It’s that time of year: horror movie time! Now I think we can all agree that, when it comes to scary movies, people either love ‘em or hate ‘em. Not too many people are neutral on the subject. But for those of us who love terror flicks, the question usually asked by those who don’t care for them is: “Why?” Well, if you’re a fan of scary movies (as I am), there are some possible reasons why:
Experts agree:
- Horror movies trigger your brain’s fight or flight response. So, being scared gives you an adrenaline rush.
- Even though you’re terrified & your heart’s racing, you know you’re safe. There’s something about getting to that edge…then turning back, knowing you are not in any real danger.
- Watching fictional characters deal with terror helps us learn how to deal with our own fears & anxieties. The world can be a scary place sometimes, so watching scary movies can help you prepare for the worst & learn how to cope.
- It lets you explore your own dark side. While people may not want to admit it, there are parts of ourselves that intuitively want to lash out sometimes. Watching horror movies allows a person to do that in a non-harmful way.
- It makes you think you’re different than the victim, and therefore more likely to survive. Watching people in horror movies make stupid moves & decisions convinces us that, if we were in those situations, we wouldn’t make those poor choices & would likely survive.
So binge on a good horror flick marathon tonight or this weekend…in a weird way, it’s good for you! (Sort of.)
Got a Mundane Mystery you’d like solved? Send me a message via social media (@AndyWebbRadioVoice), or shoot me an email at [email protected].