Why do we love Horror?

Pulse racing, heart pounding. You lay awake, your thoughts racing. Your stomach flutters uneasily. In any other circumstance, you’d be worried about your symptoms; yet these are all things we can look forward to after watching a particularly good horror film. We (almost) all love a good scare, but why is that? What blurs the lines between fear and entertainment? We like watching horror films simply because it's entertaining. It acts as a means to fend off boredom. Scary movies are something you either really love or avoid at all costs. Logically, we should be running away from things that induce fear. But horror movies have a way of drawing a lot of people in. It's a little confusing if you stop and think about it, but horror entertainment is a very popular genre. According to research and experts, there are a few different reasons behind why people like scary movies. people watch scary movies for three main reasons: tension, relevance, and unreal ism. For some, watching scary movies can be an entire experience due to the mystery and the shock. Others who are drawn to it due to "relevance," find elements in the movie that they can relate to. Those who like horror due to its "unreal ism" enjoy it because they know for a fact that it's all fake anyway. For them, it's just pure entertainment and fun.

Paying money to get scared doesn’t sound like a smart idea but people do that. Studies have found some reasons why do we do that. Here are some reasons:

1) People Like the Feeling They Get When They're Scared

People who like horror movies tend to enjoy feeling really intense emotions like fear. When you're scared, your brain's immediate response is to go into fight-or-flight mode. When this happens, your entire body can react. For instance, your heart may race and your muscles may tense. It can even cause you to scream or jump. When we watch a horror movie, it stimulates the brain and the brain responds with the physical and emotional sensations we call fear.

2) It Feels Pleasurable to Get Through A Scary Movie

Horror movies are meant to scare you. But for some people with anxiety, they may find horror movies comforting. The experience of your brain calming itself down after watching a scary movie is actually neuro-chemically very pleasurable. it can 're-set the thermostat' for people so that things that had seemed intimidating may be easier to deal with in the future. For instance, some people may find that after watching an hours long Halloween scare-fest, it’s not as scary to ask their boss for a raise, face a budget shortfall, or prepare to give a public speech.

3) Horror Movies Can Help You Feel More Connected to The People Around You

There's a reason why dating coaches will recommend watching a horror movie to get closer to your partner. Fear arousing from situations like watching a scary movie can increase the attraction between two people. But aside from increasing attraction, it can even bring you closer together. It draws us closer when we have a shared experience of being afraid of the dark, or ghouls, or axe murderers. When you're vulnerable with another person, it creates a sense of intimacy. Everyone experiences things differently. If you're more sensitive and you feel things very deeply, watching scary movies may be a little too much for you. But if you're not, they can be really fun and sometimes even comforting.

Next time you’re looking to spend some quality time with friends or a loved one, it could be worth checking to see what latest cheesy horror flick is on at your local cinema.