Thrill-Seeker or Maniac?
The neuroscience behind why we crave safe-fear during spooky season
By: Mia Carrasco
Do you ever find yourself needing a good cry? A release from built-up emotion that you haven’t had the chance to let go of? Do you seek out a movie that guarantees a sob or a heart clutch?
I know I do, but I’ve never had a craving for a good scare. With spooky season upon us, horror fans make their best attempt at recruiting non-horror fans to join in what I’d like to call torture.
I’ve never been drawn towards danger, hostile forces or supernatural beings. I come from a pretty risk-averse family, and there are many cultural differences at play when it comes to our attitude towards such things.
The fear of the unknown is universal. But the social and moral meaning of being attracted to these forces varies significantly across the globe. Monotheistic religions believe the source of dark power stems from the Devil or spirits. They associate evil with loss of free will or moral corruption. The consequence of being involved with it is ostracism, panic, damnation and possibly an exorcism, which explains the instinct to stay away, even if it's fictional.
Yes, I am a certified scaredy cat. No, I can’t handle gore or vengeful spirits with inexplicable flexibility. I know a few people who enjoy horror films all year round, which I frankly find alarming. This is easier to avoid, because saying no to watching a horror movie in February is a valid response. But when October rolls around, haunted houses pop up and peer pressure amplifies. Because an entire group can experience this trauma together, it seems slightly more appealing. Plus, you can always try to use the person in front of you as a shield to hide behind, right?
But what is the reason this piques peoples’ interest? The rush of adrenaline that fear brings you can be a release too.
In its own twisted way, our brains are able to enjoy being fear-stricken in a safe simulation space such as a haunted house. There’s a sweet spot: an intensity level just below the personal threshold of actual distress. We have a double consciousness in this moment that allows us to experience the rush while simultaneously having awareness of its harmless nature.
This psychological concept is called benign masochism, and it describes the human tendency to derive pleasure from experiences that are initially frightening or aversive. The brain reaps the benefits because our body knows the reality — these are just people playing make-believe.
Another way to look at it is that it's almost like practicing for real danger. It's an environment to rehearse these extreme scenarios. Studies have shown that fictional terror can actually help lower real-world anxiety.
I had to remind myself of all of this as I entered the gates of Universal Studios last week. Scare-actors hissed and cackled at the edge of the entrance and eerie music spilled out of the park speakers. Sound is what affects me the most, so my heart was already thumping at the thought of the unknown. Once we were in, I managed to only jump once at a woman with a chainsaw behind me. See, that sentence alone is the reason why all these years I’ve wondered: “What sicko is paying for this?”
Fast forward to the first house: “Sinners.” This is one of the very few exceptions in the horror movie genre that I actually find entertaining. Vampires, witches and slasher films haven’t given me nightmares, yet (yes, that’s the standard).
So, although I was shivering and yelling while holding on to my friend’s waist in a conga line of more friends, I could still appreciate the thrill. The makeup, the costumes and the set were impressive. It felt good to let out a scream … or a dozen. It's similar to the heart-dropping feeling a rollercoaster gives you. It’s not easy to calm the nervous system after, but as time passes the chills are replaced with laughter and it's a moment to remember.
There’s science to back up the group mentality as well. In a “tend-and-befriend” system, neurochemicals such as oxytocin are activated because of this shared experience (another reason why a horror-movie-date-night might not be a bad idea to effectively bring you closer to your partner).
It was my first, and probably last, time going to Halloween Horror Nights. Although I left feeling like I handled it well, I also did not enter a second house (wait times are crazy, but this was also convenient for my lack of bravery). I think it's a matter of taking baby steps, and I took one.
I find that the people who bask in the sadistic and gnarly essence of it all also tend to be daredevils in other ways as well. I have this spicy-food-enjoyer pipeline theory that all horror fans also love spicy food — or skydiving. But really, you don’t need to be a daredevil to survive a haunted house. So maybe give it a try. Or leave it to the thrill-seeking maniacs. I won’t tell.
Mia Carrasco is a third-year Media Production Management and Technology major who firmly believes October is the best month of the year and yearns for any occasion to flaunt her many Halloween costumes.
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