Why So Many People Love Horror Movies

Some people just love horror movies. They watch scary movies even though a lot of them have the same themes, and tell the same story in different ways. People might not know why they love watching scary films. They just know that they love them. According to research, there are real reasons some people can't seem to get enough of scary flicks. Let's explore some of those reasons.

1. The Excitation Transfer Process

Dr. Glenn Sparks, a professor and associate head of the Brian Lamb School of Communication at Purdue University, has studied the reasons people love watching horror films. According to the professor, some people are attracted to scary movies, because of the way they feel after watching them. Dr. Sparks' research showed that when people watch horror movies, their heart rate goes up, along with their blood pressure, and respiration rate. This reason is called the excitation transfer process.

The amazing part of the excitation transfer process is that after the film is over, the process continues and lingers long after the movie is over. Instead of focusing on the parts of the film that frightened viewers, they remember any positive emotions they experienced while watching the film. In fact, those feelings are intensified, including any negative feelings viewers might have also encountered.

Just as you experience heightened positive emotions that linger, you can also experience increased negative emotions that also linger. While a positive excitation transfer process will keep you going back for more scary movies, a negative excitation transfer process might keep you from watching scary movies in the future.

2. People Want to Be Frightened

Dr. Jeffrey Goldstein, a professor of social and organizational psychology at the University of Utrecht believes people watch horror films because they want to be frightened. Viewers choose their form of movies because they want to be affected by them. They want the scary effects of a horror film just as they want to feel loved by watching a romantic movie. People tend to hone in on what gives them pleasure. They know how much, or how little to watch to make them feel good.

3. Wired for Horror Movies

All people are not wired the same way. Some viewers are wired to enjoy certain things like horror movies, high rollercoaster rides, and things that give them an adrenaline rush. Dr. Sparks said about ten percent of the world's population enjoys a rush like that. Just as some people are wired to watch scary movies, others are wired not to like them.

4. Sign of Bravery

Research suggests that people watch horror movies, because they know they can handle them instead of the movies controlling them. While plenty of women watch scary movies, research shows that more men enjoy scary movies than women. Men like mastering something threatening, because it shows they have some degree of bravery.

Men like taking women to horror movies, because women tend to want physical closeness when they are scared. Men use that opportunity to display their bravery. This is known as the gender socialization theory that men prefer being in the company of a distressed woman while watching a horror movie. On the other hand, women like being in the company of a brave man.

5. Mind Off Own Problems

Some people like anything that will help them take their mind off their own problems. A horror movie will certainly do it. Characters run around scared and screaming. Viewers are glad someone has a problem worse than their own. Even though a horror movie is scary, viewers know they are watching it in a safe environment.

6. To Follow Others

Usually, it is a friend who gets others hooked on horror movies. When buddies watch the same movie, it becomes a topic of conversation, and they can recommend new films when they become available. Netflix puts out a new list of horror films every month. Therefore, there is never a shortage of scary movies to watch.

7. Other Reasons

None of the reasons cited above may be the reason you personally enjoy horror movies. There could be other reasons why you like watching them. It might not matter if you can or cannot pinpoint the reason. One sure thing is that the movie industry will continue making horror movies as long as people continue watching them.