10/27/2022

Why Haunted Houses and Horror Movies Make Us Happy

Research shows many people enjoy recreational fear

It is dark, and there is a killer on the loose. My friends and I do not yet know who it is, or if the killer is wielding a chain saw, claws or knives. My heart is racing. I can feel my palms sweat.

Perversely, as I play the horror video game “Dead by Daylight,” I am also enjoying myself.

The “paradox of horror” is that being scared, under the right circumstances, can be fun. And recreational fear, as it is aptly named, could benefit us, too.

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Washington Post.