I'm curious and scared, but I still want to watch it! Why do horror movies make people addicted?

Produced by: Science Popularization China

Author: Earth's Gravity (Popular Science Creator)

Producer: China Science Expo

Some people love to watch horror movies, and they will insist on watching the whole movie even if they are scared to the point of curling up in their quilts and shivering. Many people are inexplicably curious about haunted houses, and always want to experience the feeling of being scared and screaming in a haunted house - of course, many haunted houses are now closed because they are too old, but more immersive horror-themed escape rooms are taking root everywhere.

Regardless of the form, there is always a group of people who maintain an attitude of fear and curiosity towards horrific things, and this paradox has always puzzled scholars.

Why are we curious and afraid at the same time?

Scientific research seems to answer this question: our desire for fear is rooted in our evolutionary history and still serves us well today— it can help us overcome fears and face new challenges, allowing us to better adapt to changing lives and an increasingly unsettling world.

Charles Darwin was amazed by this phenomenon. He once wrote that he had heard that some captive monkeys would lift the lid of a box containing snakes to peek in, despite their fear of snakes.

He was so fascinated by the story that he turned it into an experiment: He placed a bag containing a snake in a cage at the London Zoo with monkeys inside. A monkey would carefully walk up to the bag, slowly open it, look inside, and then run away screaming.

After seeing one monkey do this, another monkey would cautiously walk up to the bag, peek inside, and then run away screaming. Then another monkey would do the same thing, and then another.

monkey

(Image source: pickpik)

Many subsequent experiments have also proved that this morbid curiosity about danger exists not only in primates, but also in other types of animals. It is called " predator inspection " and appears in many animals from clownfish to gazelles.

At first glance, approaching danger seems like a bad idea. Why would natural selection make animals curious about things they should avoid?

There is an evolutionary logic behind these behaviors.

Morbid curiosity allows animals to gain information about the most dangerous things in their environment and also gives them the opportunity to deal with such dangerous situations.

The benefits of morbidly curious behavior become clear when considering that many animals live in close proximity to their predators.

For example, antelopes on the African savannah frequently cross paths with cheetahs. On the surface, the antelope should run away immediately when they see a cheetah, but running away is physiologically "costly." If the antelope ran away every time it saw a cheetah, it would use up precious calories and miss other activities that are critical to its survival and reproduction.

antelope

(Image source: Wikipedia)

From the predator's perspective, it seems that the cheetah should start chasing the antelope as soon as it sees it, but it is not easy for the cheetah to catch prey: hunting is an energy-consuming activity that is not always successful. As long as the cheetah is not hungry, it should only start chasing prey when there is a relatively high chance of catching it.

If it is best for the antelope to flee when the cheetah is hunting, then they would benefit if they could determine when the cheetah is hungry. And the only way for the antelope to learn about cheetahs is to observe them closely in relative safety.

For example, if the grass around is short and the cheetah is easily visible, the antelope will feel safer and more likely to stay a while to observe the cheetah, especially if the antelope are in a larger group.

The age of the antelope is also important. Juveniles and young adults, those that can run away quickly and don't have much experience facing predators, are most likely to observe cheetahs closely.

The trade-off makes sense: These antelopes don't know much about dangerous cats, so they can learn a lot from observation. Relative safety and inexperience are two of the most powerful factors in animal predator-checking behavior and human morbid curiosity.

The benefits of immersing yourself in horror

Today, people "watch predators" through stories and movies. Stories depicting predators are ubiquitous in oral traditions around the world. Leopards, tigers, and wolves often appear in regional folklore. We also hear stories and watch movies about terrifying fictional predators, such as ferocious werewolves, powerful dragons, clever vampires, and bloodthirsty monsters.

Monsters

(Image source: pickpik)

Immersing ourselves in these horror stories is a very effective and valuable strategy. These stories allow us to understand what it was like for others to encounter potential predators or threats without having to face them ourselves.

The exaggerated danger of fictional monsters stimulates our emotional and behavioral responses, familiarizing us with those responses so that we can cope with them when faced with more realistic threats.

Our fascination with things that could harm or kill us isn't limited to predators.

We can also become morbidly curious about stories of large-scale horror scenarios: volcanic eruptions, pandemics, dangerous storms, and apocalyptic events of all kinds. That’s the magic of horror stories: they’re the only way to understand and practice facing dangers we haven’t yet faced.

Movie 2012

(Photo source: Movie stills)

Learning to regain composure and adapt in the face of surprise and uncertainty appears to be a key evolutionary function of play. Engaging in play that simulates dangerous situations helps young mammals, such as tiger cubs and wolf pups, quickly regain a steady state of movement and composure.

The same is true for humans. Children will hear all kinds of horror stories from a young age, such as big bad wolves that eat children, zombies that are active at night, and various chase games between adults and children.

It is a pleasurable and safe fear, and once the story or game is over, the parent comforts the child and tells them that everything is okay.

Furthermore, horror entertainment not only makes us better prepared to deal with potential dangers, but also helps us release tension.

In the real world, fear and tension can build up and have harmful effects on the body. Horror movies and scary stories provide a safe environment for people to release these emotions. When you scream in a movie theater, you are releasing tension, acting like a release valve.

Studies have found that when watching horror movies or reading horror novels, the human body will produce a physiological reaction called " excitatory affect ", which includes accelerated heartbeat, sweating and dilated pupils.

However, this physiological high quickly wears off and is replaced by a feeling of pleasure that comes from experiencing horror through media consumption. This is why after watching a horror movie, people may feel relieved and satisfied, rather than depressed or angry.

We may rationally understand that horror movies and stories are just fiction, but the emotional experiences they evoke are real. When our brains produce a physiological response to potential danger, we can experience fear in a safe environment without having to worry about real risks. This is an effective way to release tension and is beneficial to emotional health.

Horror in entertainment can also strengthen social connections. In a way, horror stories and experiences become a social activity. When friends or family watch a horror movie together or visit a horror attraction together, they share an emotional experience and strengthen the bond between them.

After watching a horror movie, people usually discuss it and share their feelings and opinions, which can deepen the emotional connection between them.

Conclusion

So whether you’re enjoying a thrilling movie, visiting a spooky attraction, or listening to a scary story, don’t feel bad about being scared because you’re strengthening your coping skills, releasing tension, and strengthening social connections.