Horror films have always had a special and enduring attraction to viewers all across the world. These films enthral audiences with their strong thrills and tension, transporting them to a terrifying and thrilling world. Horror films provide a variety of sensations, whether it’s through spine-tingling jump scares, spooky settings, or the investigation of the paranormal and psychological domains.
According to some scientists, watching frightening films can improve your mood by generating endorphins and dopamine, two naturally occurring feel-good chemicals in the brain. These substances have the ability to lessen pain and tension.
Neuropsychologist Dr. Kristen Knowles of Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh stated: “Researchers have found that watching horror can improve pain tolerance due to endorphin production.”
“Distraction from pain is also a likely explanation, since attention and energy resources are diverted towards threat evaluation and away from other bodily functions,” she mentioned in conversation with The Herald.
Minneapolis-based data analyst Brian Bisesi told the news website that he thinks people watch horror films to decompress and escape reality.
He averred, “For sure, if I was stressed out or anxious, I would be more likely to watch a horror film than any other kind of film. I’m not sure why, but it does relieve the tension. I don’t want to see a movie about the anxieties of day-to-da life; I want to watch a movie about a ghost or a killer on the loose, because that seems so far from my reality.”
“The toughest challenge in my life right now is parenting; it’s really stressful, but watching horror movies really puts my problems into perspective, so I can say, ‘Okay, nobody tried to murder me today; I didn’t get possessed by a demon today. It sounds silly, but I do feel more grateful for my own life after I watch a horror movie,” he added.
Research suggests that the reason why horror fans were “more psychologically resilient in the face of Covid-19” might be that they were frequently exposed to the “emotional exercise” of fake dangers, according to Dr. Kristen Knowles, who cited studies supporting this claim.
She mentioned, “Watching horror films gives us a safe way to explore a very intense emotional experience.
“The body’s response to fear or suspense is to ramp up production of stress hormones, such as adrenaline, which mobilise your body’s energy resources. This is paired with increased heart rate and focused attention; this can all feel rather exhilarating when that tension is released at the end of the film.”
“Doing this safely can feel good simply because it is thrilling; consider skydiving as a similar activity, which is frightening but also euphoric. One theory about why some people enjoy being frightened proposes that the film format makes it possible to safely play with negative emotions.”
“In horror films, the objects of fear are discrete and more simplistic than in real life. Through this safe interaction, we can learn to cope with negative emotions and develop resilience to fear and stress.”
