Why Do We Like to Be Scared?
Haunted houses, ghost stories, horror movies, skydiving, and roller coasters. Many of us find enjoyment in being scared! But why? What is it that makes feeling fear fun? We explain.
To understand the answer to that question, it’s important to first understand what fear is, and why we experience it.
Understanding Fear
Fear is the body’s physical response to potential threats. When we encounter something that might be harmful—a bear in the woods for instance—our brains respond by flooding the bloodstream with adrenaline and the stress hormone cortisol.
It doesn’t matter whether the threat is real or pretend because the brain’s reaction time is so fast that it has already released the hormones before we even become consciously aware of the threat.
How Does Fear Affect The Body?
These hormones have many effects on our bodies. Heart rate increases, and so does blood pressure. Senses sharpen. Muscles tighten. In addition, adrenaline signals our brains to release opioids, which dull our response to pain, and endorphins, which produce feelings of pleasure. These effects are very useful in a fight or flight scenario because they allow the body to run farther or fight longer.
Feeling afraid isn’t always pleasurable when there is a genuine threat, of course. But, because the fear response is triggered without input from our conscious minds, we can trick our brains into producing the fear response even in the relative comfort of a campfire circle or darkened movie theater. If the threat is controlled—either because it’s only on a movie screen, or because we are protected by safety equipment—we can experience the pleasurable side effects of fear without any real danger.
Join The Discussion!
Do you love scary movies? How about rollercoasters?
What is your favorite way to be thrilled?
Let us know in the comments below!
Jaime McLeod
Jaime McLeod is a longtime journalist who has written for a wide variety of newspapers, magazines, and websites, including MTV.com. She enjoys the outdoors, growing and eating organic food, and is interested in all aspects of natural wellness.
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Jaime McLeod#molongui-disabled-link
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Jaime McLeod#molongui-disabled-link
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Jaime McLeod#molongui-disabled-link
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Jaime McLeod#molongui-disabled-link
I love horror movies and books. I read a lot and if the book is good enough then I will get so involved that I forget my surroundings and the simplest noise will make me jump and scare the fire out of me. But I really find it fun to get scared sometimes.
It can be fun being scared!!
Hi David, Yes … nothing beats a harmless thrill! ?
I love horror movies. Especially possession movies. I used to love roller coasters but as I’ve gotten older, the wind takes my breath. That’s not the terror I want to experience.
I love any movie, no matter what kind, where the mean/evil or whatever is the person you least expected.
Halloween and Christmas has always been my favorite holidays. Even though I’m a little older, I still like to dress up and really do my makeup to where I look like Living Dead Girl. ? A goth brush helps get the matted hair and of course some dirt. A reddish burgundy eyeshadow in the corners and underneath the eyes works great. Also some black. And definitely blue lipstick and nail polish.
Hi Tisha! Thanks for your comment. We hope you have a fun Halloween!