Watching movies is a popular form of entertainment for many people. Some enjoy hilarious comedies that make them burst into laughter, while others prefer thrilling action movies that keep them on the edge of their seats. And then there are those who love to watch horror films that elicit screams of terror. Experts have analyzed the reasons why some people enjoy scaring themselves with horror movies.
Psychology lecturer Shane Rogers and Shannon Muir from Edith Cowan University in Australia, along with behavioral scientist Coltan Scrivner from Arizona State University in the United States, wrote an article on The Conversation website, discussing six major reasons why people love watching horror movies.
According to these scholars, people typically try to avoid negative emotions such as fear, anxiety, and disgust in their daily lives. So why do some individuals seek out these negative feelings in horror films and seem to enjoy them? They listed the following six reasons:
1. There is a significant overlap between the emotions of fear and excitement. Both trigger the release of stress hormones in the body, resulting in symptoms like increased heart rate, rapid breathing, sweating, and muscle tension. People also tend to feel more alert and “on edge.”
2. Research consistently shows that individuals who crave intense emotional experiences, including fear and excitement, often enjoy watching horror movies.
3. For those who are more easily frightened, certain scenes in horror movies may be too intense. This could lead them to engage in coping behaviors such as looking away or covering their ears, especially when deeply immersed in the film.
4. Watching horror movies can provide an emotional rollercoaster experience, with significant shifts between fear and relief throughout the process. People may love watching horror movies because there is a sense of relief after the moments of fear.
5. Many horror films feature supernatural themes and characters such as zombies, werewolves, and vampires, satisfying people’s curiosity about the bizarre.
6. Horror movies can reflect people’s deepest fears, prompting them to reflect on their own fears and limits. Some individuals may enjoy watching horror movies to better understand their own boundaries.
Watching horror movies can also be a way to push personal boundaries, reducing the fear or aversion towards things in real life.
In a social context, watching horror movies with others can be appealing. Doing so may make some people feel safer and amplify their emotional experiences by absorbing the emotions of those around them.
Watching horror movies is a common dating option for both men and women. Being scared together provides a good excuse to huddle and comfort each other.
Watching horror movies may evoke a sense of pleasure when witnessing misfortune befall others, known as schadenfreude. This occurs when individuals feel that those facing misfortune (such as villains) deserve it.
In many horror films, characters who suffer terrifying fates are often minor roles. These unfortunate individuals are usually unlikable and often make foolish choices before the horrifying conclusion.
In conclusion, people enjoy watching horror movies for a variety of reasons. The specific combination of reasons varies from person to person and from film to film.
In addition to the aforementioned reasons, some individuals may watch horror movies for weight loss purposes. A study from the University of Westminster in the UK showed that watching horror movies can burn calories, aiding in weight loss.
According to a report in the UK’s Daily Telegraph, researchers measured the energy expenditure of 10 participants while watching their selected horror movies, recording their heart rate, oxygen consumption, and carbon dioxide output.
The results showed that watching a 90-minute horror movie can burn 113 calories, equivalent to the calories in a chocolate bar or the calories burned during a half-hour walk.