By Corliss Jacobs

Ah, horror. The genre is home to many classics, such as Friday the 13th, Jaws, and the bloodcurdling IT. Of course, horror is not for everyone. But even those who dislike horror adore Jaws, and plenty more people love tales of gore, fear, and death. I am somewhere in the middle — I'm not a fan of excessive gore, but I do love having the pants scared off of me by a good scary story. However, sometimes I deeply regret it. My love of horror is only matches by my fear of horror. Paradoxical, isn’t it? I lie awake at night, imagining frightening creatures creeping towards my bed, and think: Why on earth did I do this to myself? Which caused me to wonder: why do people like being scared at all?
I was blessed with a gem of a find in my research on this topic, in the form of an informative psychology YouTube channel titled Psych2Go. It is compiled from lots of psychology research, including excerpts from psychologist Michael J. Apter and philosopher Noël Carroll. According to them, the first reason humans love horror is how it makes us feel. When we are in danger, our body sends us into fight-or-flight mode to protect ourselves. This sends a boost of adrenaline to the body, enabling us to deal with the threat. In a moment of true terror, we would be too busy trying to survive to really focus on the feeling of adrenaline. But in the comfortable seat of a movie theater, with nothing to harm us, adrenaline can stimulate our sense of excitement, which, of course, feels amazing for many. This brings us to the second reason — the fact that it is not real. Even though seeing a creepy clown chasing kids through the sewers might freak us out, we know in the back of our minds that it is only actors pretending to be monsters, safely locked behind the screen. It is the knowledge that we are safe that enables us to feel entertained by a frightening story. In short, horror enables us to have our cake and eat it, too.

The third reason — at least, the reason that is the most important to me — is the story part of a scary story. Like all tales, they are a form of escapism from the real world. But horror specifically targets our curiosity and our imagination. We are on the edge of our seats, wondering if the protagonist is going to make it out alive. We are also curious about the monster, which is often based on the unknown, asking ourselves what it is, what it wants, and where it came from. For me, no matter the genre, I am a sucker for a well-written tale with even better written characters. If it is done well enough, then people who don't normally like scary things will find themselves drawn towards it — such as the aforementioned Jaws, which became not only a horror classic, but a cinema classic. As I have stated in a past article, humans are wired to love fiction, no matter the form. Horror is simply another piece of the pie.
Whether or not you like being frightened, everyone loves a great story — and for some, they are filled with ghosts, curses, and terrifying beasts that roar for blood. I am one of those people, and I understand if you are not. But I hope, whoever you are, dear reader, that now you have a better understanding of folks who enjoy their fear of the dark. Enjoy whatever tales you love, whatever they may be… and maybe try being a little scared once in a while. Who knows you — you might find yourself liking it!

Recommended websites are not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice.
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