The “Paradox of Horror”: How watching horror movies can calm anxiety and help you deal with difficult situations

“Aristotle himself (384 B.C. – 322 B.C.) commented that it is curious how we are conditioned to avoid and flee from things that are dangerous, disgusting, harmful, or terrifying. And yet we become magnetized when we come into contact with things that are disgusting, awful, harmful, or terrifying.”

In the past ten years, psychologists have finally begun to solve this puzzle. Evidence suggests that horror stories interact with basic brain processes that help us deal with uncertainty.

The latest research suggests that fictional horror stories can provide important psychological benefits, such as reducing the anxiety we feel about real-world events.

Therefore, terrorism is a balm for our concerns.

Psychologist Coltan Scrivner, from Arizona State University in the US, is the author of the new book Painful Curiosity: A Scientist Explains Why We Can’t Look Away (“Pathological Curiosity: A Scientist Explains Why We Can’t Look Away,” in a free translation). He is one of the pioneers in studying this topic.

Since he was a child, Scrivener has always appreciated the feelings that scary stories generate. But it was not until he arrived at university that he began to question the prevalence of horror stories in human culture.

“The oldest written evidence we have includes terrible demons and monstrous beasts,” Scrivener says. He points to the Babylonian tablets dating back 4,000 years, which record the Epic of Gilgamesh.

“I would say that the characteristics of horror stories are as old as language itself,” he added.

One explanation is that horror stories serve as a kind of game that allows us to understand the world around us and prepares us for the threats we may encounter.

“It’s an adaptation for any animal, including humans, to understand and recognize the dangers around them,” Scrivner says.

We can see the origins of this problem in other species. Deer, for example, often watch for predators from a distance before fleeing.

“The reason humans seem to be the most curious creatures ever is because we have this amazing ability to create, convey, and consume stories,” Scrivner says.

The researcher has already collected many confirmations of these adaptive benefits.

In one of his studies, Scrivner recruited about 400 participants to answer an online questionnaire. They rated whether or not they agreed with a series of statements about their consumption of horror films.

Participants answered questions such as:

Analyzing the results, Scrivener concluded that the participants could be divided into three main groups.

The first were called “adrenaline junkies.” They were carried away by the physical sensation of thrill and declared that fear made them feel “more alive.”

The second group was the “fearful” group. Your tendency is to hate the tension caused by films of this type.

“They don’t necessarily like the feeling of fear, they like the feeling of overcoming it,” Scrivner explains. They feel that this process helped them, for example, learn something important about themselves.

The third group is the “shadow negotiators.” For them, movies are a way to deal with real life.

These participants reported that they watch horror movies to notice, for example, how violent the world is and to remember how safe their lives are compared to the blood spilled on the screen.

Some even viewed the on-screen action as a way to manage their anxiety or depression. It was a way to put his courage to the test.

Each of these reasons provides an explanation for the paradox of our fascination with the macabre.

“There can be several paths to morbid curiosity,” Scrivener says.

To check whether the same results would be obtained in a completely different context, Scrivener collaborated with Danish researchers.

They quizzed visitors to the “Dystopia Haunted House” – an interactive experience in the town of Vejle, Denmark, built around a maze with special effects and actors trained to terrify visitors.

The exact same patterns were observed, greatly confirming his theory.

“These three genres were ideally produced in a different language, culture and environment,” Scrivner explains.

They were more likely to agree with statements such as “I followed the news related to the epidemic normally” and “I believe in my ability to get through these difficult times.”

These effects could also reflect a basic principle of the brain’s functioning.

In recent decades, philosophers, neuroscientists, and psychologists have agreed on the idea that the brain is constantly constructing a simulation of the world around us. For Miller, “it’s a driver of anticipation.”

In my book The effect of expectations (“Expectancy effect,” in free translation), I describe that our brain uses “predictive processing” to help us interpret new events as they occur and plan our responses appropriately.

The more precision we have in this processing, the better. This is essential for our resilience in managing this uncertain world.

Miller suggests that horror stories provide the uncertainty needed to keep his “engine of anticipation” running, allowing him to improve simulations and better predict future threats.

“Being in this sweet spot means that your ability to predict is constantly evolving, allowing you to become increasingly prepared to manage uncertainty over the long term,” he explains.

Like Scrivener, Miller believes this could be useful for reducing anxiety, and moderating our stress response to upsetting events. For him, “terrorism is an opportunity to experience fear, disgust and pressure.”

Of course, the advantage is that we stay in the safety and comfort of our couch during this learning process and can control the fear we feel, whether by pausing the movie, leaving the room or hiding behind a bag of popcorn.

Coltan Scrivner suggests that horror stories could be incorporated into psychotherapy as a way to teach people how to deal with difficult situations.

With the right book or movie, we can learn to reduce our fears and turn them into a gentle source of encouragement. We will create emotional regulation abilities that will help us cope with daily stress better.

Dutch researchers have used a similar principle to treat children with anxiety, using a video game called MindLight, Scrivener says.

The game takes place in a haunted house, where the player’s avatar is haunted by gaudy monsters.

The child uses an EEG device that measures his brain activity and directly controls the light on the avatar’s head. The quieter she becomes, the brighter the light becomes, promoting her relaxation.

If the child can maintain this relaxed state during the attack, the monster will transform into a cute little kitten that follows the child around the house. But if she gets too scared, a message appears with advice to calm her mind before continuing.

In several clinical tests, children who play regularly have shown a reduced level of anxiety in their daily lives, with overall benefits similar to those achieved by classical cognitive behavioral therapy.

“It’s amazing because this is the gold standard for treating anxiety in children,” Scrivener says.

He believes that standard horror stories, whether in books or movies, can be used for a similar purpose.

“Horrifying entertainment content allows people to experience fear in a safe and controlled environment, providing the opportunity to practice cognitive reappraisal, endure uncomfortable physical experiences, and challenge emotional reasoning,” the researcher wrote in a review on the topic.

Looks like I missed a good opportunity with this offer The exorcist At home, keep me away from everything terrible. If you’re in the same situation, Scrivener recommends looking for something that falls slightly outside your usual tolerance range.

“Books are usually a good way to start, as you can control your imagination a little better,” he advises. And try to find stories related to your other interests.

“Horror is one of the broadest genres out there and you will be able to find themes that you really like.”

By following this advice, you may be surprised to see where your morbid curiosity will lead you and how calm you may feel for the rest of your life.