For some they’re the stuff of nightmares, but many of us can’t get enough of horror films. For Halloween, CrowdScience investigates the science of why we enjoy films that scare the living daylights out of us.
Contrary to conventional wisdom, [the Recreational Fear Lab's] research shows that seeking out scares for sport—watching a horror film or visiting a haunted house, for example—is linked to greater resilience among adults and, when age-appropriate, a lower risk for childhood anxiety.
Like haunted houses? Scientists do. That's because they're an excellent place to study how humans respond to — and actively seek out — fear.
From Dracula to Freddy Krueger, horror’s most iconic villains embody each era’s deepest fears—from war and science to sex and technology.
A killer clown? More like a health clown in disguise!
Seeking out the scary and the spooky can be a fun and healthy way to build resilience and learn to cope with stress.
Why do some people get such a kick from being scared? What is so fun about fear? Why do some people then turn around and run toward fear? What are they getting out of it? These are the questions that Mathias Clasen and Marc Andersen have been puzzling over for several years.
Whether it's a haunted house or a Hollywood horror flick, some of us can't resist a good scare. Emerging research suggests that recreational fear may be a way to safely simulate threats — and can even benefit our mental health.
From peek-a-boo to Halloween haunted houses, research shows that recreational fear can teach us to face scary situations.
Frightening yourself for fun can help you bond with others, soothe stress and maybe even become more resilient
We go inside Denmark’s Recreational Fear Lab to learn why our brains crave a good scare.
Human beings are the only species that seek recreational fear. Our obsession with this particular emotion has resulted in stories, films, books and horror attractions. But why do we deliberately scare ourselves in an already scary world? In this episode we explore why humans are fascinated with fear.
Films that terrify you today may improve your fear responses tomorrow—and could provide relief from anxiety and stress.
Psychologists have found evidence that fans of apocalyptic movies may be more resilient and better prepared to deal with the coronavirus pandemic than the rest of us.
