“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

With Halloween just around the corner I was recently asked the question “Why do so many people like to be frightened?”  Although I am definitely not an enthusiast of horror films, nor do I have a passion for being frightened, it is an interesting psychological question.

Almost everyone knows what it feels like to be really really scared – rapid breathing, pounding heart, churning stomach, and sweaty palms.  But, no matter what it is that causes that fear, horror movies, terrifying stories, amusement park thrill rides, or a haunted house on Halloween, many people actually love getting the bejebes scared out of them.  Many experts believe that it is somewhat common for individuals to push the envelope, seeing how much fear they can tolerate, and ultimately feeling a sense of relief and fulfillment when they are actually able to tolerate the horror and anxiety.  Of course, for us meager humans who actually are scared to death of being scared to death, it may seem inconceivable that others actually take great pleasure in pursuing such panic-ridden experiences.

One of the core notions in theories that attempt to predict and explain human behavior is people’s drive to pursue gratification and avoid discomfort (“The Pleasure Principle”).  So, how do we explain the decision to participate in the sort of experiences that clearly create such negative feelings?  It is utterly counterintuitive that such a large percentage of individuals would willingly participate in such activities as to create feelings of terror and disgust.  One’s delight in voluntarily being scared out of their mind is a magnificent example of how the human mind functions in such complex and mysterious ways.  Scientists, psychiatrists, and other mental health professionals continually study these types of peculiarities and have developed a range of possible explanations.

For over twenty years Glenn Sparks, Ph.D., a professor of communication at Purdue University, has investigated how people respond to terrifying images in various media formats.  “Some people have a need to expose themselves to sensations that are different from the routine.  While experiencing a frightening movie may have some negatives, individuals often derive gratification because the experience is different.”  Several studies have shown that males enjoy horror films more than females.  “It’s not that they truly enjoy being scared.  But, they get great satisfaction being able to say that they conquered and mastered something that was threatening. They enjoy the feeling that they ‘made it through.'”

According to Frank Farley, Ph.D., past president of the American Psychological Association and researcher at Temple University, “There’s a long history of people being intensely curious about the ‘dark side,’ and trying to make sense of it.  Through movies, we are able to see horror in front of our eyes, and some people are extremely fascinated by it. They’re interested in the unusual and the bizarre because they don’t understand it and it’s so different from our everyday lives.”  He has coined these individuals has having “Type T” (for Thrill-seeking) personalities.  These folks actually thrive on the intensity and uncertainty related to activities most people would deem terrifying.

Many believe our fascination and desire for fear is hormonally based.  The hormonal reaction humans experience to a threat or crisis, the “fight or flight reflex” or “adrenaline rush”, is primarily controlled by the hormone adrenaline, and is hard-wired into our systems as a survival mechanism dating back further than the human species itself.  Without it humans would have perished a long time ago.  In an attempt to defend ourselves from a perceived threat this “fight or flight reflex” kicks in.  During this “adrenaline rush” we experience heightened senses and intuition, greater strength, and a very real sense of increased power.  Some researchers believe many are actually drawn to this feeling.  With such a forceful sensation it is no wonder many of us seek this experience, but in the comfort and security of a movie theater or thrill ride.  After having successfully participated in one of these horrifying pastimes we get to feel victorious, and elated in our triumph.  It is a feeling as old as mankind itself.

Other researchers have put forth alternative theories.  Andrew Gerber, M.D., Ph.D., an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at the Brain Imaging Lab of New York State Psychiatric Institute, has set forth a hypothesis built upon three basic criteria:

1.  Humans enjoy the experience of building up tension followed by relief.  

The most wonderful part about being scared is the tremendous relief we experience when the horror is over.  There is a part of us that is constantly remembering that relief is on its way, so the tension build up makes it all worthwhile.  There are many experiences in our day-to-day lives that have a similar type of tension followed by relief pleasure.  Being hungry followed by the anticipation and ultimate eating of a tasty meal, or missing a loved one followed by the anticipation and ultimately seeing the person once again.  You could say that in fact the more the tension develops the more relief and pleasure we experience.

2.  Humans enjoy feeling things intensely.  

Even if an experience has a negative component it can be overridden by our desire to feel something as opposed to nothing.  This may indeed be the same experience that pushes our curiosity, and our discomfort with boredom.  There is an ever increasing body of evidence from brain imaging studies showing that there is a large portion of our brain dedicated to processing powerful emotions.  It is believed these regions of the brain may have played an important role in human evolution. 

3.  Humans enjoy working through prior situations and making them come out better. 

Whether we like it or not, humans are the ideal problem solvers.  When things did not go as we had hoped or planned in the past, we like play them over and over again until they come out differently.  Since we can all remember being scared as a child, and not enjoying it at all.  This makes it all the more fun as a teenager or adult to replay that experience but have it come out in a much more positive way.

So, there you have it.  After all the research and debate we still do not really know for certain what makes so many humans seek out such intense fear, which in itself is a rather harrowing thought.  Now, go and have a Happy Halloween.  And, for those so inclined, here is wishing you a horrifyingly terrifying night…….