Every fall, millions of people willingly sign up to be scared. Some will guide their gaming controller down the foggy, monster-strewn streets of Japan in Silent Hill f. And others will join Clarice Starling in solving the gruesome, wrongful acts of a serial killer. Or, visitors to a corn maze might end up trapped in a dead-end with a chainsaw roaring menacingly nearby. When we encounter scary content, our hearts race, our palms sweat, and many of us love it.
Why do we chase down the threat, gore, and unknown that we would never want to encounter in real life? For many, experiencing fear in a controlled way can feel exhilarating, even calming. From the buildup of a horror film score to the perfectly timed jump-scare in a haunted house, fear can be satisfying when it comes with a safety net.
In this article, we break down what happens inside our brains when we get scared, and why some of us keep coming back for more. Plus, get tips on making sure the fright doesn’t go too far.
What Happens in the Brain When We Feel Afraid
When we encounter something frightening, whether it’s navigating a haunted corn maze by flashlight or a jump-scare through a screen, our body reacts the same way it would to a real threat. The amygdala receives the threat and sounds the alarm to the hypothalamus, which releases stress hormones. From here, the sympathetic nervous system is activated, causing a series of reactions that lead to a fight, flight, or freeze response.
This surge is automatic and ancient, designed to help us stay safe and survive. So, what makes people seek out scary things to consciously activate this hardwired response? The key is knowing that ultimately, it’s not real.
Finding the Safety in the Scare
Experts have looked at why a frightening experience can actually be enjoyable. It’s based on a framework of three aspects:
- Safety: We know we’re physically secure
- Detachment: We are aware that what we’re experiencing is fictional.
- Control: We can turn off or move away from the stimulant at any time.
When these protective factors are in place, fear can become thrilling rather than traumatizing. The fight-or-flight response can come with a burst of adrenaline, endorphins, and dopamine, the feel-good chemicals. Once the brain knows it’s safe, and we can hit the pause button anytime, we interpret this nervous system arousal as a positive experience rather than traumatic, says sociologist and “scare expert” Dr. Margee Kerr.
That’s why a well-timed scare in the right circumstances can make you shriek and then burst into laughter. It’s an emotional reset that can lead some people to seek scary content repeatedly, in order to revisit that cycle of thrill, fear, relief, and satisfaction.
Finding the Just-Right Fright
Not everyone finds fear enjoyable. People who score higher in sensation-seeking traits tend to enjoy scary content more, while those who are more empathetic or emotionally sensitive may find it more distressing. But it’s more complicated than that.
A recent study found that how much excitement and enjoyment people derive from scary media depends on how real and frightening the content feels. People who were disgusted by gruesome horror film scenes enjoyed watching less, but they still felt scared and excited.
Even for those who seek out scary experiences, there’s a certain threshold where enjoyment starts to drop. In one study at the Recreational Fear Lab in Denmark, researchers found that people enjoy haunted houses the most when their fear levels are moderate. Both self-reported surveys and heart rate data showed that they had the most fun when they were just scared enough to feel excitement without feeling overwhelmed—you might call it the “Goldilocks zone” of fear.
Although the study of fear is still developing, there’s no denying that many people seek it out in one form or another. And it can actually support well-being, as long as it doesn’t go too far.
4 Ways Fear Can Help Us
Feeling afraid can make us stronger in meaningful ways. Emerging research shows that fear can build resilience, deepen relationships, and process complex emotions. Here’s how fear, in a controlled environment, can be surprisingly good for us.
1. Controlled Fear Builds Emotional Resilience
When the world was gripped by uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic, horror fans reported higher resilience than non-horror seekers. A study found that people who frequently consumed scary content during that time showed a greater ability to regulate their emotions.
That’s because horror-based content offers a safe way to practice fear. By noticing our fear, riding the surge of fear, and then feeling relief, we strengthen our ability to cope with everyday stressors. Even if we never have to live through a flock attacking our town like in The Birds, these mini “fear workouts” may train us to stay emotionally steady when life throws a very real challenge our way.
2. Fear Brings People Together
Whether it’s visiting a haunted attraction or jumping online to play Phasmophobia, scary experiences are often shared. It’s called emotional synchrony. When we scream, laugh, and recover together, we’re deepening our relationships. Those feel-good hormones that are released even lead some people to feel like they’re falling in love—cue the creation of a new dating show, perhaps Horror Island?
This group experience of fight-or-flight is fueling online communities. Twitch streamer Sammy, a self-described queer horror streamer, has built a devoted following of more than 20,000 fans. “It’s brought a lot of us together,” Sammy told the BBC. “We can have amazing conversations. It’s almost like a little book club.”
Horror connects people through shared emotion, turning fear into belonging. This can be especially important for marginalized communities who don’t always have a safe space. We’re wired to seek safety in others, and sometimes that means getting startled together in a gaming stream.
Whether you’re watching the true story of Ted Bundy or a mysterious tale unraveling in Serial, you can fulfill your curiosity about human behavior and motivation, while remaining at a safe distance.
3. Horror as a Safe Space to Explore the Unknown
Stories filled with gore, killers, and the paranormal allow us to explore uncomfortable topics in a more symbolic form. Scary content can offer a glimpse into the taboo and unknown without direct exposure, particularly when it’s something terrifying that really happened.
Whether you’re watching the true story of Ted Bundy in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile, or a mysterious true crime tale unraveling in Serial, you’re safely exploring the question of why people do horrifying things. You can fulfill your curiosity about human behavior and motivation, while remaining at a safe distance.
4. Mental Rehearsal for Real-World Threats
While you’re unlikely to be trapped in an abandoned prison surrounded by zombies, like in The Walking Dead, you may learn from the actions the characters take in those dire situations. Some theories suggest that horror can be a type of simulation training. Watching characters navigate high-stakes scenarios encourages us to review a series of “what if” scenarios that help us to respond thoughtfully to threats around us.
Evolutionarily, this makes sense. Throughout human history, people who were more prepared for dangerous threats were likely better equipped to handle real dangers. It’s no wonder that part of the horror experience involves imagining how you would have dealt with the situation.
Would you have been the one to take that lifesaving shot at the scuba tank in Jaws to end it all? Or the one who stumbles when they’re being chased by a killer, and doesn’t bother to get up? Each scenario is a rehearsal, sharpening decision-making and situational awareness without real-world risk.
When Scary Content Becomes Too Scary: The Mental Health Risks
Not everyone is into scary content, and for some, it can actually be harmful. Here are some ways in which frightening content can threaten well-being.
Rumination and Sleep Disturbances
That “I can’t sleep” feeling after a horror movie isn’t just in your head. Because scary media triggers a real stress response and adrenaline floods your body, your brain stays alert even after the credits roll. And for horror games, the blue light, social interactions, and highly stimulating activity make it that much easier to keep playing deep into the night. The curse of it all is that the next day you’ll feel sluggish and be more prone to mood swings.
Developmental Considerations
Kids don’t experience fear like adults do. Some younger kids may struggle to distinguish reality from movie magic, making strange things (and Stranger Things) seem like completely real dangers. A 6-year-old might believe the alien from Signs will walk past their birthday party, while a teen might relish the jump-scare and laugh about it afterward.
Before you take your child to visit The Shining’s Overlook Hotel, think about a Halloween movie in which it’s a bit easier to distinguish between reality and make-believe. If they’re excited about watching something scary, try Monster House, Coraline, or The Nightmare Before Christmas. Watch it together and discuss the movie afterward. No matter what, if a child gets startled easily or you know they’re not interested, just skip scary altogether.
Anxiety and Trauma
For some people with anxiety or trauma, scary content can be a treat, while for others, it can be triggering. Some people might ruminate on a distressing scene, or the scare itself can trigger negative feelings that are way too real.
But, for others, horror can act as a type of recreational exposure therapy. It gives them the chance to face fear in a controlled way, and sometimes can help them build emotional skills to manage it in real life.
But the line between having fun, conquering fears, and feeling distressed is deeply personal. For anyone, scary content should be managed based on how it makes you feel, and if it’s too much, hit pause.
How to Engage with Scary Content in a Healthy Way
There are plenty of opportunities to experience a scare this fall. Building on the safety, detachment, and control framework, we developed a few tips to help you experience the thrill of being frightened in a way that’s healthy for you.
Here are a few guidelines for calibrating your fear reactions:
- Choose your comfort zone. If you’re new to horror, thrillers, and other scary content, start small. Maybe a psychological book would be a good test, or watching an eerie video at home rather than a graphic horror movie in a theater. For big fans, keep a no-go list in mind and respect how your body feels rather than pushing yourself.
- Watch with others. Shared experiences help regulate fear and make it more fun. Having trusted friends and family close by helps minimize the fright and maximize the enjoyment.
- Keep control at hand. If you’re playing a heart-pumping game with friends, remind yourself that you can quit at any time. Or if you’re watching a scary movie at a theater, sit by the exit. Consuming scary content at home allows for more control compared to walking through a haunted house, so be sure you’re ready.
- Add a cool-down. Watching something light or having a good laugh after a scare is a good way to transition to a calmer state. Especially if it’s before bed, read a light book or do a self-care routine to shift your thoughts, reducing the chance that they will continue into your dreams or cause sleep disturbances.
- Avoid when emotionally vulnerable. If you’re already feeling anxious, depressed, or emotionally drained, it’s best to skip the scares altogether.
- Reflect afterward. Notice what scared you most—did it feel like too much, or did it open up new fears? If you feel worse after consuming horror-based content and activities, that’s a good sign that it’s not your thing, at least not right now. Your reaction to scary content may change over time, depending on your stage of life, circumstances, or recent events.
Remember, you’re the protagonist in your own story. So if the creepy vibes are draining you or heightening challenges you already have, stop consuming the content. If you’re regularly feel on the edge of your seat or your heart starts pounding for no apparent reason, it may be a signal to skip the scary flicks for a while.
Helping You Find the Calm Without the Fear
Scary content isn’t going to resolve your fears or thoroughly prepare you for the future. That’s where our team comes in. If there’s been a big jump-scare in your life or you feel like you or your loved one has been stuck in fight-or-flight too often, it’s time to consult a caring professional, not a ghoul or zombie.
Our nationwide programs for children, teens, and young adults can help you or your loved one find the calm in life without the fear. Whether it’s anxiety associated with school expectations or a sense of doom but you can’t find pinpoint the source, we can help you work through it. Get started today.