Why Do People Enjoy Feeling Fear?

Lily Kean '24

October is finally here, along with all the fright festivals, haunted houses, scary stories, mystery novels, horror/ thriller movies, all to precipitate fear. Fear is usually a signal of danger, but now it is being sought out as a form of entertainment. When you feel scared you typically experience an increased heart rate, faster breathing or shortness of breath, “butterflies in your stomach” or digestive changes, sweating and chills, and trembling muscles. Although October is full of fright, fear is an all-year-round experience. Considering the feeling is fairly unpleasant, why would people purposely put themselves through it?

1. The rush

The part of the brain where fear starts is the amygdala. According to Smithsonian Magazine, “A threat stimulus, such as the sight of a predator, triggers a fear response in the amygdala, which activates areas involved in preparation for motor functions involved in fight or flight. This rush of adrenaline releases endorphins and dopamine. Endorphins interact with the receptors in your brain that reduce your perception of pain and also trigger a positive feeling in the body, similar to that of morphine. Dopamine is an important part of your reward system, meaning the brain releases dopamine when you do things that feel good or pleasurable or when you complete a task.

1. It can help with anxiety

In a recent study by Clansen Mathias he explains, “There may be a relief in seeking out situations that give you a blast of well-defined fear with a clear source and a crucial element of control,” he explains. When you put on a horror movie or go through a haunted house you are bringing about your fear while knowing it cant actually harm you. You have the comfort in knowing it can stop with the click of a button or a safe word.

1. It can help you to better control your fear

Estrogen is mainly known as a hormone that is important for reproductive development. According to research by Harvard and Emory University in August 2012, it was discovered that these hormones can actually have a strong impact on your brain, impacting your mood, bones, heart, skin, and other important tissues. The hormones have a significant effect on the brain’s fear response protecting it against PTSD and other anxiety disorders. According to Mohammed Milad, a researcher in a recent study, “Although some data suggests that estrogen actually enhances fear, other studies suggest the opposite, that it reduces fear and anxiety.” In an experiment, they tested two mice, one with high estrogen, and one with low. They found that the ones with high estrogen were good at extinguishing fear and the ones with low were unable to control it and seemed to panic. In short, people enjoy fear because it is an exhilarating feeling with a lot of benefits. Fortunately it’s October, and there are haunting, thrilling, and horrifying experiences all around.