During the Halloween season, many of us do scary activities. We watch horror movies, go to haunted houses, or go on roller coasters at Fright Nights. Some people go in October because there are so many options. Others seek out fright year-round.
What does it look like in our brains when we get scared? The amygdala is an almond-shaped region in the brain that helps you detect risks and regulate emotions, especially fear. The amygdala sends signals to the hypothalamus which regulates your temperature, circadian rhythm, and satiety through producing and mediating the release of hormones that influence these systems.
The effects of being scared are not just in the brain. Your heart rate increases, pupils dilate, and your breathing gets faster. These elevated sensations are similar to the ones we experience during and after exercise.
There’s a difference between anticipated fear when we knowingly place ourselves in a scary situation, and fear evoked by perceived real-world dangers. As with many sensory experiences, the difference is expectations, consent, and control. When a ghost jumps at you on screen, you know it’s not real.
Paradoxically, being scared can actually reduce anxiety.
To explain why we experience fear, scientists have proposed the “evolutionary theory.” This theory suggests we are predisposed to fearing the same objects and situations that scared our ancestors, and this helped them survive and evade threats, such as predators. Evolutionary psychologists, who study how the human mind and behaviour have evolved over time, hypothesize that feeling frightened allows us to mentally prepare ourselves in case we one day find ourselves in similar scary situations.
Responding to fictional horrors helps us deal with what we can’t control. One study conducted in 2020, shortly after COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, found horror fans exhibited fewer signs of psychological distress. Throughout history, stories of the supernatural, morbid, and the unknown were used as lessons and art. The horror genre continues to evolve and reflects different cultures, eras, and even social dangers.
So why do some crave being scared, while others avoid it? Personality traits are a factor. One survey found horror fans may be more likely to seek out sensory thrills. There are many levels of scary. Part of what makes horror enjoyable is knowing what to expect, and finding the perfect balance between fright and excitement.
Horror fans also enjoy the community angle. Research suggests that there is bonding and social value in experiencing stressful situations together. As a sensory experience, doing scary activities such as haunted houses or watching terrifying movies with our loved ones builds connection. There is power in knowing you’re mutually enjoying and feeling the same heightened sensations.
As society continues to face unique challenges, there will always be room for the scary and surreal. Feeling scared can be a reflection, an outlet, and even a lesson. May we all find a level of frightful seasonal fun we crave — whether it’s extra frightening or just a little creepy!
