People read scary stories and watch scary movies for a lot of different reasons. But it mainly comes down to one thing.
These experiences allow us to explore fear in a safe space, while offering thrills, chills, and the occasional adrenaline rush.
Scary stories often deliver mystery and suspense, characteristics that can make any story more engaging.
But of course, there’s much more to it than that. So let’s explore some of the reasons why people like to watch scary movies and read scary stories.
Seven Reasons Why We Like Scary Stories
We all have our own personal reasons why we like scary fiction, and they can vary from one person to the next. But this affinity usually stems from one or more of the following:
- It provides an adrenaline rush.
- It lets us explore fear in a safe way.
- It offers emotional release and catharsis.
- It piques our curiosity with mystery.
- It can be a shared experience.
- It taps into cultural fears.
- It lets us triumph over our fears.
1. It’s an adrenaline rush, literally.
One of the biggest reasons people enjoy scary stories is the physical thrill that comes with feeling afraid. When we watch a horror movie or read a suspenseful story, our bodies react almost as if we’re experiencing a real threat.
There’s a part of our brain called the amygdala. It controls our fear response and triggers the “fight-or-flight” response you’ve probably heard of.
When we see, read, or experience something scary, the brain releases adrenaline, which in turn increases our heart rate and heightens our senses. This response floods the body with energy, creating a rush that many people find exciting.
For some of us, this physical reaction can make the whole experience more exciting and rewarding. It’s partly why we like to read scary stories again and again.
2. It lets us explore fear in a safe way.
Horror lets us experience all of those rushes and thrills mentioned above in a safe environment.
Our brains might react as if the danger is real. But in reality we know we’re safe. This “controlled fear” lets us enjoy the adrenaline rush mentioned above, but without facing any real threat.
Associate Professor Haiyang Yang, a behavioral scientist at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, has done some research into this subject. He explores the factors that drive decision-making. He and colleagues explored the reasons why some people can’t wait to get scared.
Their research suggests that people who get a kick out of horror have a psychological “protective frame.” They recognize the artificiality of the horror and hold it at a distance.
As Yang explains it:
“Our sense of control can serve as a form of psychological protective frame, a prerequisite to experiencing pleasure from horror consumption.”
3. It offers an emotional release and catharsis.
For some people, horror stories and movies can also provide a sense of catharsis or emotional release. Experiencing fear in a movie or story setting lets us process emotions we might not otherwise confront. This can be surprisingly calming.
Reading or watching terrifying situations provides a way to “release” fears and anxieties within a fictional framework. This creates a sense of relief once the story is over.
According to Alex Ago, horror movie buff and director of programming at USC School of Cinematic Arts:
“Horror as a genre is an expression of the collective anxieties of a society at the time in which these films are made. They allow us to collectively get a sense of catharsis by the vanquishing of these fears.”
4. It piques our curiosity with mystery.
Curiosity plays a role here as well. Scary movies and stories tap into our natural fascination with the unknown—dark forests, abandoned buildings, unexplained phenomena.
By including elements we cannot fully explain, horror stories can be both unsettling and intriguing. These stories can include surprises and twists as well, deepening the suspense.
Examples of scary stories with an air of mystery:
Horror Movies
- The Blair Witch Project (1999): What happened to the three filmmakers who disappeared in the woods?
- The Thing (1982): Who among the group is infected by the alien lifeform?
- It Follows (2014): What is the nature of the curse passed from person to person, and how can it be stopped?
Horror Novels
- The Haunting of Hill House, by Shirley Jackson: Is the house truly haunted, or are the characters experiencing psychological breakdowns?
- House of Leaves, by Mark Z. Danielewski: Why does the house contain a labyrinth of shifting hallways and rooms that seem to defy the laws of physics?
- The Shining, by Stephen King: What is the source of the malevolent forces in the Overlook Hotel?
We humans are naturally curious. It’s in our nature to seek information that unlocks a riddle or solves a mystery. We have a need to know, and this is partly why people like to read or watch scary stories.
5. It can be a shared experience.
Scary stories can offer a mutual bonding experience as well. Whether we are telling ghost stories, watching horror movies together, or discussing scary books, it allows for a shared emotional experience.
In a crowded movie theater, a scary scene can make everyone gasp, jump, and laugh together afterward. For that brief moment, strangers can put aside whatever differences they have and share a fun experience.
Put a couple of horror fans together, and they’ll interact like old friends even if they just met.
6. It taps into cultural fears.
The horror genre frequently explores cultural and societal anxieties.
For example, the Cold War era gave rise to horror stories about nuclear destruction and invasion. Modern horror, on the other hand, often reflects our concerns about isolation, technology, or pandemics.
Scary stories and movies allow us to process these and other cultural concerns. They can make us think and reflect on the world around us.
7. It allows us to triumph over our fears.
Horror fiction allows us to test our own limits, to gauge our response to fear and see how we might handle danger or the unknown.
When we reach the end of a scary story or movie, we might feel a sense of satisfaction. We have confronted our fear and come out on the other side intact, even if it was only a fun ride.
Horror stories thrust characters into intense and life-threatening situations. The characters must rely on their wits, courage, or endurance to survive. As readers, we can identify with these characters on an emotional level. We can feel their struggles and share their victories.
This is another big reason why so many people like scary stories and movies. The satisfaction of conquering fear makes horror an enduring and even inspiring genre for many fans.