We are flooded with a sense of relief, which makes us feel good and safe once again. Some researchers theorize that individuals who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may become conditioned by the analgesic effect of certain types of movies and seek out stressful films to release more endorphins.
Studies have shown that horror can help us with grief, anxiety, depression, and a number of other disorders. For someone experiencing a deep loss or processing trauma, it becomes less about the deaths and more about the survivor.
For some viewers who have anxiety or trauma, horror movies only make matters worse. But for others, horror can help provide relief from pent-up tension.
Why do People Watch Horror? Suspense and resolution of suspense are two important components of horror and our response to horror film. Suspense refers to the build up to threat, the tension created prior to the manifestation of threat, and the resolution/elimination of threat.
But for others, horror can help provide relief from pent-up tension. They're a way to practice feeling scared in a safe environment, refocus your brain away from real-life anxieties and enjoy the release that comes after the movie's over.
Post-horror relaxation: While we feel highly stimulated during a horror experience, a sense of relief arrives after a positive conclusion of the experience (e.g., the evil entity gets obliterated), triggering the release of endorphins in our brain. This group of peptides can make us feel relaxed and refreshed.
Experiencing these fears in a controlled environment lets us have those feelings in a safe space where we know they can't really hurt us. A horror movie can also serve as a distraction if we're in a time of intense stress, and help us to regulate our nervous system as we use tools like deep breathing to calm down.
Many people believe that horror fans have low empathy. The claim that horror fans lack empathy is rooted in a flawed interpretation of a 2005 meta-analysis. Some morbidly curious people score high in empathy. Horror fans and morbidly curious people may be less coldhearted than the average person, research suggests.
There's no red flags when someone says they love horror movies. Horror movies are amazing and can have stunning effects and a great plot.
A person with PTSD may have difficulties communicating or interacting with others for fear of coming into contact with trauma-related reminders. All of this may feed the development of SAD. In addition, many people with PTSD feel high levels of shame, guilt, and self-blame, and these feelings may lead to SAD.
We are flooded with a sense of relief, which makes us feel good and safe once again. Some researchers theorize that individuals who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may become conditioned by the analgesic effect of certain types of movies and seek out stressful films to release more endorphins.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are two commonly known anxiety disorders that can often co-occur in people with a history of trauma. While OCD is thought to affect millions of people, studies have found that nearly 30% of people with PTSD also experience OCD.
In fact, survivor's guilt is often considered a serious symptom of PTSD. While not everyone who endures a traumatic event will develop PTSD, some research estimates that as many as 90% of people who lived through events where others died experience feelings of guilt.
Most people are indeed entirely unaware that they are suffering from trauma at all. Many put their symptoms and negative experiences down to stress which is often vague and unhelpful, particularly when trying to get to the core of the problem.
If you live with complex trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), trauma dumping or oversharing could be a natural trauma response and coping mechanism.
Additionally, there are certain personality types who are more likely to enjoy horror. Generally, those who are thrill/sensation-seeking, those who are less empathetic, and those who have an openness to experience are more likely to have an affinity for horror.
In general, though, Analysts' combination of Intuitive Energy and Thinking Nature is ideal for enjoying scary movies. Intuitive personality types love to look for hidden meaning and tend to let their imagination run wild, and horror films stimulate those impulses in a way no other genre can.
Anxiety and Escapism: Why They Go Hand in Hand
Horror movies can be a form of escapism for those struggling with anxiety. Instead of facing their issues straight on, it may be easier to drown them in another person's narrative.
Scary movies might feel oddly comforting to those with trauma-induced anxiety. The years leading up to a child's fifth birthday are crucial for the brain. Traumatic events we experience during our early years can lead to the onset of memory problems, anxiety, emotional dysregulation issues, and even PTSD.
Personality Traits and Horror
They included sensation seeking, empathy, need for affect, and the dark triad. To drill down on these a bit, sensation seeking is self-explanatory and easy to appreciate as a motivation for individuals to pursue horror.
If someone gave you a fright while you were watching a horror movie, you would probably show an “exaggerated startle response” – in other words, you'd jump out of your skin. Psychopaths react far less intensely in such fear-evoking situations. If anything, they remain calm.
Some studies have found that people who are feeling nervous or are prone to anxiety are drawn to horror films, too. Perhaps scary movies provide a new focal point for their worries: Instead of ruminating over, say, finances, they can worry about the zombies they're watching.
Although horror movies may positively impact mental health, it's vital to be cautious while using them as a coping tool. In some cases, they may cause more harm than good: Horror movies can negatively affect sensitive people and people with mental health problems, increasing stress, anxiety, panic, and depression.
According to science findings, people may seek out horror movies for all sorts of reasons, such as triggering chemicals in their brains, to help them plan for worst case scenarios, or to practice coping strategies and control.