Hvorfor vi elsker gyserfilm: seks psykologiske grunde

https://www.health.com/mind-body/why-people-like-horror-movies

Why Do So Many People Like Horror Movies? Six Reasons We Love Being Scared

That adrenaline rush from fear is only a small part of horror's appeal.

By Patti Greco

October 13, 2020

Horror movies are scary. They’re gross. They make you think about death and fear for your life. And yet, for many of us, they’re a blast to watch—the best way to spend a Friday night, especially in October, when ghosts, gore, and the macabre rule the month.

Take It Chapter One, the 2017 adaptation of Stephen King’s stuff-of-nightmares novel, as proof: The film made more than $700 million at the box office worldwide. In other words, moviegoers flocked to theaters by choice to see a killer clown terrorize a bunch of kids. (Pass the popcorn: Pennywise is about to rip off little Georgie’s arm!)

So what gives? Why do so many of us go out of our way and even pay good money to consume frightening entertainment? Here’s what the experts have to say.

Being scared can give you a thrilling rush

Even though horror movies are fake, watching them can trigger a very real fight-or-flight response, some experts say. “The brain doesn’t always distinguish between fantasy and reality completely effectively,” Krista Jordan, PhD, a clinical psychologist based in Austin, Texas, tells Health. “For example, get someone to describe biting into a lemon, and if the person is really good at describing it, your salivary glands will activate.”