The Psychology of Fear: Why We’re Drawn to Horror Movies

The Psychology of Fear: Why We’re Drawn to Horror Movies

Horror movies are filled with spooky elements designed to elicit fear and lead us through hours of heart-pumping and palm-sweating thrills that keep us hooked. These films play on our innate psychology through sound, sight, and suspense, exploiting our natural instincts and human emotions. And a lot of the time, horror movies can leave a lasting impression that sometimes makes us wonder, “Why did I watch that?”

With about half of Americans saying they enjoy scary movies, it’s only natural to question why so many of us are drawn to detailed death scenes, jump scares, mind games, and the supernatural. It’s almost like we’re moths to a flame, attracted to what evokes the typically negative experience of fear.

Exploring the Concept of Fear

In the Oxford dictionary, “fear” is described as “an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.” Based on that definition alone, it comes as a real shock that any of us would be remotely interested in feeling that way. Universally, we exhibit physiological reactions like sweaty palms, racing hearts, and high alertness, but our emotional responses are actually highly personalized.

That’s what’s incredibly interesting about the concept of fear—what we’re afraid of is shaped by our personal threat perception, conditioning, and life experiences. It’s just like how some actively seek out adrenaline through extreme sports and others find the newest sweeps casinos to break up the monotony of day-to-day life. As fear releases some of the same chemicals in our brains as positive emotions do, it’s no surprise that there’s a blurring of the lines here. Some of us choose to watch scary movies because, well, it brings us a sense of joy.

The “Controlled Fear” of Horror Movies

None of us would want to face a real intruder in our homes, fend off an attacker in a dark alley, or unravel the mystery of a loved one who’s disappeared, but these scenarios can be thrilling in a movie. With these terrifying events occurring in a fictional world on our screens, we’re free to experience fear in a safe environment. We get to enjoy the thrill of the unknown while also feeling comfort knowing that we aren’t in any real danger.

It’s that paradoxical idea of engaging with our deepest fears while experiencing a less intense version of those emotions. With the horrors more than an arm’s length away, we can use horror movies as our own personal outlet. Perhaps we want to confront our fears and process them or, alternatively, stimulate our senses. While there are movies that focus mainly on depicting gore through special effects and slashers that get overly creative with character deaths, other horror movies go a little deeper and form a narrative. 

The Babadook, a psychological horror film, explores themes of grief and parenting through an imaginary monster. Single mother Amelia and her son Sam initially have their sights set on getting rid of the Babadook but ultimately realize that it can’t be banished. The Babadook is eventually confined to their basement, where it’s kept like a pet, soothed and fed. The movie presents a powerful analogy for grief and trauma as a lasting force that has to be confronted and managed rather than something we hope will simply go away forever.

Such a profound topic explored in such an unsettling way shows us that fear doesn’t just have to be a reaction to axe murderers and ghosts but also our internal struggles with loss and trauma. Horror movies have a unique ability to provide true catharsis and explore the unknown.

Psychological Theories Behind the Attraction to Fear

We’ve gone over a few reasons why we’re drawn to horror movies, but what if we were to bring in real psychological theories to explain them further? There are three main concepts we’ve touched upon, including:

• Cognitive Dissonance: Most people view cognitive dissonance as a disconnect between action and belief, such as knowing unhealthy eating habits are bad for you but continuing them anyway. With horror films, it’s more about experiencing two conflicting emotions at once, leading to psychological discomfort. Knowing we’re safe and feeling fear is the dissonance here, as our brains subconsciously reframe fear as a positive emotion.
• Excitation Transfer Theory: The excitation transfer theory is particularly relevant for thrill seekers, stating that other unrelated stimuli can further intensify emotional responses. For example, we might watch a horror movie and, after the credits roll, be on edge when we hear something while taking a shower or turning off the lights to go to sleep.
• Catharsis Theory: Proposed by Aristotle, this theory centers around the fact that expressing strong emotions can help release and reduce emotional tension. Essentially, scary movies act as an outlet for releasing pent-up emotions. In Aristotle’s day, people replicated this concept by watching tragedies.

The Psychological Impact of Horror

The beauty of horror films lies in their variety, where you can choose the type of scares you want to experience, whether it’s monster horror, a classic slasher, body horror, or something different. Each subgenre deliberately plays on our human anxieties with tactics to build fear, make us shield our faces, or even feel physically sick in the most unforgettable ways. Understanding what you know now about our fascination with horror, the next time you watch a horror movie, take it all in and truly immerse yourself in the psychological rollercoaster.