. Chris Arkenberg from Deloitte Center for Technology, Media & Telecommunications states that horror movies and media make approximately $120 billion annually. That is a whole lot of money. The horror industry stays afloat because there is a reason why we get so enthralled with all things scary.
Horror provides our brains with stimulation.
When we experience something terrifying, our brains get stimulated. We can become fearful or excited when scared. In a Harvard Business Review article, Haiyang Yang and Kuangjie Zhang said, “Fright can trigger the release of adrenaline, resulting in heightened sensations and surging energy.”
If you pay attention to your actions during the average day, your brain is constantly seeking stimulation. No one derives pleasure from sitting down and staring at a wall. I remember finishing the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program in middle school early and having nothing else to do but stare at the wall silently until everyone else finished. It was miserable.
Stimulating our brains creates positive emotions. Since being scared stimulates our brains, compared to mindlessly scrolling through different TV channels or doing other mundane activities, we enjoy horror for its rich entertainment qualities.
Our frontal lobe makes sure we know we are OK.
The frontal lobe of our brain controls movement, higher-level cognitive functioning and language production. In Healthline magazine, Katherine Brownlowe, a neuropsychiatrist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, said, “If you’re in a situation like a haunted house and something jumps out at you or you hear a scary noise, your body goes into fight or flight mode, but your frontal lobe still knows you’re safe and will calm you down, allowing the situation to be more pleasurable.” Essentially, our brains know the difference between being chased by an actor with a fake chainsaw at a haunted house and being chased by a crazy madman.
Our brains release endorphins and adrenaline when we get scared, helping us relieve stress and escape from dangerous situations. When we are not actually in danger, but it feels like we are – when we ride roller coasters or watch that scary movie – our brains release these same chemicals. In these situations where we are not in danger, these chemicals can make us feel good by raising our mood, even to the point of feeling euphoric.
Because our frontal lobe does not sense tangible danger when we experience fear responses from true crime documentaries or jumpscares, we are able to sit back and enjoy the fear instead of running and screaming.
Horror allows us to explore what we are scared of in a safe environment.
What we do not understand and what makes us scared is intriguing. Listening to a true crime podcast in the car or sitting back and watching slasher films like “Scream” or “Friday the 13th” may seem macabre, but it remains fascinating. Humans are inherently curious, and doing or watching scary things helps us safely explore our deepest and darkest fears.
We are physically safe while walking through a haunted house, but we get to have a simulated experience of what it would feel like for a killer clown to jump out in front of us or for a masked killer to lurk nearby. When we consume horror media, we can confront the worst parts of the human psyche all while being in the comfort of our own homes. We are fascinated by what human beings are capable of – which is why there are 10 “Saw” movies – so we consequently seek out media that explores the things that no one else is willing to talk about.
Being scared allows us to connect with others.
When I watch horror movies, I rarely ever do it alone. I coerce my parents, friends or sister to watch them with me. Cuddling up with snacks and putting on a great horror movie, holding tightly onto my friends in anticipation of the next jumpscare makes for a great bonding experience. After the movie ends, we can laugh at each other for screaming and discuss the specific plots or events.
Nothing is better than having a friend who likes the same activities as you, and being scared together is a bonding experience. After you shut the television off and get ready to go to bed at a sleepover with your friend, knowing that both of you are still awake and scared after watching the movie, you now have a common experience that will strengthen your bond.
The pleasurable hormones released when we are scared in safe situations subconsciously have us associate those happy chemicals with the person we are around. Not only are horror movies a great way to share common adventures, but they are also a great way to make you chemically bond with someone. Because endorphins and adrenaline hormones are released when experiencing an enjoyable scare, we can expect to be happy the next time we are around the person we experience it with.
So what should you do now?
Curl up and celebrate Halloween by watching a horror movie, telling scary stories by candlelight outside or going to a haunted house. Even if you are not a horror connoisseur, you may find yourself enjoying the thrill of being scared.
Stay safe and face your fears! Happy Halloween!
Alayna Heifner is a freshman at UT this year studying philosophy. She can be reached at [email protected].
Columns and letters of The Daily Beacon are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or the Beacon’s editorial staff.
