Why do horror movies give people pleasure?

I believe that many people have this experience in life: they know clearly that the plots in horror movies are exciting and will scare them, but they can't help but watch them.

I know that the haunted house in the amusement park has all kinds of scary things and atmosphere, but I always want to check it out. You may even create a hellish atmosphere to enhance your movie-watching experience. This masochistic fear makes you addicted.

But, looking back, have you ever considered why you love watching horror movies?

In fact, people’s enthusiasm and yearning for horror movies can be analyzed from two major aspects:

1. Psychological level

1. Habit of seeking death

Freud believed that no matter what race or age you are, you actually have the instinct of destruction and death deep in your heart. After this instinct is stimulated, you will have the urge to destroy everything and end it once and for all.

For example, the protagonist in a horror movie who loves to commit suicide knows that the ghost may be in the next room, but still wants to open the door and go in to take a look;

2. Relieve anxiety

Watching horror movies to relieve anxiety does not mean that you seek medical treatment in a hurry, but that everyone cleverly creates new anxiety to divert your previous anxiety. When the anxiety from work and life makes you breathless, but you can't do anything about it, choosing a horror movie is tantamount to actively choosing and creating anxiety.

All your previous anxieties will be replaced by the terrifying effects that appear in the next second, but you know that none of them can truly threaten you. This time, you gain a sense of control over your anxiety instead of the discomfort caused by something out of control. As a result, this feeling makes you more and more addicted and unable to stop.

2. Physiological level

1. Heart massage

When you hear the terrifying BGM sound, the movie is about to reach its climax, and you will follow the protagonist’s activities I gradually became nervous, began to breathe faster unconsciously, frowned, and my whole body became tense.

At this time, your body will fall into a state of stress. Through the activity of the sympathetic nerves and adrenal glands, the activity of the heart and lungs will rapidly increase. How uncomfortable your heart is at this moment, how relaxed your heart will be after the movie ends;

2. Lose weight

The University of Westminster in the UK once did A related survey and study showed that when people watch horror movies, their heartbeat, oxygen uptake, and carbon dioxide output will all increase. Watching a 90-minute horror movie consumes as many calories as walking for about 30 minutes.

The reason why this is so is because when people enter a state of stress, their metabolism speeds up, allowing more calories to be consumed. The most consuming moment is the most annoying scare sequence. It may be a sudden BGM, or it may be a grimace that is suddenly magnified.

In this case, we clearly know that horror movies are fake and everyone is materialistic, so why are we still afraid?