Every Halloween, representatives of various countries go on excursions to "haunted houses", dress up as ghouls and ghouls, or, at worst, sit in front of the TV to watch some kind of big horror movie. And many do without an excuse like Halloween.
The need to fear for fun seems counterintuitive, but it exists in most cultures on the planet.
So why do most of us need to be scared half to death from time to time?
Psychologists have found that it is all about the circumstances of the experience of fear - although, of course, these rules are not the same for everyone.
1. For some people, fear is associated with a feeling of satisfaction
Psychiatrist David Zald has discovered peculiarities in the chemical processes taking place in the brains of people who adore films such as "The Exorcist" or "Evil Dead."
As you know, the hormone dopamine is responsible for the feeling of satisfaction and, in general, for the positive psycho-emotional mood of a person. But with it, according to the results of a 2008 University of Michigan study, opposite sensations, such as fear, are also associated.
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Zald's research at Vanderbilt University has expanded the understanding of exactly how dopamine is linked to fear. He found that in people who take pleasure in risky or dangerous situations, brain cells are often unable to regulate dopamine production. In order to stimulate the release of dopamine and enjoy it, these people need to be properly scared.
Adrenaline - which is also released in moments of danger, also gives many people pleasure - this is more true for skydiving or other extreme sports enthusiasts.
2. Emotionally tense moments are remembered for a long time and are able to unite people
People sitting in the woods around the fire and telling each other scary stories are classics. A more modest option is in the school locker room with the lights off.
The more scary, the more you want to cuddle up to each other, the less you want to be left alone. And, according to the findings of the sociologist Marge Kerr, moments of fear experienced together with other people become unforgettable.
“A stronger sense of intimacy is created between people who have experienced emotional arousal together,” Kerr said in an interview with The Atlantic. "We are social and emotional beings, we need each other in times of great stress, so our bodies tend to feel the closeness of whoever is around."
3. Right fear in the right place
The fun of Halloween is that you can get over fear with confidence in your own safety. Kerr has studied what exactly scares people in a "haunted house" in Pittsburgh called Scarehouse (translated as "house of fear"), as well as in a new horror project called The Basement (translated as "basement"), told the Atlantic. that there is a "safe fear" limit.
“This amazing response of the body, which is called 'fight or flight', is provided by the release of adrenaline, endorphins and dopamine, but only in a completely safe place, - says Kerr. - Surviving the horror of getting lost in the forest alone, having no idea where to look for help - there is no pleasure in this. But getting lost in a "haunted house" in a company with friends and under the supervision of professionals, when you know that at your first call they will come to rescue you - this can be a thrill."
Plus, wandering around a haunted house or watching a horror movie can boost self-esteem, says Kerr.
"A lot of people enjoy frightening situations because it enhances their sense of self-confidence as a result of the illusion that they have just gone through a major challenge."
So, if you are a fan of the horror genre, watching horror movies for your health (preferably in good company) will do you good.
Seva Bardin