On Fear: Why Are We Drawn To It? From The Standpoint Of Our Psyche
Why we are so drawn to horror has always been a greatly debated topic. Famous for gore, demonic possessions and jump scares, films of this genre prove to be extremely popular all year long. Pinpointing an exact reason for the appeal of these fear-inducing films can seem daunting. However, the study of psychology grants us some level of explanation for the sensations our brains experience.
Psychology professor Hannah Lucas describes our initial interest in horror films as sensation-seeking. This term references the tendency of individuals to pursue pleasure or excitement through activities that offer them some level of intensity or risk. Since the primary purpose of horror films is to evoke fear in its viewers, the surges of adrenaline we experience while watching them can temporarily satisfy these tendencies, much like the adrenaline experienced at events like Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights or Knott's Scary Farm.
According to Lucas, these surges are not necessarily harmful to the human brain, due to more advanced areas, like our frontal cortex, which helps us understand that we are not really in danger. “Because we can make a distinction between [movies] and actually being in a horrible situation, we can get that high we’re looking for, safely," explained Lucas.
In a survey involving Chaffey students, films such as "The Shining," "A Nightmare on Elm Street" and "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" were among the list of horror films they considered to be iconic. That was not surprising, seeing as these films dominated in box office sales upon their respective releases and set the standards for more modern favorites like "Insidious" and "IT." Student Simi Miller cited "Nightmare On Elm Street" as one of his favorites, because "the fear of dying in our sleep is proximate to us all."
Most students failed to mention psychological horror films. Psychological thrillers focus on the destructive actions and disturbing behavior of antagonists suffering some form of affliction. Sometimes, the head games antagonists play with protagonists can be more terrifying than the most gruesome of slasher films. This idea of psychological horror being scarier than classic horror goes much deeper than the original idea of sensation-seeking.
"These films are a way for us to explore how the mind works in general, or how we personally function," said Lucas. She explained that we try to understand what our tendencies are in a way that is not directly linked to us. It is similar to the adrenaline that jump scares cause, in the sense that we explore the possibly catastrophic effects of mental illness at a safe distance.
It is no secret that mental illness has become stigmatized in society, which could raise controversy over horror films that seemingly glorify it, but incorporating these themes into a horror film also has the potential to raise mental health awareness.
“Even though it’s not [always] great that we’re putting [mental illness] in the horror genre, it does provide some exposure, so that people can see what it’s really like,” Lucas explains. Films that delve into their character's internal conflicts and drive toward resolutions to said conflicts create a stronger sense of relevance with the audience.
“There’s an opportunity for that [exposure] to help reduce stigma around mental health when we understand how it actually works— so if it’s portrayed properly, accurately, fairly, and in a balanced way, it could be an excellent thing,” Lucas concluded.
She also agrees that young adults are more susceptible to emulation of behavior represented in horror films since that particular age group is the target audience. However, despite this vulnerability, each individual has the choice of which messages or lessons to take from said films.
Regarding the cinematic depiction of mental illness, political science major Marc Perez believes that it has reached a high note, displaying whole representation in contrast to more stereotypical depictions in older films. There are plenty of scientific explanations about why many love the horror genre, but there are personal reasons, as well.
"I enjoy horror because it encompasses so many different kinds of movies over a very broad and open-ended genre,” explained criminal justice major David Raigoza. The varying types of horror is what makes the overall genre so fascinating and “so easily adaptable to any platform aside from literature and movies,” he continued. Raigoza names "A Nightmare On Elm Street," "Final Destination" and "Insidious" as a few of his favorites, but also appreciates psychological horrors like "World War Z" and Stephen King adaptations. He feels that this genre impacts us so deeply because we learn to fear things at such a young age and filmmakers are able to depict those fears with such elaborate storytelling and special effects that we eventually learn to enjoy it.
“It allows us as humans to see what we believe [to be] impossible unfold and pop right out at us,” Raigoza concluded.
All surveyed students agreed that general horror films have their merits in entertainment, while those emphasizing our psychology are more enjoyable for their relevance. For anyone curious as to what film students considered to be at the top of its class, "The Silence Of The Lambs" won, for its twisted plot and sadistically memorable Hannibal Lecter.
Whatever the motivation to watch— scientific or personal— horror films of any kind are a great way to get into the holiday spirit. Happy watching and Happy Halloween!