Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • Interview: Lewis Thompson, VP Sport
    • En Garde!
    • BUWRU Still on Top
    • Hidden Histories: With The Archaeology Society
    • Beabadoobee Concert Review: Welcome to Beatopia
    • Taylor Swift: Midnights Review – The Stories of 13 Sleepless Nights
    • Claire Concert Review: Claire Cottrill in Concert!
    • Is There Hope For Percy Jackson?
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Flickr
    Seren
    • News & Politics
      1. Local News
      2. UK News
      3. Uni News
      4. World News
      5. Politics
      6. Comment
      7. Business
      Featured

      SABB Election: The Full Result Breakdown

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      Redevelopment plans and the culture of Bangor

      October 28, 2022

      Immediate closure of Menai Bridge following reports of structural integrity issues

      October 28, 2022

      Racial abuse victim calls for harsher sentencing following nightclub assault

      October 28, 2022
    • Arts & Culture
      1. Books
      2. Games
      3. Film
      4. Music
      5. TV
      6. Creative Corner
      Featured

      Bangor alumni podcast earns Hollywood cameo & BBC features

      By Amelia SmithMarch 7, 20210
      Recent

      Beabadoobee Concert Review: Welcome to Beatopia

      October 29, 2022

      Taylor Swift: Midnights Review – The Stories of 13 Sleepless Nights

      October 29, 2022

      Claire Concert Review: Claire Cottrill in Concert!

      October 29, 2022
    • Lifestyle
      1. Fashion
      2. Food and Drink
      3. Social
      4. Health and Beauty
      5. Travel
      Featured

      Country Highlight: The Netherlands

      By Emily ShoultsMay 6, 20220
      Recent

      Gilmore Garms

      October 28, 2022

      Fleeces and Funk

      October 28, 2022

      Cheerleading: Getting your kit together

      October 28, 2022
    • Discovery
      1. Science
      2. Environment
      3. History
      4. International
      Featured

      Brewing up a Storm: The History of Guinness

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      North Wales Ramblings

      October 28, 2022

      Hamza Yassin: The Hard Work That Is Making Luck Happen

      October 28, 2022

      Student’s Union Hosts Repair Cafe for Sustainability Awareness Week

      October 28, 2022
    • Sport
      1. Varsity 2019
      2. Varsity 2018
      3. Varsity 2017
      4. Varsity 2016
      5. Varsity 2015
      6. Varsity 2014
      7. Varsity 2013
        • Varsity 2013 Results
        • Varsity 2013 – In tweets
      Featured

      Bangor Muddogs’ American Football: a young woman finding her place

      By Jade HillMarch 23, 20210
      Recent

      Interview: Lewis Thompson, VP Sport

      October 29, 2022

      En Garde!

      October 29, 2022

      BUWRU Still on Top

      October 29, 2022
    • Students’ Union
      1. Union News
      2. Societies
      3. Volunteering
      4. Clubs
      Featured

      INTERVIEW: Be Period Positive

      By Caroline CartmillMarch 17, 20210
      Recent

      Interview: Lewis Thompson, VP Sport

      October 29, 2022

      En Garde!

      October 29, 2022

      BUWRU Still on Top

      October 29, 2022
    • Issues
      • Current Issue
      • This year’s issues
      • Last year’s issues
      • Seren Archive
      • Seren Teams
    Seren
    Home»Discovery»Science»Why do some people love horror movies?
    Science

    Why do some people love horror movies?

    Emily WoodhouseBy Emily WoodhouseOctober 29, 2020No Comments3 Mins Read
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    As we edge towards Halloween, many people turn to horror movies to get them in the festive spirit. Some people love this genre of movie, whereas others spend it hiding behind their fingers/the sofa/ under a blanket to avoid having to spend a week jumping at every slight bump in the house. So why do some people love horror movies so much – and why do others hate them?

    Part of the reason could be due to the psychological trait known as ‘sensation seeking’, where individuals seek out situations that cause novel or intense emotions. Those who score high on the sensation seeking scale tend to show an increased liking for horror films, as they seek out the intense feelings caused by movies of this nature; in fact research has shown that this is strongly positively correlated. About 10% of the population enjoys the rush of adrenaline and fear caused by activities such as watching horror movies. However it’s not as simple as that – although this relationship between sensation seeking and love of horror is demonstrated often enough to be significant, it isn’t consistent, with a proportion of people who score high on the sensation seeking scale classing themselves as haters of horror movies and vice versa. 

    Another reason could be that it teaches us to control our anxiety and fear in a controlled environment – basically we can test our limits in an environment which isn’t actually a threat to us. You can also have complete control over a situation; if the film gets too scary, it can be paused or you can close your eyes – something you can’t necessarily do in a real-life anxiety-inducing situation. Psychologist Svein Åge Kjøs Johnsen describes this as ‘emotional regulation’ – having control of the viewing situation and the feeling of fear. The idea from Sigmund Freud of our ‘infantile anxieties’ (including the dark, silence, and loneliness) ties into this, as we’re choosing to face our primal fears which he suggests that we never fully grow out of. 

    It could, however, be down to the fact that horror movies are novel, and we don’t witness the things they depict in everyday life. Horror movies are usually very interesting from a technical perspective; they tend to feature actors with incredible makeup and costumes, and special effects which bring to life some of our deepest fears. Researchers have suggested that this may explain the draw to horror movies for some people, as they want to figure out how filmmakers make the special effects so flawless whilst showing things that are out of the ordinary. Others suggest that it’s due to the change in a usual environment that makes people fascinated by horror movies – if you aren’t used to seeing something like that everyday, you struggle to look away as the film challenges what you know in a situation. 

    Whatever the appeal, horror movies remain as one of the highest grossing movie genres, with the franchises of Godzilla, The Conjuring, and The Mummy being the three most popular horror franchises. With an exponential rise in the number of horror movies produced in recent years, there is definitely more to come for those who voluntarily choose to seek out horror.

    love movies
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Emily Woodhouse

    Website Coordinator | 19-21 Science Editor | 20-21

    Related Posts

    Japan plan to release radioactive water into the ocean

    May 6, 2021

    The link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clots

    April 29, 2021

    How 3D printing can revolutionise medicine

    April 15, 2021

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    MORE INFORMATION
    • ABOUT
    • ADVERTISE
    • CONTACT US
    • GET INVOLVED
    • MEMBERS
    Links
    • Bangor University Bangor University
    • Google+ Google+
    • Undeb Bangor Undeb Bangor
    About

    Seren is Bangor University Students’ Union’s English Language Newspaper

    We have editorial independence from both Bangor University and Bangor Students’ Union. Seren is written by students for students and we’d love you to get involved!

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.