The Psychology Behind Our Love and Fear of Horror Books and Movies
From spine-tingling tales of terror to heart-pounding movie experiences, humans have held a fascination with horror for many, many years. Our love or aversion to horror is deeply rooted in the human psyche and can be attributed to a complex interplay of psychological factors. I will touch on a bit of the psychology behind our simultaneous attraction and repulsion to horror in literature and film.
Let’s start with why some people love horror:
The Love for Horror:
Excitement and Adrenaline:
The Thrill of Fear: Horror activates our primal “fight or flight” response, releasing adrenaline and heightening our senses. Many people are drawn to the intense rush of excitement and the adrenaline-fueled experience that horror offers.
Sense of Control:
Safe Fear: When we read a horror book or watch a horror movie at home or in a theater, we are usually in a safe and controlled environment. This sense of safety allows us to explore fear without actual peril, making the experience thrilling yet manageable.
Catharsis:
Emotional Release: Engaging with horror can provide a cathartic release of repressed emotions and anxieties. It allows us to confront our fears in a safe setting, offering emotional relief.
Curiosity:
Fascination with the Unknown: Human curiosity extends to the mysterious and unexplored aspects of life. Horror taps into this curiosity, enticing us to venture into the shadowy realms of the unknown. Demons and witchcraft come to mind here.
Social Bonding:
Shared Experience: Enjoying horror with others, whether in a theater or a book club, may create a sense of social bonding. The shared experience of fear strengthens social connections and fosters a sense of togetherness. If you read a horror book along with others in a book club and discuss the book in a group discussion, you may feel more connected to the group as a result of the experience. But you may not know exactly why you feel that way.
Now on to why some people hate horror:
The Aversion to Horror:
Intense Fear Response:
Overwhelming Anxiety: For some individuals, the fear response triggered by horror can be overwhelming. They may experience severe anxiety, nightmares, or even panic attacks, making horror a very unpleasant experience.
Personal Vulnerability:
Perceived Vulnerability: People with a heightened sense of vulnerability or a history of trauma may find it difficult to engage with horror. It can trigger traumatic memories and exaggerate existing feelings of vulnerability.
Moral and Ethical Concerns:
Concerns About Violence and Gore: Some individuals are dislike horror due to its graphic and violent content. Ethical or moral concerns about the content and its potential desensitizing effect are enough to drive some people away from any type of horror, be it books or movies.
Sensory Overload:
Overwhelming Sensory Stimulation: Horror often involves sensory overload with loud sounds, eerie visuals, and disturbing content. This can overwhelm some individuals.
Individual Differences:
Psychological Variability: Each person’s psychological makeup is unique. Things like personality traits, past experiences can be factors in why some people love horror and others absolutely hate it. Peoples reaction to horror is a highly personalized response and some people cannot explain why they feel the way they do about horror books and movies.
Conclusion:
The psychology behind peoples love or fear of horror books and movies is a reflection of a complex interplay between their physiological responses, past personal experiences, and the cultural context in which they live, or have lived.
The thrill of fear, the fascination with the unknown, and the sense of control are all factors that draw us to the genre.
Conversely, the fear of intense anxiety, personal vulnerability, or moral concerns may push us away.
Our relationship with horror is as diverse as the human psyche itself, and it continues to captivate and perplex us.
Now if you happen to be one of those who love horror, you should check out the A Monstrous Dread Series, by Nicki Huntsman Smith. You can read a sample of book 1 in the series, Demon Chase, here.