Fear is a scientifically well-understood emotion that evolved to allow organisms to swiftly mobilize resources in times of need. Indeed, it is well-documented that organisms universally respond with fight, flight or freeze behavior when faced with actual or potentially dangerous situations. What is much less well understood is how fear becomes the engine in pleasurable activities—what could be termed “recreational fear.” Fear-seeking activities range from mildly scary children’s activities, such as playfully being chased by a parent or caregiver, to full-blown horror media, such as horror films and haunted attractions. Such media entertainment is both culturally pervasive and exceedingly popular. Recreational fear, in other words, is a widespread phenomenon that requires empirical investigation in its developmental, psychological, social, cultural and biological dimensions.
This Sixth Annual Aarhus Workshop on Recreational Fear brings together researchers from a variety of disciplines and countries to provide a forum for dialogue about the state and future of recreational fear research. The workshop takes place in Aarhus, Denmark, on 10 December 2026. The programme will conclude with a roundtable.
The workshop is organized by the Recreational Fear Lab with generous support from the Carlsberg Foundation.
